Having been in many bands over the years, one of the things that always sets funny is the need of so many bands to immulate their "influences". What inevitably happens is a set with a song that sounds just like AC/DC followed by a song that sounds just like (insert the name of your next favorite band). It comes down to a lack of a true authentic vision, or maybe even a lack of self identity.
Is it any wonder that you can turn on the radio right now and here 10 bands with the same exact vocal style and delivery of Blink 182? Hell, even they stole it from Screeching Weasel.
This is what separates innovators from followers. The innovator makes a statement, the follower apes it and jumps on the "bandwagon". Innovators have staying power, followers have their successes as long as the style stays in fashion and then they fade away. 80's Hair Band package tour anyone?
It took me a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to realize that as much as I love Punk Rock music, I can't embrace the ethic, I feel like a clown in studded leather, and PBR is nasty. Let YOUR light shine through and you will qualify your ideal fans. If you like Lee Greenwood and Motorhead, your fans will hear both in what you do. The best part is that you won't sound "just like" either.
Be your own person, it feels good.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
What do THEY know anyway?
I found this to be pretty interesting. It appears that music fans just don't really care what the critics have to say anymore.
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories_old/070808critics
What does this mean for us? Well, it means that nothing has really changed. I believe that most Indies have always held the belief that our music speaks for itself, we don't really need the approval of music critics or reviewers to help move people to listen to us. Leave the pandering to the Major Label acts, we have a better tactic.
As "small time" acts, we have the opportunity to connect with the people who love our music in a way that Major Label artists can't. One on one. As is mentioned in the article above, a grassroots approach can be just what the doctor ordered. Though, with the ability to market via social networking sites, such as Myspace and Facebook, it has become not only easier to build fanbases, but also harder to stand out from the crowd. We need to innovate new and better ways to be noticed, and heard. What will you do to stand apart?
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories_old/070808critics
What does this mean for us? Well, it means that nothing has really changed. I believe that most Indies have always held the belief that our music speaks for itself, we don't really need the approval of music critics or reviewers to help move people to listen to us. Leave the pandering to the Major Label acts, we have a better tactic.
As "small time" acts, we have the opportunity to connect with the people who love our music in a way that Major Label artists can't. One on one. As is mentioned in the article above, a grassroots approach can be just what the doctor ordered. Though, with the ability to market via social networking sites, such as Myspace and Facebook, it has become not only easier to build fanbases, but also harder to stand out from the crowd. We need to innovate new and better ways to be noticed, and heard. What will you do to stand apart?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Power of Everpresence
This week I'd like to talk about one of the greatest marketing tools we as Indies have, Everpresence. I know, it's really not a word, but I think it sums up a great deal. The best way we have of making a name for ourselves is to put ourselves out there and in the spot light as much as possible.
We could definitely take a lesson from the hip hop community on this one. Take the success of Lil' Wayne, in the last couple of weeks. While certainly not the best rapper on the planet, he has saturated the Internet with his name, his songs, and his "brand", and it's garnered him huge success. Shouldn't we then take examples such as this and dissect them and find the formula for our own successes?
In a world that is becoming increasingly media based, why not take advantage of every possibility to put your name, and your face, in the minds of any and every prospective fan available? Buy an inexpensive video camera and create a YouTube account, Start video podcasting from your website, be creative and come up with ways to "be everywhere" that no one else has thought of.
It's a fact that, in this day and age, anyone can be a musician, and anyone has access to all of the same marketing outlets. It's become a game of who can do it most frequently and who can do it the best. What are you willing to do to be the best?
We could definitely take a lesson from the hip hop community on this one. Take the success of Lil' Wayne, in the last couple of weeks. While certainly not the best rapper on the planet, he has saturated the Internet with his name, his songs, and his "brand", and it's garnered him huge success. Shouldn't we then take examples such as this and dissect them and find the formula for our own successes?
In a world that is becoming increasingly media based, why not take advantage of every possibility to put your name, and your face, in the minds of any and every prospective fan available? Buy an inexpensive video camera and create a YouTube account, Start video podcasting from your website, be creative and come up with ways to "be everywhere" that no one else has thought of.
It's a fact that, in this day and age, anyone can be a musician, and anyone has access to all of the same marketing outlets. It's become a game of who can do it most frequently and who can do it the best. What are you willing to do to be the best?
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