It always amazes me, specially when I do it, when people do the same thing over and over and over again and expect a different ending result.
That there my friends, is the definition of insanity.
If people aren't telling their friends about your music, stop promoting it and improve your product. Go back to the drawing board, write some more songs and promote those. Don't waste time promoting music people aren't latching on to.
Take my band, Highway Jackson, for example. We put a LOT of money into recording our latest release, The Dirty Bar Campaign. We got picked up by radio and everything. It was great. Things looked on the up and up. Something wasn't right though. People weren't losing their shit about our music. In fact, no one was really spreading the word at all. We released it 4 months ago. We're already writing and recording new music to get it out there ASAP so we don't lose any buzz. The product didn't work this time around. Next time we'll be better prepared.
If you're not getting the results you thought you would don't promote, improve!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Why MySpace should have said "No" to MJ Memorial
MySpace is doing the exact opposite of what it was created to do. I remember in 2005 when I signed up for my first MySpace account for my band Highway Jackson (4.20.05 to be exact) and seeing other bands on the "space" and thinking how fucking (excuse my french) MySpace was. Back then you could go to a band or someone's personal page and it wouldn't take a half hour for it to load because there was no customization of pages and back then...it WAS...all about the music.
Just like everything else in life, the first ones are the lucky ones. Being one of the first bands (and by first I mean first million) to sign up for MySpace made it very easy to network with other bands and show swap. I remember getting a message from a band asking if we wanted to open up for them in Boston (thanks to the guys again in Sad Marvin) and thinking, "Wow this is EASY". Of course that only happened a handful of times until MySpace was over saturated with everyone and their grandmother making a music page. This however, is not the ultimate problem.
The problem with MySpace is at first they were rebelling against the mainstream for a place to discover new music. Now MySpace IS the mainstream and just like independent bands have done many times before, we're rebelling against the mainstream. Against MySpace.
Signing on to stream Michael Jackson's memorial service is exactly what MySpace shouldn't do. It's as mainstream as mainstream gets. Instead of setting up some sort of musical tribute page(which would still be mainstream but not half as bad) they ignore the music and deal with the celebrity aspect of MJ. Does MySpace think they're MSNBC or CNN now? News coverage? Really?
Dear MySpace,
Get rid of all the ads. Get rid of MySpace Records too since all the bands on your label are already signed somewhere else. Delete music pages and individual pages that haven't been logged into for over 3 months. Drop the customization of pages because it just clutters everything up.
Thanks,
Former MySpace Users
P.S. Facebook is kicking your ass...if you don't already know that...and you don't see them over at the Staples Center do you?
Just like everything else in life, the first ones are the lucky ones. Being one of the first bands (and by first I mean first million) to sign up for MySpace made it very easy to network with other bands and show swap. I remember getting a message from a band asking if we wanted to open up for them in Boston (thanks to the guys again in Sad Marvin) and thinking, "Wow this is EASY". Of course that only happened a handful of times until MySpace was over saturated with everyone and their grandmother making a music page. This however, is not the ultimate problem.
The problem with MySpace is at first they were rebelling against the mainstream for a place to discover new music. Now MySpace IS the mainstream and just like independent bands have done many times before, we're rebelling against the mainstream. Against MySpace.
Signing on to stream Michael Jackson's memorial service is exactly what MySpace shouldn't do. It's as mainstream as mainstream gets. Instead of setting up some sort of musical tribute page(which would still be mainstream but not half as bad) they ignore the music and deal with the celebrity aspect of MJ. Does MySpace think they're MSNBC or CNN now? News coverage? Really?
Dear MySpace,
Get rid of all the ads. Get rid of MySpace Records too since all the bands on your label are already signed somewhere else. Delete music pages and individual pages that haven't been logged into for over 3 months. Drop the customization of pages because it just clutters everything up.
Thanks,
Former MySpace Users
P.S. Facebook is kicking your ass...if you don't already know that...and you don't see them over at the Staples Center do you?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Songs vs. Albums
Over the past few years there has been a trend amongst independent musicians. What used to be the album is now turning into the song. Instead of a band putting out a full length album and touring or gigging on it for a year or two, bands are putting out smaller EP's and creating a constant flow of new content for their fans. It makes sense though, right? If you disagree, let me explain.
If you're an independent musician you know how important each fan you have is to you. Without your fans your nothing. Hypothetically, if you put out an album every two years that means your fans have to wait two years every time they hear new material from you. In today's age where attention spans run on average about 30 seconds before it's, "O.K. what's next?", you've got to get more content into their hands (or ears) sooner rather than later.
No one likes going to see a band playing the same songs over and over and over again. What you want to do is give your fans a reason to come see you. A reason to spend their hard earned cash on your show, your record. Instead of putting out a ten track album once a year, put out two five track EP's twice a year. This gives more a reason to create a buzz around your band and also gives the fans something to get excited about. It's strategic marketing. It's OK to hold back on new music!
Apple is a great example of this with the new iPhone features and models. The Apple iPhone 3GS just came out adding video functionality to the iPhone. Apple already has other features available but will not add them to the iPhone until the next model, giving them a reason to put out another model while getting consumers excited about purchasing a new product. All of a sudden people who have iPhones are trying to get another iPhone with updated functionality. The same thing goes for your music.
Even though you may have 13 songs recorded and ready to release, maybe it's smart to release only a portion now and a portion later. I've heard of some artists releasing one song a month for a whole year. At the end of the year that artist pressed the top ten songs voted by his fans. How's that for keeping your fans engaged all year long?
What stories, tips or advice do you have about keeping your fans engaged and interested in your music?
If you're an independent musician you know how important each fan you have is to you. Without your fans your nothing. Hypothetically, if you put out an album every two years that means your fans have to wait two years every time they hear new material from you. In today's age where attention spans run on average about 30 seconds before it's, "O.K. what's next?", you've got to get more content into their hands (or ears) sooner rather than later.
No one likes going to see a band playing the same songs over and over and over again. What you want to do is give your fans a reason to come see you. A reason to spend their hard earned cash on your show, your record. Instead of putting out a ten track album once a year, put out two five track EP's twice a year. This gives more a reason to create a buzz around your band and also gives the fans something to get excited about. It's strategic marketing. It's OK to hold back on new music!
Apple is a great example of this with the new iPhone features and models. The Apple iPhone 3GS just came out adding video functionality to the iPhone. Apple already has other features available but will not add them to the iPhone until the next model, giving them a reason to put out another model while getting consumers excited about purchasing a new product. All of a sudden people who have iPhones are trying to get another iPhone with updated functionality. The same thing goes for your music.
Even though you may have 13 songs recorded and ready to release, maybe it's smart to release only a portion now and a portion later. I've heard of some artists releasing one song a month for a whole year. At the end of the year that artist pressed the top ten songs voted by his fans. How's that for keeping your fans engaged all year long?
What stories, tips or advice do you have about keeping your fans engaged and interested in your music?
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