Marketing strategy in today's music world

nukeboot

Moving away from all the rumors and conflicting information about the new release for a minute...

I'm hearing from industry insiders and "experts" that the only way to survive in today's music
environment is to dump the old model - release album, tour album, rest and repeat.

The music fans that buy albums in hard form and consume them as a whole are vanishing from the
landscape since so many people download individual songs. Bands need to constantly expose
themselves to the market, release individual songs on a more frequent basis and keep themselves
top of mind. The end goal being to make most of their money through concert ticket and merchandise
sales since album generated revenue is cratering.

It seems like the band is breaking away from the old model, albeit not completely. And I'm not sure
they have a choice if they're going to remain viable as a group, even if that means disturbing their
hard core fans.

Thoughts?

RITFWinCO

Does anyone know the economics and logistics of the music biz in today's age or are you just condemning for condemning sake? If it is shown that small children or animals were injured in the conducting of their business then complain.

It's called promotion and distribution in the 21st century. I love how everyone is cool with exclusive Sony/Epic is a promotion and distribution tool but Target is bad. I guess if PJ only does Conan than that is an exclusive promotion tactic and that it bad as well.

As long as no children or animals are hurt, please do what it takes to spread your music to the four corners of the earth. I want you to fill up a stadium again.

Ledbetterdays

Since this is a more interesting approach then arguing about Target I will bite. If I look at my ipod and I scroll to see what new bands I have discovered I find that there are not very many. I am a fan of music and actively look for new bands to listen to but I have completely abandoned the CD or even complete albums and I am in my 30's. There is no way a young adult is going to buy an album generally speaking. YouTube, Itunes, and others give chances to hear songs ahead of time and make decisions on whether you like them. This tends to be the case for me. To find new bands requires searching blogs and finding sources that have a generally good track record. I think rock bands will find it harder and harder because they do not as easily fit into pop culture right now. Some bands are just streaming albums now ahead of their release and depending on hardcore fans and downloads of individual songs. Most of the new bands I listen to I have either read on a blog or seen/heard on television. The other thing is the festival scene and lots of those bands get recognized too. I do not listen to radio at all. In the end I think the talent will find a way to get heard or seen. If you are a brand new band with no track record you would have to use social media and hope to generate blog buzz and then maybe if you are lucky either get on a festival or a commercial. Just the way it is now.

norm

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=99784

benjs

Ledbetterdays wrote:

Since this is a more interesting approach then arguing about Target I will bite. If I look at my ipod and I scroll to see what new bands I have discovered I find that there are not very many. I am a fan of music and actively look for new bands to listen to but I have completely abandoned the CD or even complete albums and I am in my 30's. There is no way a young adult is going to buy an album generally speaking. YouTube, Itunes, and others give chances to hear songs ahead of time and make decisions on whether you like them. This tends to be the case for me. To find new bands requires searching blogs and finding sources that have a generally good track record. I think rock bands will find it harder and harder because they do not as easily fit into pop culture right now. Some bands are just streaming albums now ahead of their release and depending on hardcore fans and downloads of individual songs. Most of the new bands I listen to I have either read on a blog or seen/heard on television. The other thing is the festival scene and lots of those bands get recognized too. I do not listen to radio at all. In the end I think the talent will find a way to get heard or seen. If you are a brand new band with no track record you would have to use social media and hope to generate blog buzz and then maybe if you are lucky either get on a festival or a commercial. Just the way it is now.

I'm nineteen, and will definitely buy the LP (assuming there is one), will probably buy the CD, and will definitely download the album through whatever means necessary.

nukeboot

norm wrote:

http://community.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=99784

The "360" deals the labels are pushing that Duff is talking about are what bands need to be running away
from. I can see big acts like Madonna inking deals like that where they can get favorable terms that
work to their advantage. But it's a return to the bad old days for other acts.

The old model is broken and the record industry deserves to die the death of extinction. Instead of
embracing new technology and finding a way to be a value-added source they fought it like the
horse and buggy industry fought cars.

It's a brave new world and I think PJ is smart enough to hang on for the ride. It does mean giving up
some comfortable approaches though.

benjs

nukeboot wrote:

norm wrote:

http://community.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=99784

The "360" deals the labels are pushing that Duff is talking about are what bands need to be running away.
I can see big acts like Modonna inking deals like that where they can get favorable terms that work to
their advantage. But it's a return to the bad old days for other acts.

The old model is broken and the record industry deserves to die the death of extinction. Instead of
embracing new technology and finding a way to be a value-added source they fought it like the
horse and buggy industry fought cars.

It's a brave new world and I think PJ is smart enough to hang on for the ride. It does mean giving up
some comfortable approaches though.

It's tragic that, as Duff mentioned, the labels ran the other direction when technology began to be utilized heavily. It's because of the Suits, and their comfortable lifestyles, and fear of change.

JOEJOEJOE

KORN did a 360 deal a few years ago.

Do any Korn fans view the band any differently?

I can see how Madonna could do such a deal without any outcry because her career isn't really based on credibility.

U2 has done a few big deals, yet they are bigger then ever.

A few cheesy bands in the 90s didn't worry about credibility, and though they made some $$, they never got much respect.....Everclear, Smashmouth & Third-Eye Blind.

To me, doing a 360 deal is best suited for a band that may be a bit past their prime.

Ledbetterdays

The fact that you are on this message board kinda defeats the overall point though--but I am happy you will buy it.

I'm nineteen, and will definitely buy the LP (assuming there is one), will probably buy the CD, and will definitely download the album through whatever means necessary.[/quote]