1 post tagged “hughtrain”

Authentic connection

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.