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RS: What has the response been to the book?
Joi: So far, I mean critically it's been really well-reviewed and it has done very well. As far as sales are concerned, I really just started, I just put that up as well on the site to be offered. And so, I have sold some copies and I've been doing some lecturing, so I guess it's bringing me business and it's bringing light to me in that aspect as well. But really, it's just a service that I'm providing for people who are interested in these things from a perspective of an artist and not an attorney, which is all we get these days.


RS: You're definitely one to look to for advice because you've told me and you mention on your site that you own your entire catalogue.
Joi: Right.

RS: And that to me is just amazing, because that's so rare to hear today.
Joi: It's true, most people don't even have a catalogue in dance music, they've just got one record and that's it. It's so sad but unless you're a DJ, most recording artists don't. From what I get in the type of deal structures that even come to me, it doesn't even occur to people, I don't think, that they could even try to fight for it, honestly. I really don't think that they're even aware of the fact they can either ask for it or negotiate for it to try to get it at some point. They just don't feel that it's possible, it's kind of like this myth that people have that they think oh well, you know, if I want to make records I got to do this and do that. I think the paradigm is changing and that rock artists do it and rap artists do it. It's just a matter of really taking initiative and believing in what you do first and foremost, and then trying to build something that you can own.

And I think that the more artists stand up for themselves and the more educated people get, and the more opportunities that are presented, the easier it'll be for people to do that. But you do have to put the work in too and a lot of people just don't really, they're not really interested in working, they just want to have fun and that's about it.

RS: And then you wake up ten years later and realize you have nothing.
Joi: Right, you feel like oh my God, I had a hit record and I had fun for a couple of years and nothing comes from that after that.

RS: You've always been a real forward-thinker and always been on the cutting edge of working with the most up and coming producers, looking at your CD singles, you worked with people like Michael T Diamond, Hani and Gomi, years before anyone else did.
Joi: Right.

RS: How do you choose people to work with on your projects?
Joi: Some people approach me to work with me. I really don't set limits on who I will work with, I'll work with anybody as long as I think the music is happening. I don't believe that you have to be famous in order to make a record with me, I don't think that that really flies. I think it's all about the music and as you can tell from the title of my book, it's not about fame, it's about succeeding and moving forward and doing interesting stuff.