What Can Independent Musicians Learn From Lady Gaga's Controversial Marketing Techniques?

Indie bands - What can we learn from the marketing techniques employed by one of the world's biggest pop stars, Lady Gaga? If at this point you're saying "She's a sellout" or "I hate pop music" you've quite possibly closed the doors available to you and sorely missed out. Let's also forget the obvious point that Gaga has millions of followers anticipating her every move. I plan to use this individual simply as a conversation starter on the topics of controversy and originality, which are becoming ever-more important in today's music industry.

While so many independent bands are still wasting their precious time spamming potential fans on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and Reverbnation, while in the process repelling any potential of success, artists like Lady Gaga are focusing on a much overlooked aspect of music marketing: controversy. Whether you think her recent single "Judas" is a catchy tune or you think she is the spawn of Satan sent to destroy our children is wholly irrelevant. They would both fall under the opinion category. The point at the end of the day when it comes to promoting music is - does it work? If you can approach this topic with some neutrality and genuine inspiration then you may be in a position to start planning your hype machine.

It doesn't matter whether you are a pop music fan or not, or whether you agree with what Lady Gaga is doing. It works. These days, if you strike where the iron is hot, it can really pay back in spades. Now that anyone, for better or worse, can upload media on innumerable websites such as YouTube and Vimeo, anyone is a prospect for a strong reaction. Guess what people did to protest the release of "Judas"? They posted videos to YouTube. They wrote blogs. They made their opinions known online. Guess who this helped? Since the people expressing their opinions have no pre-planned way of capitalizing on them(such as printing t-shirts, for example), this solely feeds the Gaga machine.

Granted, these tactics work much better when you have millions of people anticipating your record. If you go back to the drawing board, though, and come up with a strong idea that resonates with an aspect of humanity, you can start a conversation. Conversations get started when something is OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. I'd advise any independent musician to scour their material and see if there is anything genuinely controversial (not necessarily shocking. Will it start conversations?) or if it could be easily dismissed.

Keep in mind that many topics you may think are shocking typically are not. Take the metal genre, for example, which has in some ways become a parody of itself, with thousands of releases annually exploring the anti-Christian agenda. They are certainly projecting something, but no one pays much attention, and for good reason. The topics and arguments are perceived by many as tired and boring. Now, if you were a Satanic electro-pop duo with an image to match, you may just have a potent idea brewing. Here's the point. If you are simply towing the line for your particular scene, you're not shocking. Why not introduce ideas where they are not typically welcome?

"Towing the line" for your scene would mean sitting in full agreement with it's chosen philosophy. It's the reason you sometimes feel like you've stepped into a cult meeting when you go to a local show. This can work well for the teenage post-hardcore band selling t-shirts in the school gymnasium, but with such an oversaturated music market, it's important for genuine artists to put effort into individualizing themselves as much as possible. Sometimes this means saying goodbye to the expectations and comforts associated with bands of your type.

This is not to say that if you are a folk band that plays pleasant music about the good old days, you should automatically start writing a concept album inspired by Zeitgeist 3. Play what fits. But guys, open your minds and stop spamming people on social media networks such as Facebook and Reverbnation. Studies have shown this to be grossly ineffective. You're going to need real press to gain footing in the industry. If you're creative, which you should be, there are many ways custom fit to your band to get people talking.

The bands who are getting attention on the music blogs these days have a one of a kind image. They are not the hardcore bands talking about perseverance or the punk bands with leftist leanings. For better or worse, there is no one else like them.

Ask yourself - are you truly an original in every way or are you kissing up to your genre elites in hopes of being accepted and getting coverage?

James Moore is a Canadian music consultant and author of the popular music marketing book "Your Band Is A Virus! Behind-the-Scenes and Viral Marketing for the Independent Musician". For more information please visit http://www.yourbandisavirus.com/.

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What Independent Musicians Can Learn From Rebecca Black

Indie bands - By now, most of you will have heard of Rebecca Black, and if you haven't, you will soon. I have a unique perspective on the young phenomenon and her effect on modern music marketing, but let's go over the back story first.

Rebecca is a 14-year old singer from Anaheim, California. Her mother paid a local record label called ARK Music Factory to film a music video and release a single for a pre-written track entitled "Friday". Soon after the playful track was posted, it became a viral sensation. To many people's surprise the song became a worldwide smash, making the Billboard charts and earning Rebecca spots on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show. Stephen Colbert even covered the song recently with Jimmy Fallon, Taylor Hicks and The Roots. Conan O'Brian and Andy Richter did their own cover version called "Thursday." It was also covered by the hit TV show Glee.

Since the release of the song and video, something unprecedented has also taken place. The backlash was incredible, with an 87 percent disapproval rating by YouTube users. As it turns out, some of the reasons why the song became viral in the first place was because of it's questionable lyrics, it's use of auto-tune, and the judgements by many that it was the "worst song ever". Parodies of the song became commonplace and "Friday" became a sign that the current YouTube generation had possibly reached a kind of peak. Forbes Magazine stated that the popularity of the song is another sign of the current power of social media - in the ability to create "overnight sensations." The original video was removed.

Rebbeca used the leverage from the first video, and released a 2nd single called "My Moment", which in turn is also a bona fide hit. This young lady is a new celebrity.

Now, you may think that this article is about to tell you how you can achieve the kind of success Rebecca Black has, and outline viral steps to recreate this kind of promotion.

Not so much. I'd like to suggest something else entirely, if I may. Many independent artists strive to be liked by as many people as possible. This isn't necessarily the best way. It could easily be argued that Rebecca Black sounds quite similar to other modern pop stars such as Katy Perry and Britney Spears. These days, the mainstream simply choose differently. If the public overwhelmingly chooses Rebecca Black, Jersey Shore, the Kardashians, Pitbull, and a slew of talent show contestants, then why worry so much about being accepted?

If you think about it, there is something positive to be taken from all this. Instead of getting angry about the choices that we collectively make, market honestly to your niche and stop trying to appeal to or rebel against the masses. If you are planning on writing or making music with your life, you must first accept that the masses are going to choose things that you won't understand.

As Tom Waits says "Everything you can think of is true." (in pop culture, I would add.)

Let them watch Jersey Shore and blast "Friday" on their car stereos. You're going to need to save all your energy to effectively market your music to the people who really want to hear it. There are, and always will be, people who value honesty and passion. They will never be in short supply no matter how much this fact is not promoted by the mainstream media. If you are marketing to the masses, you're marketing to no one.

Study your niche.

That would include your genre(s), themes, lyrical content, image, location, and life philosophy. Promote to your niche in a credible way and believe in what you're doing. Have some class. Just because it's possible to score an auto-tuned hit, doesn't mean it's a great thing to do. Release your true self, not a gimmick. There are people who want to hear what you have to say. Start small. Promote to music blogs, podcasts, and publications that cover genuine independent music. Build it one brick at a time and don't worry about the rest.

James Moore is a Canadian music consultant and author of the bestselling music marketing book "Your Band Is A Virus". For more information on "Your Band Is A Virus" and a free chapter on the new method of "behind-the-scenes" marketing, visit http://www.yourbandisavirus.com/.

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What Type of Music Do the Most Intelligent People Enjoy? Why It Matters for Musicians

It has often been said that the most intelligent people like certain types of music. Indeed, I guess if I asked you, and you were to take an educated guess, you might say that classical music such as Mozart, or Beethoven would be amongst the type of music enjoyed by the top tier of human IQ. Yes, I think this is the general perception, and I believe it to be correct, although I am not certain for sure. The question is why, I suppose, why is it that classical music is often corresponded to highly intellectual people?

Is it because the people that wrote those symphonies were highly intelligent and creative geniuses themselves, and then only someone else who is of super high intellect would also find this music to be enlightening? Now then, I know many highly intellectual people that enjoy other types of music as well. And even though I really don't care for opera all that much, I realize that many very smart people do enjoy that type of vocal wailing.

In doing the research for this article I read a couple of research papers which seem to indicate that those people who are very good in math, are also very good with musical instruments, and making music. The controlled chaos, and complexity of classical music seems to fit the stereotype of a math genius. Of course that is only one type of intelligence, as there are many. Nevertheless those of high emotional IQ can also appreciate classical music due to its highs and lows and the spaces inbetween.

Of course, composing and playing music is different than listening to it, and it takes a creative genius there is no doubt to produce a good classical piece. After all, many have tried, and failed to impress anyone listening. Still, we have to ask ourselves if the stereotype is correct, and if the highest and most intelligent of our society are more drawn to classical music than other types?

It does appear in the same stereotypical fashion that rap music, if indeed we are willing to call it music, is not necessarily enjoyed by anyone of high intellect, but someone with a standard IQ level might find the beat, alliteration, rhyming, and basic rhythm pleasing to them. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it. Perhaps you can relate all this to your own IQ level, and the type of music that you are most drawn to. The final question might be if you listen to let's say classical music, will you become smarter over time? That is to say can one affect the other?

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,500 articles by mid-day on June 23, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off..

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10 Christmas Gift ideas for musicians

There are many people on our Christmas shopping list that are really difficult to store. All we have a Dad who has everything, or sister and the rights that you do not know too well, but if a musician on your list of special offers, ideas are almost unlimited and is very rarely wrong. Frankly many of the items on this list are things that require musicians but hate the buying-in of themselves, making them great gift ideas.

Here are 10 small holiday special offers ideas for musicians.

1. Guitar strings

Guitars 12 string must always strings and quite frankly they are the most annoying of expenditure, which the player guitars. If you want to buy, what strings they will not cause, since by several packages Elixr Nanowebs if kept in a stocking. Because we are always broken guitar strings and replacing them, we tend to buy things cheap, usually around $ 5.00 pack, but it is a Gift Christmas right? Go ahead and lift this package $ 13.00 high quality strings and they will be smiles.

2. the Metronomes

Learning time is a key skill for any musician. If the person on the list is still learning their instrument Metronome good quality makes a great gift. Even you can find all in one devices that have the Metronome, tuner and chord Finder all in one, which is really convenient for guitar. If you find a Metronome that allows you to use many different sounds is even better, sometimes a classic track, click the sound gets very old. There are also new metronomes on the market, which have a simple drum machine, so you can play not only the actual pace simple click feature to have.

3. musical suitcase Stand

All musicians performing regardless of the instrument should have a good sturdy rack. Having Your music or lyrics at eye level while you practice or perform is required to play Your instrument. Currently, there are two types of stands; classical music stand, or a more jagged wire stand of the stage. Music in the West actually makes a Nice skeleton stand that comes with carrying case; it largely resembles the fold down chairs in your bag.

4. Guitar Polish and cleaner

There are many dirty guitars there and are begging for cleaning. Most of the Hatchet men nada their guitar quickly wipe down with a rag when you change strings, but this does not sufficiently close. Good guitar Polish and cleaner will help prevent glossy finishes and guitars. It is about more than the Prime clean its investment protection, good Axe may not be cheap.

5. percussion practice Pad

Have a musician in the list? He is constantly all the sticks on random? Try, giving him a Pad practice for Christmas. This is a Great Gift that I want to have more percussionists. They keep these with them, where to go, so if they feel the need to whack something with their sticks they have a Nice quiet practice pad to hit instead of the kitchen table. Be sure the pad percussion, who has a good feel and bounce it on the one hand and covering sztywniej of the other console.

6. the new drum Sticks

Since we are on our minds and drummers stick with this topic. Drummers can never have enough sticks, sticks break all the time, and its good have a hefty supply of hand all the time. Guitar strings must always back up, but it is not as close to the amount of the sticks backup needs a drummer. Currently, there are many different types of drum sticks and come in many sizes, thickness and weight. I recommend, sneaking around and find some of Your old drummer obstaje make sure you get it correct.

7. the Instrument stands

Whether on guitar or keyboard rack you can go a long way, especially for the gigging musician. Stand strong sturdy concert for player keyboard is programmed on the stage as a stage may be dangerous. For guitars there are many different types of stands, stands the concert, which fold up nicely the great gift of normal stands are not in a good journey. Fold up the stands fit in Backpack so are really easy to carry from home onto the stage.

8. the Gig Bag

Guitar love bags concert; It's like their Himalayan mountain survival package. Whereas it is necessary not only to keep their lead, but all of the tools there, lin, effects pedals, CDs, and many others. This awesome gift, if you find a bag gig with Backpack straps and lots of minor pockets on guitar, on the list will be very grateful. Concert backs get worn and beat up and must be replaced every once in a while.

9. a few good headphones

Any musician there knows the importance of a good set of cans, not those cans, are we talking about headphones human! This is a great gift, if you know a musician who records their music in the home as most of the time spent recording for music have earphones strapped to the head. Find a good pair of headphones that offer comfort and superior sound is difficult, as many to choose from. For the one I Love My 7506 Sony, they provide both comfort and hyped mid range sound I love it, if the list is the singer, they will love Sony.

10. Good Book Music

The latter is quite broad, but there are so many different books on music, spanning a wide range of topics, it would be difficult to recommend one type of book. You can get a book track, which has a notation written out for "The Wall" by Pink Floyd or Biography for Roger Waters. Musicians like talking and reading about music, so good music you can think of this book will either; help them learn their craft or simply alimentacyjna them is always a gift of a successful vacation.

I hope this list helps you with the gift of last minute Christmas shopping. Buying-in of the musician is easy as there are countless more things they have on their wish list, but these items are located in their appropriate list, and trust me they are not asking Santa for a new guitar strings. So go ahead and fill their stocking with things they need and they'll thank you.

My name is Jason Broyer, and i am the independent musician.

More of my music industry gear reviews and insights here: Music gear reviews

For more Holiday Offers Ideas suited especially for guitar please read this article: Offers ideas for the twelve-string guitar

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