Music Marketing [dot] com

My "Man Purse" and Your Music Business

I'm in NYC right now, in the middle of a 10-day trip that also includes a few days in Toronto.  One of the things I've been trying to do this year is downsize everything and use only what I need, so I decided to take this opportunity to carry on my baggage rather than check it.

My goal of downsizing everything also included my briefcase. I have use for one, but not something that's too big.  The last thing you want when you walk on a plane is for people to roll their eyes at the "carry on champion" coming through...

Found some really nice stuff, but more or less, everything was the same as what I already have-- big ass bags designed for laptops.  Not what I was looking for.

So what's the solution?  The "man purse."

A MAN PURSE?!  Hell yes.  Makes sense, but won't it make me gay or something?  Those are the rumors, you know.  At the very least, you're a target for one of the many "I Hate Hipsters" websites that have popped up over the last few months.

This is the problem bag manufacturers have had...  A "man purse" makes sense, and with all the gadgets men are carrying around these days, it makes more sense every day.  But it's something new...and this can be a hard sell, especially when the only thing similar is traditionally a "women-only" product.

Avoiding a problem like this is one of the reasons why I suggest that you copy other musicians.  No reason to work any harder than you have to, right?

Sort of...

The truth is, while it may be a "low-hanging fruit" to sell what is already a proven product or service, and you can make plenty of money doing this, if you can introduce something brand new to the market successfully, you'll make 100x the money.  This is because you'll own the market.

What you do doesn't even have to be brand new; the best things are derivative works developed from something that already exists.  Like a "man purse."  This is just a bag made for women, that everybody knows about and sees the advantage of owning, but with a skull or something on it, so men won't question their sexuality when wearing one.

Apple didn't invent the mobile phone, they just made it better.  They didn't invent the laptop, they just made it better.  They're introducing something "similar but different" and it's paying off big...and fast.

The first iPhone model took 73 days to cross the million mark. The iPad did the same thing in just 28 days.

Why?  The iPad is "similar but different" to the iPhone.  People didn't have to be sold on the applications and uses this time.  And it's "similar but different" to a laptop, too, so that's bringing more people in.

Want a music business example?  CD Baby is one.  Derek Sivers wasn't the first guy to sell music online; he was the first guy to do it "similar but different" though.

Every business has a "man purse."  What is yours?

Copying Music Expands the Music Business

One of the common things that comes up during episodes of Music Business Radio is something I call "life of a song."  This can mean a number of things, but usually refers to:

• Recordings that are so popular they receive airplay years after their initial release dates
• Recordings on a "classic" albums that continue to sell consistently, years after being released
• Songs that are covered again and again - sometimes in the same genre, sometime not
• Recordings that are licensed years later to movies, television, and/or commercials

The stories that come up are as unique as the songs (and songwriters) affected.  Sometimes the result of something like this is big paycheck for the songwriter and publisher, but sometimes things goes way beyond that and can totally rejuvenate careers of the original artists, allowing them to tour more successfully and record/release new material.

But it goes way beyond that... In fact, I believe that "life of a song" is actually what's going to keep the music business going.

Music is one of those things where, when you hear a song that you like, you want to hear songs that are similar.  It's very similar to surfing Amazon.com, finding something you need, seeing the "People Who Purchased This Product Also Purchased These Products," and finding more things that you suddenly can't live without.  You didn't realize you "needed" them because you didn't know they existed.

As we get deeper and deeper into music technology, and it becomes easier and easier to record and distribute music, there will be more and more noise to cut through.  But it's also easier and easier to find out about new artists (and old artists), if you know what you're looking for...

And that is why "life of a song" is important...it lets you know what you're looking for, even if you didn't know you were looking for it.

So when a dance music fan hears this in a club...

He can now ask the question, "I wonder what that sample was?" And find this...

Now, the guy is "into" R&B music.  When when he looks deeper into Gwen McRae, he's going to find she covers Bobby Bland...and that leads him to look into blues.  And where did blues music come from?  It goes on and on...

Obviously, not everybody into house music is going to go this deep, but some will.  And when things work like this, it leads to more money for publishers, labels, artists, songwriters, and everybody in the music business.  It also exposes new writers and artists to styles of music that will affect what they're creating.  Then the cycle starts over again...

I get emails and calls from musicians that don't like to sample and don't like to cover songs.  When I ask them what they sound like, they can't name a similar act because they "don't sound like anybody else."  This is hilarious to me. 

Think you don't sound like anybody else?  Think again... If you're playing a 4/4 time signature and playing a major scale or open chords on a guitar tuned EADGBE, you sound like somebody else.  Don't fight it!  And since you sound like somebody else, why not go a little deeper?

If you like Beatles, don't be afraid to copy them.  If you like Rage Against the Machine, don't act like you're the only musician doing socio-political rock music.  Instead, embrace the fact that everything we do as musicians is influenced (in a big way) from somebody that came before us and go with it.

Your biggest enemy is that your songs will never get heard.  Never.  Being open to copying and being bold in acknowledging influences not only helps the music business, it's also good for your fans, since it gives them something to grasp onto that cuts through all the noise they have to deal with. 

So do your fans (and the music business) a favor by copying something right now.

Thoughts?  Post 'em below...

New "Customer Service" Book by Micah Solomon of Oasis CD

Micah Solomon, best known as the founder of Oasis CD Manufacturing, has just released "Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit: The Secrets of Building a Five Star Customer Service Organization." This book was co-written by hospitality wizard Leonardo Inghilleri.

If you've ever manufactured CDs with Oasis, you know the customer service you get there.  What you may not know is that this is something that will help you to grow your music career.

Yes, bands and musicians need good customer service skills also.

Customer service skills have put companies like Nordstrom and Zappos.com on the map. This is a business strategy that can do the same for you and your music.

Since Micah is a friend of mine, I've got a special deal for you...

TODAY - if you order “Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit: The Secrets of Building a Five Star Customer Service Organization,” you’ll also receive $1000s of bonus gifts like podcasts, white papers, and online training to help you grow your music business. Topics include customer service, sales, marketing and professional development. Buy your copy today at www.micahsolomon.com/booklaunch.

Every City Needs an Anthem

For the last several days, I've been helping neighbors affected by the Nashville Flood. If you've watched the news on television, read a newspaper, or browsed any of the major social media sites, you've likely seen the destruction.  And if not...

What you may not be aware of is how this city has come together in a big way.  Tens of thousands of people helping those in need...

For example, I was hauling flood-damaged goods to the street for a neighbor and had a guy passing by in his car stop and ask if I needed help.  Had a friend who lost her home and everything in it that was discussing the incident with somebody have a stranger that overheard the conversation come up to her and offer to pay for whatever she needed to get back on her feet...and then did it.

From encouraging blog posts reminding people here what makes this city great, to custom Twitter avatars, to flood relief t-shirt, to flood relief posters, the people of Nashville have come together in a big way... And as you'd expect from Nashville, there have been several benefit songs released, like this one, for example.

Something like a flood is great for group consciousness, but it's not necessary to make it happen.  Anybody, regardless of location, can create and experience the exact same thing.  And you don't have to be Frank Sinatra, Marty Robbins, Tony Bennett, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, or anybody close to that level of success or notoriety to make it happen.  It not about you, it's about the people listening, so why not be the one to make it happen for them?

Is where you live too small? It didn't stop these guys from finding something unique about their city and making a song and video about it...

Something like this isn't going to go national or get major airplay for obvious reasons, but the local people that like it will really like it.   And since you're in the area already...

Thoughts?

Attention Music Industry Flood Victims in Nashville

FreshAire Solutions Global to Offer Flood Victims Free Consultation on Property Damage Estimates, Including Musical Instruments 

Who:  Professional water and fire disaster restoration company, FreshAire Solutions Global, and online Country music lifestyle and social network, DigitalRodeo.com.
 
What:  FreshAire Solutions Global is offering free consultation services to businesses and victims of the recent flooding disaster in Nashville.  Consultation service will include objective analysis of damage, repair estimates and restoration options, including musical instruments, which can often be salvaged rather than discarded.

When:  Owner Ed Ciofani will be in Nashville the week of May 10.  Contact him at 239.633.2080 or email him at eciofani@freshairesolutions.net to set an appointment. 

There is no obligation to hire FreshAire Solutions for any services.  Ciofani is donating his time and expertise for those in need.

“The reason for my help is simple,” says Ciofani.  “Country music has always been a big part of my life and my family’s life, too.  It's nice to be able to give back to the Nashville community without any expectations in return.  In a crisis like this, my only motivation is to make sure people are educated about their options and to make sure they aren’t being taken advantage of, because I’ve seen it happen so many times before.”

Adds Digital Rodeo’s John Pyne, “I got a phone call from Ed on Monday, asking how he could help.  He wanted to offer his services to anyone who we knew that might need help, and certainly with the Opry, lower Broadway, Soundcheck and so many others getting flooded, we realize that the music and entertainment industry has been hit hard.  We want to let as many of our music friends as possible know about Ed's offer to help.”
 
About FreshAire Solutions:
Owner Ed Ciofani has 15 years of experience in the environmental field.  In 2001, he founded FreshAire Solutions Global, a fire and water disaster restoration service, specializing in mold, lead and asbestos issues.  His company has clients all over the world and offices in Florida, California and Bangkok, Thailand.