The older I get, the more interested I become in seemingly boring things like music marketing and promotion. In a discussion with a friend of mine about the current state of music, these links were shared. I feel these links are good for any artist that is striving to make a living today.
'I'm Not Old, Your Music Does Suck'
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MP6159
1,000 True Fans
http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php
Here is the discussion so that we can perhaps continue a discussion here:
'I'm Not Old, Your Music Does Suck'
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MP6159
1,000 True Fans
http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php
Here is the discussion so that we can perhaps continue a discussion here:
ernie said:Via Duck Baker. This is a complicated issue, and I think there are several things at work: 1) People (listeners and critics) are generally lazy and are content to not put forth an effort to search for new stuff, 2) In the '60s and early '70s, *great, enduring* music and *popular* music often intersected...not so much now, 3) Many listeners now *prefer* the sound of MP3s over, say, CDs and vinyl (and then there's the loudness war, Auto-tune, etc.), 4) Current singing styles (e.g. *American Idol*) are unlistenable. UNLISTENABLE!
sloan said:The immediacy of modern media enables once dismissed novelty music to spread quickly and with a very focused niche market. Especially through social media avenues; which is basically a faster version of word-of-mouth. What better way to promote a product then have someone actively do it themselves with people that share the same interests?
Artists looking for a strong foothold in the battleground of the consumer's mind are better off pursuing a long-tail strategy of building a meaningful connection that lasts rather than a quick peak of interest. But then comes the struggle to get to the top of the trash heap just so you can hopefully get someone to pay enough attention to realize that you are not a flavor of the week.
In the past, there were a lot more filters for artists to pass through before they were able to spread the word via radio, tv, and larger tours. Today artists can directly get the word out without any type of quality filters or second opinions from anyone. It is a double-edged sword.
evan said:at this point, the modern music listener is completely oversaturated, overstimulated, and overindulged. free and endless information at the cost of quality and discernment.
people currently only want *exactly* what they want. most of them can get it whenever they want it, and usually for zero cost.
if you're not exactly what they want, you can bet they're not going to care about you.
the adventuresome, thoughtful, and curious-minded listener is all but a thing of the past. WELCOME TO THE AGE OF SOLIPSISM
ernie said:Totally, Sloan and Evan, good points. The lack of filters means that listeners should apply their own, at least by finding like-minded critics they can trust. Bad reviews don't stop a movie from making a gazillion dollars (*Transformers 2* comes to mind), and it's even a worse situation for music, since it's essentially free and there's no risk.
Top 40 charts are depressing now. I saw a clipping of Top 20 albums in some week in 1969, and it's unbelievable: King Crimson, the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Love, Fleetwood Mac (*Then Play On*!!), the Kinks, Blind Faith, Cream, a Motown compilation, Rolling Stones...the atmosphere was different then. Today, there is no way an album like Miles Davis's *Bitches Brew* could become a gold record. I think it's important for people to share music with friends, but then some people feel the need for validation, afraid to have a unique/dissenting opinion.
Regarding the long-tail, have you read the "1,000 True Fans" article? http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php It's an interesting idea, but still focused mainly on *products* (I'm concerned when I read, in the context of declining CD sales, that musicians should just sell more concert tickets or t-shirts.)
Regarding solipsism, this article is totally on-the-money: http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/arcade_fire_and_the_never_hear.html
sloan said:"I'm concerned when I read, in the context of declining CD sales, that musicians should just sell more concert tickets or t-shirts."
This is a valid concern, but at this point touring and merchandise sales are the primary sources of income for original artists (besides additional revenue streams via licensing etc). When people stop paying for an artist's intangible work, artists are forced into selling tangible products to make sure they can pay rent. But then again, it's near impossible to create meaningful connections with an audience who has seen and heard 'everything'.
Unfortunately the value of 'music' has dropped substantially, partly due to the sheer amount of novelty work that has taken up valuable real estate in the consumer conscience. I don't want to rail against novelty works totally, it is still work and a great way to develop skills for more serious works. I write and record ridiculous songs all the time, but in my opinion they do not hold up to the lasting artistic importance of many of past decade's classic performances.
Thanks for the links Ernie, I'm enjoying this discussion.
laurie said:we are in such a culture shift for the good and bad....with technology deliverables.....but there is nothing comperable to live music in the moment because we are still human beings even as culture changes all around us. I try to get to live music when I can as I also juggle time, money and a big ol' bowling ball. But when I got I tend to see the same folks there and it is because they've had the experience and repeat the good. But there are so many people I know who have NEVER really seen live music of any kind outside their laptop/tv. All of this fascinates me and I too enjoy the discussion and thinking about all of this.....'artifacts' from concerts as I like to think of them rather than 'souveniers' are not unimportant in establishing identities/building an audience. It is hard to know how to be an audience these days on the other side of the room/stage/screen. As a non-musician here. Just keep going. We make the road by walking.
ernie said:True, Sloan and Laurie. I enjoy live music, but I also think that "recording arts" are just as valid as "performing arts," and for artists that choose to only record and not play live (e.g. XTC, the late Glenn Gould) things will just get harder. I have no good solutions for this problem!
laurie said:technology keeps so much alive....I am so enjoying the many archives available and I like the compost of rich soil, where time is timeless, actually. But there is something about the human connection in person as well....but I say this as someone with a clear unapologetic addiction to the download archives. Technology as tools of thought changes our consciousness, it has been proven since we moved from oral culture to tablets to bible printin' to interactive hyperlinks, like this handy dandy little conversation. Very cool... (I always enjoy your posts...the sacred and the profane ones.)