The idea of product placement in movies has been going on since Edward Bernays (see the article about him in an earlier post) this dude is the first to really use that same corporate model within urban music though. His companies’ Blue Flame Mktg- and now Translation- are both vanguards of this burgeoning industry.. this 5minutes is worth your time.
@HaZiQ
INFLUENCERS in-depth Series / STEVE STOUTE from R+I creative on Vimeo.
This is an amazing, amazing video. I highly reccomend it if you’re an artist or businessperson esp. Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat, Pray, Love (ask your girlfriend) and was faced with the same puzzle all first-time successes face: the pressure of topping it. Her response is simple and inspiring.
She also puts forth a theory of hers that, if embraced, can help end this culture of early deaths for our worlds most talented. Why do we feel like our most talented souls also must be the most tortured in this society? Her answer is mind-blowing.
If you’re a serious artist Im sure you’ve heard of Midem (pronounced mideem). Its the most serious music conference in existence for those who want to have global impact. It is also where the masters of the universe meet to decide the new consensus for industry direction. In a nutshell where is the game headed- and how can you prepare?
Enjoy.
-@HaZiQ
Let’s face it; if you go at marketing alone, you’ll have a monumental, if not impossible job ahead of you. Even the New York Times bestselling authors need people to help them get the word of their book out. That’s what we are talking about when we say “an army of people to help you market.” How do we find people willing to be our spokespeople and tell the world about us or our project? Below are 8 ways you can start to build your own marketing army…
1. Put out a great piece of work. If you want people excited about sharing your work with the world, then you need to put the work in!!! If you are going to jump in the same arena, treat your book like the professionals would. Rewrite, rework, and revise over and over until you know it’s as professional as you can get it. If you don’t know how to do this, learn. Take a class, read multiple how-to books, seek professional help. This is not the project you want to treat like amateur’s night at the Improv. If you want it to go anywhere, then put in the elbow grease to make it as polished as you can possibly make it.
2. Start from your inner circle. Once you take the plunge and put your work out there for all to see, contact your inner circle of friends, family, co-workers, and other relationships to help you get the word out. Encourage them to send e-mails, blog posts, letters, phone calls, and anything else they can possibly think of to tell others about you. These should be your most ardent supporters, but don’t get discouraged if they all don’t climb on board with you right away. Welcome to human nature. Even our closest relationships have good intentions but are sometimes hard to stir into action. Just keep at them; you will be surprised with what a little patience can accomplish.
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I love Stephen King.. but I LOVE Stephen King’s work ethic. The man is a writing machine. And if u google him and discover just how many of his books short stories and ideas have become movies, films, mini-series etc etc it will blow your mind.
On a song called “Live Larger” on my album i talk about making everyday better than the last so needless to say, Im looking at it from a songwriting angle but obviously there are a few things we can ALL learn from him… Enjoy. Let me know which are your favorites too….
@HaZiQ
1. Get to the point.
Don’t waste your reader’s time with too much back-story, long intros or longer anecdotes about your life. Reduce the noise. Reduce the babbling. In On Writing King gets to his points quickly. Get to your point quickly too before your reader loses patience and moves on.
2. Write a draft. Then let it rest.
King recommends that you crank out a first draft and then put it in your drawer to let it rest. Now, how long you let your text rest may vary. King puts his manuscripts away for several months before rereading and start the editing process.
I often let a post rest for a day or two before I start editing (as I’m sure many other bloggers do from time to time too).
This enables you to get out of the mindset you had when you wrote the draft and get a more detached and clear perspective on the text. It then becomes easier to edit, add and cut in a sometimes kinda ruthless way. The result is most often a better text.
3. Cut down your text.
When you revisit your text it’s time to kill your darlings and remove all the superfluous words and sentences. Removing will declutter your text and often get your message through with more clarity and a bigger emotional punch.
Don’t remove too much text though or you may achieve the opposite effects instead. King got the advice to cut down his texts by 10 percent from an old rejection-letter and has followed this advice for decades. While editing my blog I’ve found that 10 percent seems to be a pretty good figure not just for mammoth-sized books.
At age 2324 (this week actually), Lady Gaga has rocketed to global fame in less than two years (of course that depends on whose counting as she was playing piano at age 4 and rockin’ New York nightclubs at 14). She recently broke Billboard’s record as the first artist to have her first six singles reach number one. She’s won two Grammys, sold over 8 million albums& 15 million singles digitally worldwide. While her performance art-style stage shows and bizarre outfits have garnered much buzz, it’s her loyalty marketing that may sustain her for years. And even if not- hey- she did in 24months what it took Madonna 8years to do- and in a farrrrr harsher climate. Gaga is dedicated to her fans and clearly knows the elements of cultivating a community of evangelistic fans cult.
With that, here are Jackie Huba’s 5 lessons about building brand loyalty a cult, Lady Gaga-style:
The Puppet-Master..
1. Give fans a name. Gaga doesn’t like the word “fan” so she calls them her “Little Monsters,” named after her album “The Fame Monster.” She even tattooed “Little Monsters” on her arm and tweeted the pic to fans professing love for them. Now fans are getting their own Little Monster tattoos. By giving the group a formal name, it gives fans a way to refer to each other. Fans feel like they are joining a special club. (Related business examples: Maker’s Mark Ambassadors and Fiskar’s Fiskateers.)
2. Make it about something bigger than you. During her concert tour, Gaga recites a “Manifesto of Little Monsters” (text) (video). Although a bit cryptic, most Little Monsters see it as a dedication to them, that her fans have the power to make or break her. (Related business examples: Smoque BBQ (pdf).)
3. Develop shared symbols. The official Little Monster greeting is the outstretched “monster claw” hand. As all Little Monsters know, the clawed hand is part of the choreography in the video of her song “Bad Romance.” Gaga tells the story of watching a fan in Boston greet another fan with the claw hand and that’s when she knew this was the Little Monster symbol. Even Oprah knows the Little Monster greeting. Shared symbols allow fans to identify each other and connect. (Related business example: LIVESTRONG yellow wristbands.)
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I regret how much I was cursing… I beleive it was Lauryn Hill who said “I add a mu_____ so u ignant nixxas hear meeeeeee…” LoL
Seth Godin: Quieting the Lizard Brain from 99% on Marketing. Genius.
Please click the above link. This guy Seth Godin is the bestselling author of ten books. Most of which could easily change your life. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect. What i love about the following 18min is that he explains, in the most simple terms i’ve ever heard, exactly why you BS yourself out of success- over and over again.. Here’s a quick synopsis:
Thrashing: The idea that the bigger a project gets, and the closer you get to shipping- the more ideas, excuses, and confusion come about. Seth’s concept is that “thrashing” must happen, but it must happen at the beginning. It’s cheap in the beginning, but very expensive rite before it’s time to “ship”. Amatuers ignore this. The successful companies adopt a “speak early or shut-UP” philosophy.
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Because FANS are the new record label...
Now the above is NOT what alot of you wanted to see.. I already know…. But the bottom line is, in today’s music biz, you can either go with this type of strategy… or u can go with the following…
This was literally sent to “someone” real close to us here at OrganizedRhyme/SkyRepublic via Koch Records. annnnd they were dead serious….
LMAOOOOOOOOO….. welcome to the NEW record biz.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned songwriter, a rap artist from hell or a singer from heaven- free songwriting game always helps as composing is something to work on constantly, perfecting your abilities to emotionally connect with your audience through music and lyrics.
Successful songwriting aint easy – though its our job to make it look that way (see 48 laws of power). However, nearly everyone has the ability to write songs.
So, here you have ten basic ways :-$
1. Practice makes perfect, so songwriting tip number one would be to dedicate some time each day to composing songs. You don’t need to create a whole new song – just a few lines will suffice. But, make sure you practice daily. Action brings inspiration, it aint vice-versa.
2. Listen constantly to popular songs and work out what, exactly, makes these songs successful. Study their strengths and techniques. Learn from them and apply their good points to your own compositions.
3. Before starting on any song, decide who your target audience is and the type of compositions they will relate to, then make sure both lyrics and melody can be understood by them and will appeal to them. Your main aim will be to connect emotionally with your audience. NOT “BE CLEVER”
Knock em dead!
4. Although you should work hard at your songwriting, enjoy it too! Remember that music and lyrics are art forms, so don’t let composing become an unwelcome chore, otherwise your creative juices are sure to disappear. Concentrate on pouring out your passions and emotions, rather than thinking about the money.
