Idea for Marketing

[Blackwatch]

I get a weekly post from American Songwriter Magazine, it's called "Lyrics of the Week" and they sent lyrics from a guy named Joe Pug.

Being the lyric snob that I am I was surprised that his lyrics were good so I went to his myspace page to hear what he sounds like. He wasn't bad but then I wondered how he got big enough to get recognized by AS. I found this on his bio on his page:

 

he early rumblings of critical praise for the EP were confirmed when his first headlining gig sold out Chicago’s storied Schubas Tavern in 2008. As word spread, Pug struck upon an idea that would later prove to be one of the most significant in his young career. He offered his existing fans unlimited copies of a free 2-song sampler CD to pass along to their friends. He sent the CDs out at his own expense, even covering the postage. Inside each package was a personal note thanking the fan for helping to spread the word. The response was overwhelming, and to date he has sent out over 15,000 CDs to 50 states and 14 different countries. Without access to radio, Pug managed to turn his fans into his very own broadcast system. The offer still stands, and to this day it’s featured prominently on www.joepugmusic.com .

Now I'm not a proponent of giving away your commerical release but this struck me as a great idea to get your music in front of people who hadn't heard you yet. It's no different than giving up songs to the radio or a myspace page (except for the cost of producing and mailing), it's really seemed to work for this guy....

[Poker99]

Why send CDs, pays thousands of dollars in shipping when you can send a download link or an mp3?

[Kaiborg]

Weird, I just read that the band Smoosh did the exact same thing; mailing free demos around the world. I have to agree that a link would be easier.

[paulz]

ah Smoosh - they are kind of their own phenom , I doubt their model would apply that well in general.

On the plus side - the girls are exiting their awkward years and are about to become dangerously pretty

on the minus side- they might have entered Scrappy-Doo territory by adding the yungest one to the lineup

 

I'm interested to see when their target demographic switches from tweens to 45+ year old men with mustaches, member's only jackets, and lots of Trek collectibles -- tho I'm scared this has already happened

[Ryst]

Looks like a few of you need to get new reading glasses.

 

Why not just a link, you ask? Try and read this slowly.

 

"Inside each package was a personal note thanking the fan for helping to spread the word."

 

A link and an email is NO WHERE near as personal or as tangible as what he did. It's called connecting to your audience. The internet has made some of you very lazy. While you ask why didn't he do it "cheaper", he's selling out shows.

 

It's not always about cheaper and easier guys.

[Kramerguy]

 

I get a weekly post from American Songwriter Magazine, it's called "Lyrics of the Week" and they sent lyrics from a guy named Joe Pug. Being the lyric snob that I am I was surprised that his lyrics were good so I went to his myspace page to hear what he sounds like. He wasn't bad but then I wondered how he got big enough to get recognized by AS. I found this on his bio on his page: Now I'm not a proponent of giving away your commerical release but this struck me as a great idea to get your music in front of people who hadn't heard you yet. It's no different than giving up songs to the radio or a myspace page (except for the cost of producing and mailing), it's really seemed to work for this guy....

 

 

I'd like to interject that if his music sucked, it would have failed. As good as his music and lyrics are, I'd like to also interject that success was always forseeable, but maybe his actions affected the degree? I dunno. I see local bands doing that much and more and still can't get 5 people to show up to a gig around here.. so I wonder if it's the venue (region) as much as anything else?

 

Good for him, though.

[Poker99]

Now days you can promote your music through social networking sites like facebook and you tubes. and orkut.

 

ARE YOU SERIOUS!? WOW !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blackwatch]

I'd like to interject that if his music sucked, it would have failed. As good as his music and lyrics are, I'd like to also interject that success was always forseeable, but maybe his actions affected the degree? I dunno. I see local bands doing that much and more and still can't get 5 people to show up to a gig around here.. so I wonder if it's the venue (region) as much as anything else? Good for him, though.

 

Yeah, you make a really good point. The more I ponder the question the more it seems like some intangible force is a work when it comes to success.

I've heard so many good artists that I think should be recognized only to see them wallow in obscurity that I'm beginning to doubt my musical tastes as they relate to most people.

 

Could it be that I don't have an ear for what the masses desire?

[Poker99]

 

Yeah, you make a really good point. The more I ponder the question the more it seems like some intangible force is a work when it comes to success.

 

 

Here it is:

 

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Blackwatch]

Here it is: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

 

 

[polestar]

If the product is not good then what amount of marketing you do its totally useless. Now the thing is that your music should cater to masses, not a single individual because here majority rules.

[acluett89]

Well there are different types of marketing strategies available in current market and you have to analyse the product review and their demand and after that you have start the marketing.

[daddymack]

Well there are different types of marketing strategies available in current market and you have to analyse the product review and their demand and after that you have start the marketing.

 

 

Why didn't we come up with that?

[Blackwatch]

 

Well there are different types of marketing strategies available in current market and you have to analyse the product review and their demand and after that you have start the marketing.

 

 

You mean like spamming music business forums?

[MarcusTaylor]

This is a great approach to music marketing, but I don't think it is totally invalid in the online world - ok, links and emails are generally not very personal.. which is a good thing, use it to your advantage and be the one who does adapt a personal approach. Many musicians have had similar success using Twitter, Facebook and Myspace by being personal and treating it as a 2 way network, not a 1 way self promotional platform.