My name is Jonah Fialkoff; you may already know about me and/or my history in the music business. If you haven't, I'm fairly certain you know this story.

In 2002, I started a small independent record label on my laptop (Blaze The World Records) and by 2003, released one of the largest independent hip-hop albums that year, Kool G Rap's Click of Respect. I've had multiple artists achieve top chart positions at college radio, such as Organic Thoughts, Kool G Rap & Lyrical and most recently, had 3 Top 10 Billboard charting songs ("Kali-4-nia Dream'n", "Rugged Road" and "Boom Drah"). I even had a Grammy-nominated single.

I didn't think I had it all; I did have it all. I stayed in expensive hotels, threw big record release parties in New York City and spent crazy money on music videos. You name it; I did it. I was even sought out to work with the majors. I operated under the theory that all you needed was great music and a solid distribution deal.

Boy, was I WRONG.

Piracy was destroying the record industry and labels were crumbling all around me. My own distributor was losing its footing and had to downsize by more than half. Our albums were being duplicated and sold on Ebay for pennies on the dollar. There was no way I could compete with it, or stop it. P2P (peer-to-peer) systems like Kazaa, Limewire and even NAPSTER (back-in-the-day) were offering our albums and tracks for free, before the records even hit the shelves at retail! Record stores returned our albums by the boatload and our album sales plummeted.

Faced with closing my label, I began to scour the music industry to find the model that was bringing success on a consistent basis. I even went outside the music industry to find time-tested, proven models of success and new ways of thinking. I dug deep into major label strategies with the help of my friends on the "inside." They helped me access the "real deal"; the tricks that were used for years to dupe the public. Then, some forward-thinking industry experts filled me in on digital, the new format that was about to explode and I immediately embraced the concept. I learned things that changed the way I saw the music business from that day on. I learned what it takes to break a band without taking the enormous monetary risks of the past.

What I learned helped me to turn everything around.

•   I know what the major labels don't want you to know (they don't like it when you're smarter than they are).
•   I know how to use the Internet as an infinite resource for free marketing and branding.
•   I know how to run a successful entertainment company that does not and will not lose.

Shortly after this breakthrough, I was asked to be a consultant and as a result, became the digital distributor to 3 Top Billboard charting artists. One climbed as high as #12; the other reached #15. I have served twice as an IBS (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) panelist; lecturing to college radio DJs from around the country.

Recently, my successes allowed me to take stock of my health and personal life. I moved to a nice house outside the city, put in a home gym and spa and have laid out some space for my new "home" office, too. In a nutshell, I've never been happier, but I'm no smarter than you. I simply took what I learned and unlocked the combination to my OWN success. Now it's your turn and with the 7 Keys, you can't lose.