Social Media has changed the way many industries function on a daily basis. The industry and business of music is an example. Record labels, producers, music stores, performance rights organizations, lawyers, managers, broadcasters, booking agents, venues for live music performances, journalists, educators, and of course the artists are all integral parts of the industry and are all affected by social media on a daily basis. Through this blog I hope to shed light on the changes taking place today, and the implications they will have for the future of music.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Halloween
This Halloween I was reminded of social media’s prevalence as my two friends dressed as…well…social media itself!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
The Future of Music
I know I have talked a lot about the music industry’s changes concerning music distribution. But this is a huge topic for the business of music. The major source of revenue was in distribution and now with people downloading songs, both legally and illegally, the revenue has decreased significantly. This podcast from NPR’s On the Media really helps explain these concepts.
So what does all of this mean for the music industry? It actually means that social media is going to be increasingly important (how convenient for my blog). Eliminating the middle man and relying heavily on word of mouth is said to be the way the industry is leaning. Fans have really gained control over the whole business and this results in different things depending on if you are an artist or a record label. Musicians are better off than the record labels or distributors because the former can use social media to directly reach fans.
Hopefully the fans reached will use legal sites like iTunes, imeem, LaLa, Rapsody, or the new Google music search to find and purchase music. Although the revenue is pennies compared to CD sales, it is better than illegally taking music and helping nobody!
Changes will continue in the music industry, there is no doubt about it. It is important for the industry to follow these trends and make the correct changes….hopefully using social media along the way.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Tags: future of music, NPR On the Media
On my last two posts I talked about Google Audio. Although the specific name is unclear, the application to search, listen, and download music from Google is up and running. I am actually currently using it (John Mayer to be exact). But there are many ways to use this new sector of a Google search. This video explains it all!
I think the most innovative part is that you can type in random lyrics and the search engine refers you to a song. This is something that sets Google apart from other music searches. This is quick and convenient. Just what consumers want.
**If you try it out and results don’t show up, be patient. Google has only just launched it and it might take a day or so to integrate it completely.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Tags: Google, Music search
Music + Google = secret (part 2)
So it still seems that this project is a bit under wraps. I did find an article from Rolling Stone’s blog “Rock & Roll Daily.” For the most part, the information was the same as what I found earlier this morning. The music searching site will hopefully be easy and fast enough that it will divert people from illegal downloading. It seems you would plug-in a query to Google and at the top of the results page would be a “play” button. This would quickly take you to a place where you could listen to a free song and also be linked to LaLa, MySpace, and other sites where you could buy the music. The thought is that people live on Google. Tools like e-mailing, chatting, blogging, searching, and more are all available on this one site. Even though iTunes exists in much the same way, the thought is that people are already on Google all day long, so they are more likely to use this new feature than deal with iTunes.
I personally do not know which I would trust more. I also don’t know how much better this will be compared to using YouTube for music searches. It will be interesting to see this idea get underway. If you find any updates on it, please post them! I am interested to find more about the “unveiling” of Google’s newest venture.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: Google, LaLa, Music search, MySpace Music, Rock & Roll Daily
Music + Google = secret
For a week now I have been reading speculatory posts about ‘Google Audio.” Maybe you have too? It seems that Google is creating a music component allowing users to listen to embedded players and download songs. It is said to be linked to LaLa and iLike and was supposed to be announced today (I have seen nothing yet, but it is only 2pm).
Eliot Bushkirk from Wired’s blog Epicenter explains a lot about the intended application and the secrecy it has kept thus far. Michael Arrington from TechCrunch also talks about the “imminent” release and how it will be different from anything in the past.
From everything I have read, it seems Google will be launching a site where a search for an artist will be cross-referenced with many applications. From streaming audio to purchasing of tickets, Google is trying to do it bigger and better than its proposed rival iTunes. They are giving consumers what they want.
Music distribution is a constant topic for the music industry. Illegal and legal downloads have changed the landscape and embracing this change has been tough on the music business. Providing what the consumer wants, as far as fast, convenient and easy access, is more important every day. Buskirk, again from his blog at Epicenter, really drives this point home.
I will leave you with these thoughts and return later tonight, hopefully after Google has unveiled their secret!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Tags: Arrington, Bushkirk, Epicenter, Google Audio, Google Music, iLike, LaLa, music distribution, TechCrunch
You want that Live?
Experiencing things as they happen seems to be important to many people of this generation. Not only that, but fast updates have also become the norm with the 24 hour news cycle. We enjoy watching the live talk shows, the live interviews, and of course live performances. Sometimes this can be experienced from the comfort of your home with live coverage on the TV, and other times actually attending events is necessary. With social media live streaming over the internet has also become an option.
U2 recently announced that their Rose Bowl performance this Sunday will be streaming live on YouTube. This concert precedes their last live show of 2009. The decision to stream the concert over the internet will allow more people to have their fill of a live experience. It also allows for intimacy through social media. Since people will be tuning in through the internet, they can log right onto Twitter and post live comments or talk to other people watching the show in real-time.
The American Music Awards pre-show this November will also use live streaming. Unlike U2, the pre-show will use multiple outlets for the live coverage. In addition to all the live streaming, a fan widget will also be available allowing fans to ask questions as the stars walk the red carpet. Social media will be allowing viewers to experience the show on a new level as they become somewhat a part of the whole production.
Live streaming does bring up various conflicts with music rights. These issues and others pertaining to performance rights are currently being reviewed.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 3 Comments
Tags: live streaming, music rights. American Music Awards, u2, YouTube
Want music lessons?
The following company is a great example of a social media success story. Takelessons.com is a site where you can take music and voice lessons (I think the name speaks for itself). This venture began when two musician friends were trying to make ends meet. Luckily one of them knew a thing or two about social media, and began marketing a company using blogs, a website, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Now TakeLessons is one of the nation’s leading music lesson companies. How insane! Social media’s power to promote and connect is really shown through this story.
By using social media, and it’s viral effect, the company saves money, time, and above all they are able to connect with customers. This is really important to the leaders of this corporation because they want people to find comfort in the teacher they are getting. Taking music lessons is time-consuming so feeling a connection and level of trust with an instructor is important. Social media makes it possible for these relationships to begin.
The cool thing about this group is that they use each social media tool to foster a different role. This is important when implementing so many different, and often similar social media outlets. TakeLessons uses Twitter to link to their sites, and to promote the company blog. The blog is used for a broader goal: to explain the importance of music in our lives. Tips for musicians and news on music education are some of the topics.
TakeLessons uses a website as a central hub. Instructors can apply for a job and students can find appropriate lessons. Facebook is a tool for the customers to interact with each other (the great sharing ability of social media). YouTube is used for instructors to introduce themselves and for students to promote themselves. It is also another place where the connections are made. In the following video, one of the founders of TakeLessons Steven Cox talks directly to a musician who had a complaint about an airline and the way they treated his guitar. Although this person (Dave in the video) might not even be associated with TakeLessons, Cox and his company are so dedicated to music that they saw this opportunity to reach out. Pretty neat!
TakeLessons is a company that understands social media! The most impressive thing to me is the way they use so many different outlets so very differently. This is important when using social media because there are so many choices these days as to the program you can use. Making sure you choose the right ones and use them correctly is cohesive to success.
I think I am ready to go sign up for a lesson now….
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: Blog, Facebook, Music, Music Lessons, social media, TakeLessons, Twitter, YouTube
The other day I stumbled upon this article. A little bit like the Radiohead endeavour, Tommy Lee and his producer Scott Humphrey decided to collaborate with the fans in creating a new album.
As a producer, Humphrey is responsible for making business choices related to the creation of new music that will benefit the artist. It was interesting to hear Humphrey say that in a meeting he heard words like web 2.0 and interactivity. As he said, he didn’t see these things happening in his business, so he decided to take the plunge into web 2.0 and ask Tommy to create an album with the fans.
It is awesome to see artists understand social media’s importance and using it to their advantage. And social media ideas like Tommy Lee’s really do help an artist. When one of the collaborators makes it onto the CD, you know that person will run out to buy it.
CD sales experienced a 15% decrease in 2008 alone, so understanding how to get your music sold is crucial. Artists need to sell CDs to be successful. We will have to see if Humphrey’s collaboration idea helps sell this album for Tommy Lee.
All of this is well and good, but let me play devil’s advocate for a moment. In 2008, 95% of music downloaded was pirated. Will incentives like actually being on an album really influence people to buy music? It seems people today want music for free and artists want to be paid, so where is the happy medium?
Gareth Reakes tried to find this balance with We7:
The problem of online music might have begun with Napster in 1999, but it continues today as artists, producers, and record labels decide what can be done.
Social media initiatives like creating an album with the fans, or connecting on a personal level through a blog or Twitter, could really help an artist sell records. By having fans who feel connected on a personal level, they might feel more obligated to go out and buy a CD (support the artist) rather than downloading it illegally. Just a thought.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: downloading music, Interactivity, Public Record, Scott Humphrey, Tommy Lee, We7
Musictoday connects
Yesterday in my music industry class some employees of Musictoday came in to talk. The presentation focused on jobs in the music industry and how these people got to where they were today: working for a company in the business. From the discussion we also understood that their company, Musictoday was all about connecting the fan to the artist as directly as possible. Obviously this got my ears perked up and I began to think about my blog. Social media helps flatten the hierarchy of companies and the idea of connecting fans and artists seems to be just that. So I got home and began researching the company.
What I found was a wealth of information about social media in the industry and how this company was really at the forefront of direct-to-fan marketing and e-commerce. The best thing I found, which really gave examples of Musictoday using social media was this PowerPoint.
After looking at the PowerPoint, I logged onto Twitter and began following Musictoday. One of the first things I saw was the customer interaction taking place. Musictoday has a ticketing department and so they have to be ready for some major customer service. This tweet was a great example of how Twitter helped assist the company in quickly meeting customer needs:
Doing what a company using social media should do, they did not ignore the negative comment. They faced it, and tried their best to fix the problem, offering apologies as well. This is really important when dealing with customer service because it makes the customer feel connected and important. The company also uses social media for e-commerce. A large part of Musictoday is merchandise. All you need to do is choose a band and you are linked to a page where you can purchase paraphernalia.
YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Google AdWords are all avenues the company takes to connect fans to artists. One social network that I had never heard of before I read about Musictoday is Ning. This site allows people to create network sites based on passions, for example music! This video explains the concepts behind Ning:
If I had the choice I would be friends with the artists I like to listen to. I would tour with them, live close to them, and just interact. Since this is an unlikely situation, having a company like Musictoday that can connect me with the bands I love is the next best thing.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 5 Comments
Tags: Musictoday, Ning, social media
Apple released iTunes in January of 2001. From that date until now, iTunes has come out with 9 versions of the application, the 9th was released just last month. With each version comes new ideas and innovations. In 2003 the actual iTunes store was launched and it is now the number one music vendor!
iTunes has had a close integration with social media. By allowing users to subscribe to podcasts, it helped push this form of social media into the main stream. Rating music is another feature of iTunes which allows for customer interaction. By creating iMixes people can even listen to each other’s music. Recently however, iTunes pushed the social media envelope further allowing users to share iTunes through Facebook and Twitter. The most interesting thing about this update is the way people reacted. Right away rumors began about it, and people were interested. This shows the interest and power that social media has on the general public.
The actual facts are that people can now share music purchased through the store with friends over Facebook and Twitter statuses. This is another way to share music, learn about new music, and find out what your friends are listening to. As I said before, the power of P2P is immense these days.
All of the many features for iTunes show the site’s innovative capacity. I personally am not ready to inundate my friends with status changes based on what I am listening to at the moment, but obviously some people are. On my iChat, there is an option to allow them to see what I am listening to, and I have yet to use it…maybe I’ll try that out first?
Have you used this new iTunes 9 application? Did you even know it existed?
Filed under: Uncategorized | 5 Comments
Tags: iTunes, social media
