A Prediction
It was on July 12th that I started sending pictures directly to the sidebar of this blog instantly from my phone. Did you notice? It might annoy some of you. Some of you might think it’s cool. Basically these are things that I am looking at, the exact moment I send them to the blog. Nothing new, I know. It’s nothing that hasn’t been done before and it’s certainly not re-inventing any wheels here…. maybe.
To my knowledge, on July 12th nobody in the Christian Music Industry was doing it. To my knowledge Twitter was (and might be) still the king of the “instant”, but this week I want to try something. This week SkörInc is getting all of the artists that we work with set up with something similar. The idea? Bringing something even more instant to the blog and getting more people involved and ultimately making it more fun. This means that these artists will take pictures with their phone and instantly send them to their blogs. Again, not re-inventing the wheel here, but I have a secret mission for you. Are you ready? Okay it’s not really that secret. I want you all to keep an eye out, in the next two or three weeks and see how many of these coincidentally start popping up and let me know.
Now before anyone blasts me with a comment that says “You’re stupid. David Crowder has been doing this for two weeks”, let me mention. Yes, I know David Crowder has been doing this on his “band hub” for around two weeks. And you know why? Because David Crowder is a smart fellah.
So there’s your mission. Let’s, together, see how many of these clever little ideas start gaining ground in The Industry over the next few weeks. You want to?
(WCW)
Dear Christian Music Industry (Part Five)
Dear Christian Music Industry,
This week my friend Phil did something a little out of the ordinary. It wasn’t completely unheard of and it’s not like it hasn’t been done before, but Phil decided to record a show, make a record and give it away. Did you hear about it?
Here’s the thing Christian Music Industry, some of you are listening now. Some of you are listening and I think I know why. I think you’re listening because of the simple fact that you are seeing results. You’re seeing results like the fact that in six days now, over 9,500 people have downloaded Phil’s record. Results like the fact that Phil’s site has had over 40,000 page views in the past six days. You’re seeing results like both of Phil’s previous records taking significant jumps up in the Top 100 Christian Albums on iTunes in two days. You’re seeing an album that is nearly a year old jump from number twenty-five on the chart to number ten, and a record that is over two years old jumping from number ninety-four on the chart to number twenty-five. You’re paying attention to that because you want those results.
There’s only one problem Christian Music Industry, and here it is. All of this didn’t happen because Phil has a blog. Do you know how many people in the world “have blogs”? See, most of you are still looking at blogs as something that kids that live in their mom’s basement, and collect action figures have. They are something that you talk about your cat on and what you had for breakfast. And if you’ve gotten past that spot, you think blogs are a “fun extra” that bands can have like buddy icons or something. You’re looking at it as an extra that fans will just feel blessed to have. You want to hear what I believe? I believe all of this happened because in the last six months Phil decided to engage his fans, create a community, involve his readers, and the result was something special. Phil was given the ability to blog well.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not so foolish to say that the only reason Phil’s record has done really well, along with his other records, is because of his six month old blog. Phil is an unbelievably talented musician, with a progressive label behind him, and it was only a matter of time before this happened, but there’s only so much we can attribute to coincidence, don’t you think?
Not enough of evidence for you? How’s this? Two days ago Bart Millard of MercyMe fame, (You’ve heard of him right, Christian Music Industry?) announced on their blog that his solo record called “Hymned Again” was available for pre-sale. He encouraged his readers to pre-order it and asked for his “blogging community” to help make a dent in the iTunes chart by ordering a record that no one thinks will do well. Wanna hear something funny, Christian Music Industry? It’s currently number nineteen on the Top 100 Christian Albums on iTunes. Not bad for a record that isn’t even out yet.
So there’s a few examples of why I think we should talk. It’s not that I think that I can do something magical for you and make you end up at the top of charts. If I could do that don’t you think I would be sitting there myself? No, I am saying that if you are getting the slight idea to start a blog because you’ve seen these results and want to give it a go, I might suggest blogging well. Just a thought.
Your Friend, Brody
Dear Christian Music Industry (Part 4)
I couldn’t go anywhere on The World Wide Interweb last week without hearing about Third Day. Could you? On my Twitter, I was getting updates about shows, every blog I clicked on was promoting the new record, and even my Google Reader was filled with new posts. Even the efforts of heavy hitters like Carlos and BooMama were summoned. You want to know why? Because my friend, Dr. Mark Lee freaking gets it.
I am whole-heartedly convinced that Mark is the mastermind behind spearheading Third Day’s career and taking it to a new level. Sure they have new management. Sure they have a new record. But Mark has taken active steps to better his career on a completely grass roots level. And for that I applaud him.
Here’s the thing. Would I love to work with Mark and collaborate on some blogging/marketing ideas? Absolutely. But honestly, from what I can tell there is very little that I could recommend to Mark that he isn’t already doing flawlessly. It’s bands like this and hopefully bands that I have the privilege of working with that will shape the future of this industry.
I miss seeing these guys more and I wish we could hang out, but I’m glad they are doing so well. It’s awesome to see friends that have taken control over something and are really running with it. And if you haven’t check out Third Day’s blog. At the very least go tell Mark, “Hello” for me and give him an Interweb pat on the back. Seriously. Go Now. Say Hi for me.
Dear Christian Music Industry (Part 3)
The Christian Music Industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, and Contemporary Christian music. The majority of artists working and performing within the Christian music industry are isolated from the mainstream public, to Christian radio, magazines and record stores.
Guess how I know that. I know that because earlier today I Googled “Christian Music Industry” and Wikipedia was the first thing to come up. I clicked on the first link as most do and learned what you are reading above. You know what else I noticed when I Googled “Christian Music Industry“? I noticed that my blog, and the post showing a video of Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott Hotels blogging, was fourth down from the top. I thought that was interesting.
According (again) to Wikipedia The Christian Music Industry’s roots are found in the late 1960s and early 1970s Jesus Movement and its Jesus Music artists. That’s a long time for the Christian Music Industry to be around. Also this fun thing we call The Internet has been around for quite some time, and I think you two have worked together nicely since their beginnings. Wouldn’t you say?
This here simple blog of mine started almost two years ago now on August 30th, 2006 with a post about me pretending to forget things. Sure, I’ve blogged about a bunch of different things. I’ve talked about my kids, my wife, even mainstream music. For anyone that has hung out here much or knows me personally knows that this thing is as random as my brain is. There has never been any strict focus to specifically write about you, the Christian Music Industry, yet for some magical reason my blog has still managed to end up on the first page of Google. Isn’t that weird? What a random coincidence!
Here’s the thing “Christian Music Industry”, you’ve been around for a while. There are plenty of people talking about you online and otherwise. Lots of people saying nice things, and lots of people saying not so nice things. It’s a good thing you have someone on your team at the top of Google, don’t you think?
Dear Christian Music Industry (Part Two)
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Are you ready to talk yet? Or should we wait to see if it’s worth it?
Dear Christian Music Industry
Dear everyone in the Christian Music Industry who has told me they don’t need or want a blog,
How are you today?
I know we have had lots of talk, and lots of going back and forth about how you don’t need or want a blog. You don’t see the value and I can understand where you are coming from if you don’t understand it, but I continue to respectfully declare that you’re wrong. There have been a few of the “forward thinkers” that have jumped on the blogging train, but most of you have decided to stick to your MySpace and Facebook accounts.
After all it’s silly to think that we should evolve in online marketing and the like. I mean, who does that?! There aren’t really any other bands doing that right? What other band would create an entire website on a blog based platform and be doing things like “behavioral targeting” and stuff?
Well ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you who would do all that fancy stuff. A band who feels like they could use a blog to benefit their career. A little band called Weezer.
On June 3rd, Weezer joined the likes of MercyMe, FEE, Natalie Grant, and Phil Wickham by launching a blog based website focussing on fan interaction, comments, and even a YouTube link. Wow, look how innovative and revolutionary Weezer has become. If only we had someone that could have told us this was coming we could have stayed ahead of the curve.
Anyway, thanks for your time everyone in the Christian Music Industry who has told me they don’t need or want a blog. I will be talking to you soon.
your friend,
brody.
But It’s Still Not Happening (Part 4)
“It’s easy for you to keep blogging. You have six or seven hundred readers a day, the pressure is on to keep those readers. I only have twelve people reading my blog.”
Here’s where the actual interaction comes in for you musicians. I suppose it’s just like anything else. If you want people on your blog, you need to figure out how to get them there. If you want people to your shows or to buy your albums, you need to figure out a way to do that. You need to interact with them. You want to be approachable to your fans? Then be personable on your blog. We have already seen that it’s possible to blog everyday things, and there are almost thirty comments of people confirming that it is what they want. But what if people are still having a hard time finding your blog?
Step one: Go to blogs that you think are interesting, post comments, communicate with people. You know…. interact. When you take the time to comment on something someone else has written, unless it’s John Mayer, or Seth Godin, they will click on your name and check out your blog. I have never had anyone comment on my blog that I didn’t try to click on their name to see their blog. That’s traffic and potential readers.
Step two: Link to other blogs. When you see something you think is entertaining, funny, thought provoking, or interesting and want to talk about it on your blog, link to where it came from. When you link to someone else, if they are paying attention, they will notice. They will see that you have linked to them, visit you, then most likely link back to you. That creates traffic. Once again, actual interaction. You can also put links in the side bar. Links that you read regularly, and think others should visit. Several people will do a “link to me, I will link to you” campaign, but the potential of linking to something you don’t recommend is always there.
“How do I tell who is linking to me?” There are a million different ways, but the two that I use, are the built in dashboard option on WordPress, and Technorati. Both will tell you the site and the context of what is linking to you. For instance, I noticed on Technorati, that Spence and Shaun had linked to me which is giving me traffic, and also causing me to visit them (as if I didn’t already). Technorati has some sort of “authority” thing that I don’t really understand, and not sure I really care to, as long as I know where the links are coming from. Linking to people and getting links is the quickest way to spread your blog around, but again, frequently updating is key here too. If your blog sits for a while people are going to stop clicking on your name and eventually take you off their list.
Step Three: Comment on the comments. Here’s the tricky part for you artists. A lot of artists are used to saying what they want to say and walking away. Interview style. They answer their questions, smile, shake hands and forget all about it. There is no “checking back” or interaction from that point on. Blogs are different, because they have comments. They have people asking questions, people responding to what you have said. It’s only common courtesy that you engage in the conversation. After all, you started it. “But super-freak-fans control every conversation with thirty comments per post.” Then post something else and ignore them. Here’s what they are doing. They are trying to use your status or your popularity to get themselves attention. If you continue to post things that you want, eventually they will realize that you are not paying attention to them if they aren’t contributing to the actual conversation. They will get that, and either stop commenting, or start commenting something constructive. Not to mention the people that are actually involved in the conversation will usually take care of the trouble maker and get them in line.
If you aren’t commenting on the comments, it feels like you are posting something and never checking back. That’s what you are doing right? And you wonder why your blog doesn’t have traffic. You wonder why people don’t comment. It’s because there is no point to them commenting. They know you won’t answer questions, or say anything back so why would they comment? Again, actual interaction.
I know, it’s hard, but guess what? It’s work. It’s your job. These are the people that (1) are interested enough in you to find your blog, (2) most likely are the ones that are going to buy your albums and (3) have blogs of their own and can and will help spread your music around via the internet. These are the people you want to interact with. These are the people you want on your side. And these are the people that can add unbelievable amounts to your career. Interact with them.
But It’s Still Not Happening (Part 3)
“But I have a Myspace blog. Does that count?”
Sure, if you don’t mind your “friends” having to wade through a bunch of explicit content and adds to get to your blog. Sure, you can use the Myspace blog as long as you realize that there are actually people out there that refuse to use Myspace, and in order to see your blog they have to log in and have an account, in which they will undoubtedly receive numerous emails about how “hot eighteen year olds named Trisha want to chat with them”.
I don’t have a Myspace account. I don’t have a Facebook account. And I’ve never had either. But I do understand the value they had to budding musicians and even seasoned vets in an easily update-able web page. Pictures, tour dates, and yes even a blog of sorts. The issue here, to me, is the inability to control everything on your own page. With a “normal” blog there is nothing on the page that you personally don’t put there. No flashing adds, no women begging you to pay attention to them, and no annoying emails later. In fact, to think of it, I don’t think I have ever received an email from WordPress, that I didn’t ask for.
I could go on and on about how myspace is on it’s way out and now there are a thousand other things out there doing the same thing. The funny thing is that they are all spreading artists too thin. How is someone supposed to keep up with a Myspace blog, a Facebook journal then a “journal” the label set up for them on their site, and still be able to do interviews, radio spots, and oh yeah, write songs to keep their career going? It can’t happen.
Here’s a thought. Have one place where all that happens, not connected to anything but your own artist site. Sort of like the “journal” that labels have incorporated into your site, but in a way that it doesn’t take a programmer to update. And yes they are out there. If I were to want to incorporate this WordPress site into any other site, it would take about ten minutes to get that set up. Everything connected to you as an artist is right there. In one place. For everyone to see. Even the “anti-Myspacers”. It’s taking all the good things about Myspace and Facebook and whatever else and collecting it all, putting you in control and going directly to the people that are looking for you. Sure you can have Myspace, Facebook, and even a Youtube channel, but if people want to read something directly from you, they go to your own artist site.
I don’t think this idea is revolutionary, but again, it’s still not happening. I think there are too many strands that an artist can take and too many pages that they can leave un-updated and out of date. It’s better to do one page really well, than have fifteen crappy sites, with out of date information, and too many adds. Nothing says, “I’m not personable” like a site that hasn’t been updated in three months (or longer) and shows no signs of the artist coming back.
But It’s Still Not Happening (Part 2)
A friend emailed me this:Fans are demanding more and more, but they’re unwilling to pay for the actual product. How is a musician supposed to make a living if this continues? People don’t have any problem with stealing music, then they lament the current mediocrity of the music industry. Mediocrity that’s due to the fact that record companies are afraid to take chances on unproven stuff because the odds are they will lose big. I know there needs to be a new business model, but I feel like people will just find new ways to crack it and continue stealing.
Thoughts?
Well? What do we think about that? I have some answers, but I also want to see my family today. Go for it.
But It’s Still Not Happening
We have all said it a million times. We all know that blogging helps musicians spread news about what they are up to. News that people want to read, people want to know, and people want to keep checking back for. Record labels are trying to figure out how to get their artists to blog. Managers are begging their artists to blog. Even their road managers, at times, are harassing them to blog. But it’s still not happening. I wonder why not.
So far today five hundred and ninety nine people have come here. Five hundred and ninety nine people. To read what? About my beef with DVD previews? Not necessarily. But they came, and they engaged. Well, some of them did. Others just stopped in and read it and left because it was something they didn’t care about. And it’s not because they saw me on some stage or heard one of my songs on the radio. Now imagine if they had.
Several artist have told me that they don’t know what to blog about. Neither does anyone else. I never know. I just wait to see what the day has for me. I never blog ahead. I always blog whatever pops into my head when I am at the computer. Either that or something pops in there and I remember it until I get a chance to sit down and get it out. I think artists are afraid to do that. I think several artists are afraid to sound unprofessional or like they are regular people. But if people wanted to hear you say something “professional” they would buy a CD or read some interview that you did. They don’t want adds that the label is going to sell them, they want to know who you are. So there goes that excuse.
Another excuse is that they don’t have time. I have been on enough tours to know that’s not true. When an artist is on tour there are literally hours spent doing “nothing”. And by “nothing” I mean, playing video games, watching movies, shopping, reading, sleeping… the list goes on. There is no reason any musician can’t take twenty minutes out of their four hour work day and blog about the city they are in, the checkout guy at the deli they had lunch at, the way they are missing their kids, or how the show went the night before. Twenty minutes and people are captivated. Twenty minutes and people will come back for more the next day.
Why do you want them to come back everyday? Well, why do you want them to buy tickets to your shows? Because you have something they want. You have something to say that they want to hear. And they have told you that. You are putting yourself on small pieces of plastic and spending thousands of dollars in a studio to record your words for others to hear and sings and read, but you won’t take twenty minutes a day to give them more of what people want. This is your job. And that’s what it is. A job.
Not to mention the people that haven’t heard of you. The concept is the same as being on a radio station morning show, being on some late night talk show to play a song, or doing interviews for magazines. Except this is from the comfort of your own home or tour bus or hotel, and the reach is world wide and instant.”But there’s no profit in blogging.” Okay. Show of hands. How many people went to Jon Foreman’s site the other day when I blogged it? Get those hands up. And how many people bought the CD? And that was just from some guy saying, “Hey, check this out”. Now imagine if Jon Foreman was blogging everyday about what he was working on and involved thousands of people in that process. Then what? Sounds like profit to me. Again, sounds a little like a job, huh?
Now there are some artists out there that are doing it well. I know John Mayer has a pretty cool blog. Shaun, obviously has used his blog for quite some time in a great way. Mark with Third Day keeps theirs up pretty regularly. The Jars guys do okay, though it’s been a month and a half since we have heard from them there. Some guys that really get it are the Spur58 guys. I know of two of the members that I link to on this blog and though we have never met we talk pretty regularly. They update regularly and talk about things other than when the single is being released. To me there is really no excuse why an artist blog can’t be updated at least every other day. Especially when there is more than one guy in a band. Seriously. Five guys, there’s five days a week right there. For you solo guys? Sure take every other day, but you know you could more.
So there’s my rant. Sorry it’s so long. I didn’t mean for it to be, but for some reason it annoys me that artists aren’t taking advantage of this wacky new thing called the internet to promote themselves but are still trying to figure out a way to deal with slipping record sales because of the internet. Well here’s a solution. Give people something they can’t burn onto a disk. A window into who the person they are singing along with in their car is. That way they tell their friends and then buy your stuff. It’s that simple.What artists are out there that you wish were either blogging more, or blogging at all?
