Every so often a new music marketing oriented site will pop up in my Google Reader.
Suddenly I will start to shake with excitement (like the marketing junkie I am) at the prospect of what new and magical information might about to be assimilated into my memory bank.
Some of the sites will be covered in random weight loss ads and my heart will sink, others will be OK but basically regurgitated tips from 1996. Then there are those special gems that you instantly know are going to be a great new source of interesting and unique information.
These are the moments when I feel most like Indiana Jones, because I get the special privilege of fighting my way back through the shrunken heads and poisoned darts to add them to my music marketing treasure trove.
This is exactly how I felt when I first stumbled across Mr Davenport’s blog.
His credentials are very impressive and I know that he is a social networking wizard because just as I was starting to enjoy his blog the little ding went off in my email inbox and there he was, sending me a lovely message just to say “Howdy”.
Anyway, as you can imagine my very next thought was to have Wes share some of his best stuff with you lot and he agreed…Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah!
So sit back, get a notepad and suck in a few ideas you can start testing this week, because Wes has totally over-delivered on this.
Blow me down with a feather!
- Chris
Quick Fire Questions
The Greatest Music Marketing Tool Of All Time Is…
Yourself. When looking at a marketing tool, I evaluate several qualities. Things like cost effectiveness, ROI, scalability, adaptiveness, reach, usability, product life, and integration with other products.
If you look at those traits, logically, “yourself” is a great marketing tool. Unfortunately, I think people undervalue themselves on a regular basis.
If you spend time, money, and effort investing in yourself, the quality of the investment doesn’t depreciate. You can see your return on investment in everyday situations. You can be as cost effective as you want to be. With enough effort, your craft can scale from coffee shops to arenas. Your product life is lengthy (hopefully). Naturally, you, as a person, need to be the foundation so other tools can work more effectively.
It’s much easier to market your music when there is a strong, confident person behind it.
What Gets Me Up In The Morning…
I recently discovered the morning is my most productive and creative time. It’s absurd because I’m not even a morning person, and I hate getting up early.
Just knowing that my mind is about to be in its best state gets me up. I think, “Now’s the best time for me to solve problems and help other people.”
A Book Or Course You Have To Get Right Now…
I highly recommend “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. The knowledge and concepts I picked up from that book made an immediate impact in my every day life. Carnegie teaches you how to understand people and make friends using genuine methods. The book just does an outstanding job at putting you in the other person’s shoes.
I feel so strongly about the concepts in the book, I’m writing a series on how musicians can practically apply Carnegie’s lessons. Much of it explains how to change your mindset and why you, as a musician, should do that. There are also tools and methods to take the mindhacks to the next level.
Put This Website In Your Google Reader…
Jon Ostrow’s MicControl.com hosts a wealth of helpful content to help artists overcome issues in a wide variety of areas.
I have to mention Chris “Seth” Jackson’s site, HowToRunABand.com. He takes a business-oriented approach at organizing artists’ activities. Seth posts clear solutions to make bands more efficient and effective.
Main Interview
How I Started and What I’m Doing At The Moment…
I got involved in the music industry by interning at music venues. Nashville’s Rocketown familiarized me with working with musicians on a regular basis. I also got a feel for what goes into the making of a successful live performance. At Knoxville’s Square Room, the marketing and promotional activities hooked me. I started looking at content creation, newsletter management, and fan loyalty in new ways.
Currently, I’m the publicist for Nashville electro-rock band Vinyl Thief. It’s incredibly gratifying working with guys I respect and whose music genuinely excites me.
Music Marketing According To ME…
TV ads, viral campaigns, and content marketing all have their place. At the end of the day, it’s about connecting people. Anything an artist can do to achieve that is fair game.
The Most Effective Way I Have Found To Increase Your Fan Base…
Genuine person to person interaction is priceless. When the main goal is focusing on the person in front of you, everything else falls into place.
I’ve gained more emails by simply talking to people with the goal of getting to know them than any other approach. How to Run a Band has a great post on this that takes about 60 seconds to read.
If I Had A Time Machine, I Would Give My Newbie Self This Piece Of Advice…
I’m still very much a newbie! But I would tell myself to always ask myself “why?”. Discovering the deeper meaning or motivation behind projects, actions, and conversations has never once hurt me.
You Will Become Successful Sooner If…
You decide exactly what “success” means to you. Once you decide that, you can make a plan where each action gets you closer to the goal.
Keep in mind that “success” is kind of a moving target. Over time, our view of it changes and evolves. I believe it’s necessary to take time to evaluate that on a regular basis and adjust the plan as needed.
Don’t Bother Wasting Your Time On…
Myspace! Haha, I’m half-way joking. I’ve had a sort of vendetta against it since it never appealed to me for a multitude of reasons. Much has already been written about the failings and shortcomings of Myspace, so I’ll only mention my main gripe. Meaningful two-way communication between people was, and still is, scarce on Myspace.
The music player was the most valuable asset on a Myspace page. Today, many services provide players that encourage sharing, load faster, and make it easier for people to buy the music. But who knows, perhaps Justin Timberlake will shock us and elevate Myspace to a new golden age. For now, I believe effort is best spent elsewhere.
Final Thoughts…
I’m relatively new to the music industry, so a fresh perspective and a healthy curiousity are my strengths. Using those, my aim is help musicians form meaningful relationships with their audience.
You Can Find Me At
I write about methods and tools to help artists thrive at my blog, Where the Circle Ends. Follow me on Twitter @wesdavenport. For other networks and ways to connect, wesdavenport.com is the way to go.
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