Music Marketing [dot] com

Casting Call - Rock Star 2

Who is it?  Creed?  Limp Bizkit?  Van Halen?!

Think you’re a Rock Star? Send an application along with a video, demo, and picture or attend an open call in one of the following cities (cities subject to change):

1. Austin, TX – March 1st
2. Boston, MA – March 3rd
3. Atlanta, GA – March 6th
4. New York, NY – March 8th
5. Chicago, IL – March 11th
6. Toronto, ON – March 13th
7. Minneapolis, MN – March 16th
8. Seattle, WA – March 18th
9. San Francisco, CA – March 21st
10. Vancouver, BC – March 23rd
11. Los Angeles, CA – March 31st

You can ROCK out a cappella, with a track, play an instrument, or bring an accompanist.

To get an application go to www.cbs.com or www.rockstar.msn.com.  Application deadline is March 25, 2006 and you must be at least 21 years of age.

Every Musician Should Have Multiple Websites

If you've only got one website, you're doing things wrong!

Every band, musician, and songwriter should have several "feeder" websites to bring in people and funnel them to the main site.  For example, you should have a blog where you post news, you should have a page of resources for fans of the genre (a website equivalent of this), and if you're really ambitious, a fake fan page.

Yes, a fake fan page.  I'm not going to get into the ethics of it because that's up to you.  If it's not for you, don't do it...no hard feelings.  If it is for you, go for it.  I think of it as the online equivalent to "sweetening the pot" when you're playing for tips.

How to you do it?  Well, domain names are ony $7.85 and you can get hosting at the link below for as many domains as you want for less than $10/month.  Then, for the fake fan site, just make a really crappy page with a bunch of flashy banners and buttons so that it looks similar to a Las Vegas wedding chapel.

Sue Your Fans

Nashville has a store called Watson's which sells "leisure products" such as above-ground pools, hot tubs, pool tables, and bar funiture.  The pitch person is a female everybody knows as the "Watson's Girl."

Everybody in town knows who she is, so a few years ago, I thought it would be funny to make a tribute site for her.  It had photos, ideas for additional ad campaigns, fan fiction, and a guestbook for people to sign.  Of the roughly 800 domains/sites that I own, it was the only one that was not monetized.

The site was quite popular and Jennifer Eichler, the Watson's Girl herself, even dropped in to sign the guestbook.  She said, "Thanks for not making me out to be a total whore," which I guess is a problem she has elsewhere.  I'm sure that kind of thing comes with the territory when you dress in a bikini and sell hot tubs, but it's not my style.

I got caught up with other things and totally forgot about the site...until I got a letter from Jennifer's attorney.  He didn't think the site was too funny.  And Jennifer apparently no longer got the joke either.

So much for being a fan...

I tried to be cool, called him back, left him a phone message, and got this phone message in return.  When I didn't kiss his ass, call him back right away, or sign over the domain name, he had his boss call and leave me a really nasty message.

As I mentioned, this was the only domain/site out of about 800 that I own, so I didn't think it was worth a legal mess.  But I also didn't feel like being some attorney's bitch.

So I didn't do anything and just let the name expire...

Took a look a few days ago and it's been snatched up by some guy who really is trying to make money with it.  It now has paid listings for Russian brides, chat rooms, online dating, and used cars.

Is that better than a fan site with hundreds of guestbook entries talking about how great you are?  You tell me...

A Good Week for Sex.com

Just got the new Playboy, which has a great article on Sex.com that is worth checking out. 

According to CNN.com, the story goes something like this...

Boy gets domain name, boy loses domain name, boy gets domain name back. Add in millions of dollars flying about, a possible run-in with Mexican authorities and, naturally, a climactic courtroom finale.

That's a pretty good summary.  More or less, the original owner, Gary Kremen had  registered Sex.com in May 1994 but it was stolen from under his nose in October 1995 by lifelong con-man Stephen Cohen via a forged fax to Network Solutions.  Kremen then spent years chasing Cohen down...and he's still doing it to this day.

Of course, there is a little more to it than that and it's much more interesting.  It's the kind of story that would make a good Hollywood movie...and probably will.

Things are looking up for Gary Kremen.  He regained control of the domain and, just this week, Sex.com just sold for $12M.

Jetspeed Records CEO Targeted For Class Action Lawsuit

Controversial indie label owner Courtland Tyler to face artists in California Superior Court...

The object of much debate over breech of contract and unethical business practices in the last few years, Jetspeed Records/Red Galaxy Recordings owner Courtland Tyler will now defend himself in a lawsuit filed in a California Superior Court earlier this month. The suit alleges that Tyler's companies accepted money from aspiring artists specifically "... to defraud the bands."

Many artists have reported that Tyler accepted money in excess of $5000 for recording contracts, promising worldwide CD distribution and promotion to major radio stations, only to drop contact after receiving the funds. Some have even traveled to Los Angeles to record albums, which they say were never released.

Tyler was not available for comment; however, sources close to him describe him as a "stand up guy," claiming that his work with local bands has done nothing but benefit the independent music community. 

Send Me Your Demo

Music Business Radio is back in production for 2006!  If you'd like your music to be featured on our "Demo Derby" segment, feel free to send us a demo.

This is your chance to have your music critiqued by major label music biz people, established artists, and more.  And it's all live on the air.

Send a CD plus one-sheet bio and complete contact information to:

WRLT
ATTN: Music Business Radio - Demo Derby
1310 Clinton St
Suite 200
Nashville, TN, 37203

NO PHONE CALLS!!

Waiting for Inspiration...

Nashville has a lot of songwriters, many of them very successful.  What makes them different from the average, non-successful songwriter?

In my opinion, it's the fact that they don't wait for inspiration.

So many times, I talk with songwriters, musicians, and other creative people who tell me, "I don't work all the time...only when inspiration strikes me."  And, unless you really think about it, the argument makes sense.

But what would happen if a surgeon waited to be inspired before he started surgery?

What would happen if an airline pilot waited to be inspired before he left the terminal?

This doesn't happen.  A surgeon had a scheduled surgery and gets inspiration when he comes into the hospital, washes up, and starts the process.  A pilot is inspired when he puts on his uniform and walks into the airport.

The action of doing something leads to inspiration, not the other way around.

Why Competition is Good

Does it piss you off when somebody copies your sound?

It shouldn't.

This just proves there is a market for what you're doing.  In other words, Britney Spears actually benefits from Jessica Simpson.  And Megadeth benefits from Metallica.

Anything that can introduce people to what you're doing and grow your potential fanbase is good.

People buy music because they want to be entertained.  And entertainment is something that most people can't get enough of.  During the Great Depression, the entertainment business was the one industry that made any money. 

Even when people can barely afford food, they'll pay for entertainment...and they almost never stop with just one form of it.  The majority of Jessica Simpson fans own something by Britney Spears.  And the majority of Megadeth fans own something from Metallica.

Your competition is helping you to sell records, get people to shows, and make money.

MySpace Gets its Star...

...but it's not a musician.  It's a guy named Jeffree Star.

Don't know a thing about him, so I checked out an interview at Aural Salvation and it only confused me more.  I have no idea how the hell he got so well known.  Are people that starved for somebody to admire?  Didn't Michael Alig do this same thing 10-12 years ago?

The only thing I know is that he dresses like a woman, is into cutting, shills for Mac Cosmetics, and doesn't know how to give a good interview.

Like a lot of musicians, he talks about what he is planning on doing...starting a line of makeup, putting out an album, doing a reality show for MTV, etc.  Will he do it?  I don't know, but not doing it would waste a lot of great momentum he has going.

Viral Marketing for Musicians - An Example

Brent Hoodenpyle & The Loners is a traditional, alt country, hillbilly, folk, Americana band based out of Chicago.

Brent wanted to have something to send to people on his mailing list as thanks for their support over the past year, so he created the "Alt Country Survival Guide."  To expand his reach, he extended the offer to other bands and let them brand versions of the guide for their lists.

The result was not only increased loyalty from his current subsribers; he also made a ton of new fans and great connections with other musicians who can help him out in other ways. 

Ways which you can support the scene like this will come back to support you.  How can you support your local scene?

Don't have a scene?  Think about this...  You are the scene.  The only reason Seattle, or LA, or NYC, or New Orleans ever happened was because local people, just like you, went out and supported other local people.

Think you're too busy to go out?  You're not...but if you want to fool yourself into thinking that, at least check out something like IndieAd.org and take action with your a few bucks of your money.

These techniques will work for any genre of music.

"Alt Country Survival Guide" - Download