Last.fm

Last.fm is a music service that learns what you love. Every track you play will tell your Last.fm profile something about what you like. It can connect you to other people who like what you like - and recommend songs from their music collections and yours too.

As you use Last.fm you make it better for you and everyone else. When you recommend some music to a friend, or you tag it, or you write about it - even just listening to it - you shift the song's importance on the site. It'll be recommended to different people, because you've listened to it. It'll move up music charts and maybe more people will hear it because you thought it was good.

How it all started…

Back in the 20th Century, Felix Miller and Martin Stiksel were running an online record label whose mission was to get independent music out to the people who wanted to hear it. A few years later, university student Richard Jones started tracking what he and his friends were listening to on their computers with a project he called Audioscrobbler. Last.fm brought these ideas and desires together. Last.fm has always been about making music culture more democratic: everyone listening to music how they want to, when they want to. Without a middle man making your decisions for you.

In a way this site can be compare to pandora.com but they are also linking their music knowledge on twitter and seem to have a very different layout and way of operating their music. I cannot talk enough about utilizing social media in the music business and these guys seem to have that down in picking up on the twitter bug! Although we might not get it, it's such a great way to update fans, future employees, and all targets on the internet as a whole.

Music Marketing Manifesto

In looking into the Gen-Y Rock Stars I followed a link to a similar site with a story to tell. John Ozsajca of Hollywood, California shares his tale of one day experiencing a musicians dream-come-true singing for a major label, touring the country, receiving radio and video air across the world to a year and a half later having to deal with the the reality of being dropped because his album was not selling enough copies. This happened to him two more times and with his final album he decided on a low budget, indie label release so it did very poorly. Feeling that his career in music was more or less finished he began to look into other ways to make money.

Uninterested in getting a “real job”, he got suckered in by one of those flashy headlines that promise to teach you how to “make a million dollars on the internet while you sleep” headlines that you see on web sites. He bought it for $200 and sold a few products but was spending about as much as he was making on the advertising for these products. It was fairly obvious that the course he bought was not going make him millions of dollars, and while he soon abandoned the system laid out in the course, it did give him hope. "I saw that you COULD sell things online in considerable volume, however, I also realized that to make money it was going to be a matter of bringing down costs and increasing results. And so, just as I had, time and time again with music, I persevered."

After a few months of tweaking and testing he had developed a system for generating free traffic and a simple method that allowed him to capture the contact information of a high percentage of people who visited his site. Within no time he had an email list of thousands of people; in fact it’s still growing as we speak. Once he had done that he was able to build a relationship with his fans that ultimately gained their trust and support, which in turn resulted in a huge increase in record sales. And the best part is, nearly the entire system is automated.

In buying what seem like a load of BS to make millions on the internet John studied this program and made it his own to promote his music. He know has the website I found as well as a book for only $27 that one can buy to make their millions in music marketing. I think it is genius!

Gen-Y Rock Stars

A Gen-Y Rock Star is a new breed of musician.

A Gen-Y Rock Star is the offspring of the DIY musicians. Taking punk rock ethos, great ideas, tomorrow’s artistic vision and the power of the internet to facilitate a the modern day’s rock star lifestlye.

Gen-Y Rock Stars is written by Greg Rollett, an interactive marketer and former musician from Orando, FL. Greg co-founded and currently runs operations at Endagon Innovations, a new media marketing agency focused on helping companies reach Gen-Y and younger consumers through Social Media, mobile technologies and entertainment. Greg has worked with Miller Lite, Coca-Cola, Disney and countless others on large operations and has also consulted for many indie bands around the world. Greg is known to speak on panels at Florida Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival and other conferences.

The site is geared towards THAT musician. The indie rocker with more YouTube videos than recorded songs. The band in the van with no album but thousands of streaming fans on UStream. The rapper recording songs and podcasting them on iTunes every night. It focuses on music marketing and tags information on advertising and distribution. It is a great way to utilize social media via internet and promote musicians who are struggling for record deals and gigs.

Great Big No More

Unfortunately in the music industry bands do not stay together forever. Whether it be lifestyle changes, difference in opinions, or even sometimes death a band has an eventual, evident end. Who knew this would come so early for a group here in Tuscaloosa we have come to know and love. The Great Big No is no more...

From the beginning I have always thought that they would go far together as a group. They are all friends and seem to get along great working together in collaborating their individual talents. I have personally been to the majority of their shows here in Tuscaloosa and have known for them to travel to Mississippi as well as a small festival together so it was a shock to me when I heard that their May 8th show I would be attending would be my last. It is not exactly clear to me why they are breaking up but I can only guess that it has to do with differing future aspirations. In becoming a group I am sure they knew this day would come especially since they formed in a college town. Each has their own education and career path to worry about and while their band is fun and exciting it may not be what they were hoping to pay the bills. I also know that the drummer has already begun to exploit himself as a DJ and plans to really focus on this solo project for awhile. Who knows?! They may all decide to get back together one day because from what I can tell they do all still get along and will remain friends.

In relating this band to music promotions I feel that they did a very good job in utilizing social media via facebook and myspace and their word-of-mouth/flyer distribution was all around Tuscaloosa. Because of this their shows were usually packed out and many will be sad to see them go.. So come out to support them in their last show when you're finals are over!! They deserve to go out with a bang!

Widespread Panic Family

On the weekend of April 17-19, 2009 Widespread Panic performed a three-night run at the Wharf in Orange Beach, AL. Earlier that same week the band performed yet another three nights in Orlando, FL but these shows were the extent of their spring tour. Most seasons of the year the band performs two to three nights every weekend in varying cities around the U.S. and fits festivals in during the summer as well. They have chosen to continue with some festivals this summer but again, they are not really on tour for the season until Fall rolls around when they have chosen to entertain along with the Allman Brothers. It saddens me to have gotten into this band so late in their career because the patterns that are forming are showing their age. They are not old by any means but because of my age I missed out on a lot of their ongoing seasons filled with music. I am also in no way saying that they are not as talented because every time I leave a show I am satisfied and believe they are some of the best rock and rollers of our time. And I have to say I am not alone in this belief...

In attending the shows in late April this year I could make an easy comparison to the annual beach shows last year as well as sold-out Halloweens and New Year's Eves.. this weekend was really a Widespread Panic "Family." I can't quite explain it but it is just a great feeling when you know you are around good people (a title of a panic song I was fortunate enough to hear at my first show). In bigger cities and more crowded events with the band you get your randoms and those that are really just there to get messed up. This year was very drama free and the drug scene was overall fairly clean. It was a very reassuring feeling that each night was going to be a worry-free good time when you didn't turn your head and see numbers in cuffs or people being walked out on stretchers. Obviously there were some issues because weekends do not flow that smoothly but all in all I have to say that I never felt uncomfortable.

It is something to say that when a band has so few shows in a season the ones that make the effort to come are the ones that really care for the music and appreciate the band for what they are doing. In the house I stayed in there were people who came all the way from Colorado, others from Charleston, and some as close as Georgia.. we had a house full but again.. no drama! Surprising among our age group but having a common interest and enjoying something that we all love so much together, what can you honestly get upset about?! I love feeling like part of a family in loving my favorite band.. I hope they keep rockin' for years to come!

Summer at Belleayre

This summer I have a friend who is fortunate enough to have received an internship in New York City doing our dream job. When this news came to her attention so did many previous employees' experiences and some advice. One girl in particular told my friend that "the hours are indeed long, but gratifying, and it is amazing experience. In looking for a job in music administration the internship lets you get a hand in every aspect of concert production. You will do everything from ticket sales to artist contracts to stage management to hospitality." She went on to say how great of a learning experience it was and how it really helped her to decide which aspects of the music business she liked and disliked. This opportunity also set her up for success in finding a job post-internship. The company's owners have many connections, in New York especially, and she could not say enough good things to prepare/excite my friend more about her upcoming venture to the city herself this summer.

After these initial e mails came in she got some from those that she would actually be working for so that she knows what is expected of her the kinds of tasks she is responsible for. In the first month and a half she is going to be booking bands, selling tickets, making travel arrangements for artists, going to tons of places with fliers, finalizing contracts, arranging and running charity auctions, and many crazy other things. After that is when the music starts. Mel, who she will be working under, said that by the 3rd concert he will be sitting in the crowd while her and the other intern handle EVERYTHING. There are two titles that they will have and they will switch each concert. One intern will be in charge of the 40-50 volunteers for each show and will supervise them in their duties of parking, vending, catering, merch, etc. That includes everything front of the house. The other intern will be in charge of everything back of the house. On stage working with the sound crew, lights, stage hands, artists lounges, the artists themselves. Pretty much stage management. On top of that they will have 4 junior interns who are in high school that they will be responisble for all day until their parents come to pick them up after the shows. A lot of the show will be held in tents which seat up to 900 tickets and she will have to set up each chair according the the ticket sales and make sure they are measured correctly and labeled. A lot of nights there will be receptions after the concerts where they will have to act as hostesses. Other responsibilites include renting bands the proper equipment for the show, setting up lodging for them, getting what they want in their dressing room, finding transportation, etc.. she says that it is a lot of "crazy, hard work" but that she is beyond excited.

Having heard from one that has already been through this internship and from another who is about to embark on her journey to the big city it excites me to someday find an internship/job just as exciting!

Music Festivals

Lately I have been discussing with friends which music festivals we will want to attend in the Summer of 2009. I love to attend festivals with friends because they are a perfect way to get away for a few days and be surrounded by music. Something that has come to my attention about these events is that they include headliners that most people have heard of but also have new artists that can be discovered. This is a great way for musicians to be heard because at a festival there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people who just love music. Initially someone may decide to attend a festival to see their favorite bands but they are soon introduced to others.
With the numerous stages set up there is plenty of opportunity to see many different bands. The festival has a set schedule and a map of the stages so that you can find the music that you want. Often in the process of searching for a stage you come upon another one and like what you hear; or.. if nothing that you like or have heard of is playing you may just pick a random band from the schedule to check out and realize that you love their sound. Festivals are a great way to see the bands that you love and also discover new ones. Based on your discovery you will tell all of your friends about your experience and these bands now have a positive word of mouth from their performance at the festival.
Entering into a music festival is a smart move for artists! It is just like a film festival.. those that want their movies to be seen by many enter their work into a film festival where many will see it and make an assessment. It is hard to be heard out of the blue so although it may seem like you are competing with the "big dogs" who are headlining the event.. it shows that you have confidence in your music and others will appreciate that and want to listen. I know from experience that I have discovered a lot of new music at festivals and those bands are recognized for that and are becoming more and more successful.

MySpace.com

MySpace.com is another website that is helpful for artists to be heard. Because it is a social website, like Facebook.com, it is easy for those who have their own page to be introduced to not only new friends, but new music. I joined the website myself because Facebook.com had not evolved as it has today and I had some family and friends who used it instead. I soon learned that many of the friend requests I received were from musicians. Most I had never heard of before so they take the risk of people taking the time to listen but most requests come with a message like "let us know what you think of us and hopefully you can make it to a show near you." Being intrigued I usually take the time to check them out and if I like them I see where their shows are.. I think it is such a great way for bands to get their name out there and have their songs heard.
Because not everyone is on MySpace, Facebook has also come up with a similar "page" for bands to create to boost their image and fan base but I do not find is as effective. Attending shows of local bands here in Tuscaloosa many can find a poster with the band's MySpace page displayed. It gives their listeners a chance to find out more about them, listen to more of their songs, and see where they are playing next. I have a few friends in a local band and in talking to them I know that the website has had a very positive effect for them. They are becoming more well known and now have gigs outside of Tuscaloosa. It is not only a way to boost their fan base but an amazing networking opportunity.
On most pages you can see who others are friends with and most bands stick with other bands within a similar genre. On every page their is a specific title of what kind of music to expect.. there are so many ways to search for bands and come across new ones simply with a request. MySpace.com is great for musicians who want to be discovered so I also hope to get future bands connected through this website!

Pandora.com - internet radio

"On January 6, 2000 a group of musicians and music-loving technologists came together with the idea of creating the most comprehensive analysis of music ever" (pandora.com). The Music Genome Project "set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level by assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome" (pandora.com). These genes give a song a certain musical identity looking at everything from melody to lyrics.. considering everything about the song, not necessarily the band's image or typical genre.
I discovered this website through a friend this past summer while we were interning together. It is a free internet radio that helped us pass the time and kept us entertained. By entering in an artist's name or specifec song that you like the website takes that and makes an entire radio station with other songs that contain similar "genes." In hearing familiar songs I was happy to have been introduced to this website but what really intrigued me was the fact that I was discovering new songs and bands that I may not had heard of before. Because the Music Genome Project took the time to take a deeper look into every aspect of a song I have been exposed to so much more than what I was originally expexting.
I feel that it is websites like this that help bands to be heard and I hope to learn how to later be able to contact groups like the Music Genome Project to help an upcoming group get discovered.

Advertising, Public Relations, and Music

Advertising can be broken down into specific components and is often related to public relations. Within an agency advertising has main areas of concern: media planning, creative, co-op and billing. Each of these areas maintains a certain degree of importance for the agency as a whole and without one, the entire operation could fail. Being interested mainly in the creative aspect of advertising I find myself drawn to graphic design. In that passion shares a desire for incorporating music into my future career. Because music promotions is often related to public relations, it is important to become knowledgeable in all areas of study correlated with these subjects. Having taken many "APR" (Advertisng and Public Relations) classes at the University of Alabama I have touched on the basics for obtaining credibility. I have an older sister who graduated with a degree in public relations from the University of Alabama last December who is currently employed in Los Angeles, CA with Jeneration PR. She has recently touched on becoming involved with promoting some smaller, unknown muscial talent on well-known websites (ex). PerezHilton.com and local magazines so she can give me some tips on what she is learning and help me get a head start with a step in the right direction. Music is, and always has been, a huge part of my family. Both my mother and father performed in their college years and my mom continues to partake in variety shows in our community and also entertain our family at reunions. The large family reunions are for my father's side of the family but everyone collaborates a big show for the main reception closing out the weekend. Many of my cousins play musical instruments and are members of bands around the world (from Ireland to Illinois to California). I have been blessed to grow up with such a musically talented family and although I may not share the gene I admire it and have become their biggest fan.

Because I realized early that I was not so gifted in the music department I found strengths in other areas of my adolesence. Keeping myself busy with school, gymnastics, and later cheerleading, I did not have much time for social activities and going to concerts. The few I attended were mostly free box tickets from my father's company or some crazy boy band when I was a teenager. It really was not until college that I began to realize my mother's favorite quote: "Music is well said to be the speech of angels." I grew up with this quote in my face every morning... She had an old book of her song lyrics from college that was one of the few things that survived a fire some years later in Colorado (where she met my father :) ) This quote seemed inspirational for her as a musician and in my path to figuring out what this meant for me I have fallen in love with listening to music.. finding out the lyrics meaning, dancing to the beat, relating all of it to my life and quoting artists that "really get me." There are so many different genres that are evolving and unique artists rising that want people to hear what they have to say.. I would love to be the person that helps them to say it. In helping them get their message out into the media and be heard by many I would feel fulfilled!