I make no bones about the fact that the new crop of Disney creations are not my thing, but I do find it interesting the lengths that Disney will go to to capitalize on them.
Take for instance this newest bit I got this morning from Digital Music News. It seems that you can now get Free download cards for Jonas Brothers songs from your morning breakfast cereal packs. These "kid friendly" packs contain a single serving of your favorite breakfast cereal, a juice drink, a snack, a spoon to eat it all up with, and now even your favorite empty calorie music to go along with it all!
I won't go into how wrong I think it is that the record label is getting benefits from this thing being supplied to our nation's school children (I'm sure at tax payers expense), but from the commercial stand point it is a stroke of pure brilliance.
Talk about targeting your ideal audience!
Joint Venture ideas like this could be an outstanding marketing goal for Indie artists as well. What if you were to combine your music with the products of others? Licensing opportunities are everywhere these days, and maybe your favorite up and coming Designer, Artist, Writer, or whatever, could be your future business partner.
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/091708jonas
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The One Thing Labels Don't Want You To Know!
If there's one thing the Record Labels around the world do NOT want you to know it's that, YOU DON'T NEED US.
That's right. The Record Label as it's been known is going extinct.
We're living in an exciting time when everyone has access to the same quality of services. We as Indies may still have to work a little harder to get the same kinds of notice, but for the first time in history, you don't have to rely on the Middlemen. Of course, it means that you have to familiarize yourself with so much more information, but each and every one of us has the ability to create our own organizations, and our own futures.
We're artists right? Do we need corporations like Disney, Sony, or Virgin to "create" us. If you're serious about wanting to make the Music Industry your life, then you have to approach it with commitment, and not mere interest. You have to live it like your life depends on it.
I'm shocked at the things the average musician doesn't know. From the working composer that doesn't know how to register his creations with his Performing Rights Organization, to the cover band down the street, plastering their versions of other peoples songs all over the place without the slightest clue as to what a Mechanical License is.
There is a lot that we as Indies should know about the processes our music goes through in order for us to bring in the kind of income that we would all like to see. You have to commit to learning something new every day, and to being the best you can be at what you do. Let's face it, even if you are one of the few that does get signed, you're still responsible to understand what it is you
are legally responsible for and entitled to.
If you are going to build a team to take some of this stuff off of your hands, then make sure that the people you hire to represent you know what they're doing, because if they don't, you may end up paying the price for their incompetence.
Traditionally it is the Label that takes care of the legal and contractual responsibilities for the artist, but with the right information and the right level of Commitment you can go the distance and still retain the control over your own destiny.
That's right. The Record Label as it's been known is going extinct.
We're living in an exciting time when everyone has access to the same quality of services. We as Indies may still have to work a little harder to get the same kinds of notice, but for the first time in history, you don't have to rely on the Middlemen. Of course, it means that you have to familiarize yourself with so much more information, but each and every one of us has the ability to create our own organizations, and our own futures.
We're artists right? Do we need corporations like Disney, Sony, or Virgin to "create" us. If you're serious about wanting to make the Music Industry your life, then you have to approach it with commitment, and not mere interest. You have to live it like your life depends on it.
I'm shocked at the things the average musician doesn't know. From the working composer that doesn't know how to register his creations with his Performing Rights Organization, to the cover band down the street, plastering their versions of other peoples songs all over the place without the slightest clue as to what a Mechanical License is.
There is a lot that we as Indies should know about the processes our music goes through in order for us to bring in the kind of income that we would all like to see. You have to commit to learning something new every day, and to being the best you can be at what you do. Let's face it, even if you are one of the few that does get signed, you're still responsible to understand what it is you
are legally responsible for and entitled to.
If you are going to build a team to take some of this stuff off of your hands, then make sure that the people you hire to represent you know what they're doing, because if they don't, you may end up paying the price for their incompetence.
Traditionally it is the Label that takes care of the legal and contractual responsibilities for the artist, but with the right information and the right level of Commitment you can go the distance and still retain the control over your own destiny.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Get clear!
Last post I mentioned having a clear vision of where you're going in your race toward success, but I wanted to kind of revisit that again. It's a hard thing to get that vision and hold onto it, in fact I struggle with it daily. So I thought I'd mention some of the little tactics we use around here to keep it in the forefront of our minds.
1. Our Mentor board. We have a spot in the studio here where we've placed pictures of all of our favorite Producers, and if we get stuck on something, we just wonder out loud what would Quincy Jones do?
2. For Christmas a couple years back Dana made a box of cards for me. The cards are a series of ideas, tactics, and tricks created by Brian Eno. His thing is that if you don't know which way to go, just pull a card and do whatever it says, even if it means scrapping the last two days worth of work. What this does is makes us remember that it's the process that is important, not the destination.
3. We use lots of photos. We hang them on the bulletin board in the studio to remind us of the great times we've had along the way, which in turn reminds us of why we're doing what we're doing.
4. We've framed up copies of all of our releases, you know, like Gold Records, to remind us of our successes and our passion for making great music.
5. This one is my favorite. Dana wrote and printed out a mock Rolling Stone interview with her at the height of her success. Nothing like just looking up at the bulletin board and reading about how you're already where you want to be, and the wonderful things you're able to accomplish with your success.
It's our imaginations, as artists, that separate us from the average joe at the grocery store. Use that imagination, get clear about who you are and where you're going, and see your future. Just remember to have fun along the way.
1. Our Mentor board. We have a spot in the studio here where we've placed pictures of all of our favorite Producers, and if we get stuck on something, we just wonder out loud what would Quincy Jones do?
2. For Christmas a couple years back Dana made a box of cards for me. The cards are a series of ideas, tactics, and tricks created by Brian Eno. His thing is that if you don't know which way to go, just pull a card and do whatever it says, even if it means scrapping the last two days worth of work. What this does is makes us remember that it's the process that is important, not the destination.
3. We use lots of photos. We hang them on the bulletin board in the studio to remind us of the great times we've had along the way, which in turn reminds us of why we're doing what we're doing.
4. We've framed up copies of all of our releases, you know, like Gold Records, to remind us of our successes and our passion for making great music.
5. This one is my favorite. Dana wrote and printed out a mock Rolling Stone interview with her at the height of her success. Nothing like just looking up at the bulletin board and reading about how you're already where you want to be, and the wonderful things you're able to accomplish with your success.
It's our imaginations, as artists, that separate us from the average joe at the grocery store. Use that imagination, get clear about who you are and where you're going, and see your future. Just remember to have fun along the way.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Be the Change You Want To See
How do you label success? What does that word mean to you? Is it the diamond encrusted Rolex? Is it the Bentley in the driveway? Maybe you're not that Material. Maybe success for you is having Power or Prestige or Acclaim.
Maybe you're like a lot of Indies who have a really hard time picturing anything more than a van that doesn't leave you stranded on I-70 halfway across Kansas, or even enough money from your gig to put gas is said van.
There are virtually thousands of resources out there that can give you every tip you would ever need to reach the success you want, but they won't help one bit. Why? It's not because it's not good, or even Great advice. It's not because you're too dumb to get it. It's not even because you sleep in too late and drink too much to do the work (my personal, former excuse).
The reason that all that great advice won't help you is because it's incomplete. That's right, it's missing a step. What none of it shows you is how to leap the biggest hurtle in your path to success, yourself.
You see, from an early age we're all programmed with default settings. These settings are programmed into us from sources such as Parents, Teachers, Friends, and that weird uncle you really don't like but who scores pot for you. You get accustomed/programmed to make a certain amount of money, to drive a certain quality of car, to eat a certain type of food (I lived for many years on the Ramen diet). The conditions that you're raised in, and the people you associate with help shape your comfort level/programming.
What does this mean? Well what it means is that all the good intentions, and all the willingness, and all the wanting to change your condition are blocked by you and your own comfort level.
It's not enough to change your mind, you have to change your habits. They say that if you can do something for two weeks straight, then it becomes a habit. So, where do you start? Sorry, there's no one magic change you can make to turn you into a Multi-Million dollar recording artist, but if you take a nice hard look at how you're approaching things daily, and decide daily to change a habit that's leading you nowhere, then daily you will be getting closer to your end goal.
But wait! That's not enough. Before you can do any of that, you have to have a CLEAR goal in mind. Start with the end in mind and work back. Wanting change is a great first step, but it's a daily practice to keep it going and you have to make that commitment to yourself to put in the effort.
In the end it's worth any effort, but keep in mind that, as with all things in life, at the very core is personal responsibility. No one will do the work for you. No one will hand you your dreams. You have to be the agent for your own desires. You have to be the change you want to see.
Maybe you're like a lot of Indies who have a really hard time picturing anything more than a van that doesn't leave you stranded on I-70 halfway across Kansas, or even enough money from your gig to put gas is said van.
There are virtually thousands of resources out there that can give you every tip you would ever need to reach the success you want, but they won't help one bit. Why? It's not because it's not good, or even Great advice. It's not because you're too dumb to get it. It's not even because you sleep in too late and drink too much to do the work (my personal, former excuse).
The reason that all that great advice won't help you is because it's incomplete. That's right, it's missing a step. What none of it shows you is how to leap the biggest hurtle in your path to success, yourself.
You see, from an early age we're all programmed with default settings. These settings are programmed into us from sources such as Parents, Teachers, Friends, and that weird uncle you really don't like but who scores pot for you. You get accustomed/programmed to make a certain amount of money, to drive a certain quality of car, to eat a certain type of food (I lived for many years on the Ramen diet). The conditions that you're raised in, and the people you associate with help shape your comfort level/programming.
What does this mean? Well what it means is that all the good intentions, and all the willingness, and all the wanting to change your condition are blocked by you and your own comfort level.
It's not enough to change your mind, you have to change your habits. They say that if you can do something for two weeks straight, then it becomes a habit. So, where do you start? Sorry, there's no one magic change you can make to turn you into a Multi-Million dollar recording artist, but if you take a nice hard look at how you're approaching things daily, and decide daily to change a habit that's leading you nowhere, then daily you will be getting closer to your end goal.
But wait! That's not enough. Before you can do any of that, you have to have a CLEAR goal in mind. Start with the end in mind and work back. Wanting change is a great first step, but it's a daily practice to keep it going and you have to make that commitment to yourself to put in the effort.
In the end it's worth any effort, but keep in mind that, as with all things in life, at the very core is personal responsibility. No one will do the work for you. No one will hand you your dreams. You have to be the agent for your own desires. You have to be the change you want to see.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Nameless faceless masses, or your very own evangelists?
Before I jump in, I would like to thank Tony Van Veen of Discmakers/CD Baby for his words regarding Discmaker's recent acquisition of CD Baby. Here at Serious Vanity Music we are not only users of CD Baby, but part of the Discmaker's Studio Partners program as well, and plan to stay that way. I know that, for our part anyway, we are looking forward to seeing what new benefits this change in ownership will bring to the CD Baby family.
So, let's talk Evangelism. I'm not referring to the Fire and Brimstone type, I'm talking about your fan base/customers/clients.
Are you content with having people like what you do, or are you ready to have them start spreading the word about you? There is a difference, you know. It's one thing to have the regulars show up at your weekly gig at the local club, but are they following you to that show 100 miles away? Are they on the Internet for weeks leading up to that show telling everyone they can about you and what they can expect if they show up?
People don't preach your message unless you give them a reason to. What benefits do you offer that will make people stand on the mountain tops and scream your name?
In this situation "benefit" is the operative word. People don't do anything is this world without a perceived benefit. They want to feel that they are getting something with enough value that it makes it worth their time to tell others about it.
New operative word "value". The American Heritage Dictionary (sorry, I couldn't find my copy of Websters) says Value is "an amount considered to be a suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return for goods or services". This doesn't have to be a monetary or even a physical investment on your part. Often times it comes down to just simply making a person feel that they are are a part of your team.
I know, Street Teams are nothing new, but that's not exactly what I'm getting at. I'm talking about community. To give an example; If you do a Google search for Duran Duran fan communities you will find that there are hundreds of them online. These are communities where it's a major pastime for the participants to just share their love for their favorite band. This may be a rather large example, with a couple of decades head start, but I think it's still the ideal example of what can be accomplished by making people feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, and believe it or not, it's the quickest way to get your news spread about.
What are you willing to do to add value to your fan/customer/clients experience?
So, let's talk Evangelism. I'm not referring to the Fire and Brimstone type, I'm talking about your fan base/customers/clients.
Are you content with having people like what you do, or are you ready to have them start spreading the word about you? There is a difference, you know. It's one thing to have the regulars show up at your weekly gig at the local club, but are they following you to that show 100 miles away? Are they on the Internet for weeks leading up to that show telling everyone they can about you and what they can expect if they show up?
People don't preach your message unless you give them a reason to. What benefits do you offer that will make people stand on the mountain tops and scream your name?
In this situation "benefit" is the operative word. People don't do anything is this world without a perceived benefit. They want to feel that they are getting something with enough value that it makes it worth their time to tell others about it.
New operative word "value". The American Heritage Dictionary (sorry, I couldn't find my copy of Websters) says Value is "an amount considered to be a suitable equivalent for something else; a fair price or return for goods or services". This doesn't have to be a monetary or even a physical investment on your part. Often times it comes down to just simply making a person feel that they are are a part of your team.
I know, Street Teams are nothing new, but that's not exactly what I'm getting at. I'm talking about community. To give an example; If you do a Google search for Duran Duran fan communities you will find that there are hundreds of them online. These are communities where it's a major pastime for the participants to just share their love for their favorite band. This may be a rather large example, with a couple of decades head start, but I think it's still the ideal example of what can be accomplished by making people feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, and believe it or not, it's the quickest way to get your news spread about.
What are you willing to do to add value to your fan/customer/clients experience?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Only a matter of time?
Discmakers isn't wasting any time. Within a week of announcing their purchase of CD Baby, they're now in the process of launching Elite Artist Services, a nice little place where established acts can go when their tired of playing the Major Label game.
Offering services like Duplication, Merchandising, and DISTRIBUTION, it may well be just a matter of time before, like MP3.com, the Indie artists at CD Baby are completely overshadowed by the likes of NIN and Radiohead.
What could this "potentially" mean for Indie artists? The Worlds only Indie distribution company being flooded with the NEW Indies, former Major label acts that want to have more say in their music? Well, it could mean that, as Indies, we'll have to start stepping up our game. Or, it could also mean that the playing field just got leveled. I guess it depends on how you approach your music.
I'm not trying to hate on any artist who wants to have more control over their work, in fact I think that it'd be awesome if all artists had complete creative control, it would do away with the "Disney Creation" acts like Miley Cyrus and Vannessa Hudgens. We could stand to weed out the fodder a little bit.
The wheels of progress never stop.
Offering services like Duplication, Merchandising, and DISTRIBUTION, it may well be just a matter of time before, like MP3.com, the Indie artists at CD Baby are completely overshadowed by the likes of NIN and Radiohead.
What could this "potentially" mean for Indie artists? The Worlds only Indie distribution company being flooded with the NEW Indies, former Major label acts that want to have more say in their music? Well, it could mean that, as Indies, we'll have to start stepping up our game. Or, it could also mean that the playing field just got leveled. I guess it depends on how you approach your music.
I'm not trying to hate on any artist who wants to have more control over their work, in fact I think that it'd be awesome if all artists had complete creative control, it would do away with the "Disney Creation" acts like Miley Cyrus and Vannessa Hudgens. We could stand to weed out the fodder a little bit.
The wheels of progress never stop.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Really CD Baby?.................Really?
So, the big news today is the surprising sell of CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/) to Disc Makers.
This comes as quite a shock to a lot of people in the Indie world, as founder, Derek Sivers had once proudly stated that he would "NEVER" sell CD Baby.
I understand that all things in life change, and seeing as Derek says he's not even been involved in the day to day operations of CD Baby since 2002, it's probably a good thing that he's passing it on to someone who can give it the attention needs for it to grow to new levels of success.
My only question is why Disc Makers? They hardly have the best reputation for customer service and reliability, so how are they going to improve upon the existing system? Besides the Face lift they've already given the CD Baby page, what are they going to do to increase sales for their artists?
Ahhh, the times, they are a changing.
Read more about it here:
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/081508disc
This comes as quite a shock to a lot of people in the Indie world, as founder, Derek Sivers had once proudly stated that he would "NEVER" sell CD Baby.
I understand that all things in life change, and seeing as Derek says he's not even been involved in the day to day operations of CD Baby since 2002, it's probably a good thing that he's passing it on to someone who can give it the attention needs for it to grow to new levels of success.
My only question is why Disc Makers? They hardly have the best reputation for customer service and reliability, so how are they going to improve upon the existing system? Besides the Face lift they've already given the CD Baby page, what are they going to do to increase sales for their artists?
Ahhh, the times, they are a changing.
Read more about it here:
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/081508disc
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