"Blogs, social networks, and websites of all stripes were hit by an invasion of widgets in 2007, tools that allow users to port services and functions of popular online destinations onto the sites of their choosing.
...Pronounced ‘cloud’, Qloud is an iTunes plug-in and a Facebook widget that allows users to play any 
song in their iTunes library through Facebook, and allows others visiting Facebook profiles to do the same. Users can also exchange playlists and add friends’ songs to their online libraries, but not actually download the file to their hard drive.
“It attracted more than 1 million Facebook users during its beta trial, and officially went live November 1. Investors include… former Yahoo Music GM David Goldberg.”
Out with the old in with the new....
.... 10 artists who may go the no-label route- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22443898/
The Web Secret Stories - Jonathan Harris
and all ways will be for anyone trying to make in the music industry past, present and especially future. Manage your niche!
In celebration of Independence Day, I've incorporated stories around the theme of "independence and freedom". Leading off with Prince rocking the industry once again with his avant garde decision to give away his latest CD for free in the UK. See Techdirt's article "Music Retailers Flip Out That Prince Wants To Give Away His Music" and Leftsetz Letter's galiant commentary "The Prince Flap".
Ryan Singel of Wired Blog has a great idea "Request for Corporate Privacy Villans: Help Wired News Rank and Shame Them"...here's an excerpt from his article: Heading into freedom weekend, THREAT LEVEL decided to ask readers to indulge in some free speech, whistle blowing, corporate bashing by submitting and voting on which companies have the worst privacy practices. Spammers, squealers and slimy data sellers are all fair game."
Thanks to the We7 community for embracing the future and helping both artist and fan maintain our independence and freedom...hip hip hooray!
..explains my long absence.
Three weeks ago, I couldn't imagine going on vacation without access to my computer and this blog.
I visited family and took a trip down memory lane with a visit to my alma mater Penn State University - Main campus. The mountain air was wonderful and so was the music---I was definitely in another "zone".
I'm slowly re-surfacing.
What's all the fuss about Lauryn Hill.. and the request for prayers. ( I like to remember Lauryn Hill at her best..video attachment). The video of Lauryn's performance in New Orleans was pulled from YouTube(the source for the request for prayers.) A more appropriate recap of Lauryn's state of mind from Badical Beats(thanks for the info) here---original source/URB read more here .
Resonating headlines...Last fm acquired by CBS link
AT&T crossing the line? link ....weapons of mass discovery(major ruling)?
I was in the middle of writing a rather long dissertation on the subject of authentic connections, when I recalled an article I’d read a few months back that highlighted Doc Searls’ conversation with a religious scholar and Pastor named Sayo. What did he say….something about relationships. (see Building a relationship economy)
Earlier in the week, Clive Thompson penned a great article titled, Sex, Drugs and Updating Your Blog(Published: New York Times, 05/13/2007). He discusses the new trend in music discovery(social network 2.0) and some of the music groups(Jonathan Coulton, Barenaked Ladies, Artic Monkeys and others) that have mastered the new social tools.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“In the past — way back in the mid-’90s, say — artists had only occasional contact with their fans. If a musician was feeling friendly, he might greet a few audience members at the bar after a show. Then the Internet swept in. Now fans think nothing of sending an e-mail message to their favorite singer — and they actually expect a personal reply. This is not merely an illusion of intimacy. Performing artists these days, particularly new or struggling musicians, are increasingly eager, even desperate, to master the new social rules of Internet fame. They know many young fans aren’t hearing about bands from MTV or magazines anymore; fame can come instead through viral word-of-mouth, when a friend forwards a Web-site address, swaps an MP3, e-mails a link to a fan blog or posts a cellphone concert video on YouTube.”
In my previous blog post, authentic connections was listed as a contributing factor to how I believe developing artists find success in circa 2007. When these connections grow to an ever increasing fan base, it’s important to understand why fans demand more from artists today.
I suggest reading Hughtrain—“It's no longer just enough for people to believe that your product does what it says on the label. They want to believe in you and what you do. And they'll go elsewhere if they don't.” ( my note: change the word product to music)
“It's not enough for the customer to love your product. They have to love your process as well.” More quotes found @ Hugh’s gapingvoid blog.
One final note, this is not a trend but rather an evolution. “The Net invites your customers in to talk, to laugh with each other and to learn from each other. Connected, they reclaim their voice in the market, but this time with more reach and wider influence than ever.” (source: Doc Searls chapter “Markets are Conversations”- The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual 1999, 2001 Christopher Locke,Rick Levine,Doc Searls,David Weinberger ).
"...but the point of selling albums is NOT the point. It's about establishing careers, and making money from all 360% of revenue." "Watch your tour grosses not your album sales." (Source: Lefsetz Letter 5/7/2007).
I believe for developing artists to make it in Circa 2007 aka the "digital revolution", they must first identify their music as a brand( and this includes identifying the "brand's" core audience). Second, establish your own terms(see examples from other successful artists ---I listed just a few). Third, focus, communicate and offer authentic connections to your fans. Remember to stay true, and ahead of the technology trends by allowing your brand(music) to be distributed to the "web savvy" & the "on-the-go" markets. (Need help??? Time to plug our services see our site niche-mangement).
When you read headlines like...
WMG Losses Widen 385% To $27 Million (Hat tip to Hypebot)
Can Music Survive Inside the Big Box? - WSJ.com
The record label as venture capital firm - Apr. 19, 2007
...know that you can carve out your "niche" and survive in the music industry today!
Other Blogs to watch: appetitefordisruption and HipMojo.com
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appetitefordisruption said:
[this is good]Side Niche - Thanks for the Shout Out! http://appetitefordisruption.typepad.com I'll be sure to post more soon! Spread the word! PK read more
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[this is good]Superb... simply superb."Anxiety, Depression, and Me" is a great read for anyone, really-- quoting Molly from the comments:The "geek" myth... read more
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