This is an interview series in preparation for my SXSW Panel: The State of Music Blogs in 2010. I reached out to a number of influencers, musicans, labels, marketers and music fans to get their perspectives on the topic and will be posting these in a series leading up to the conference.
Today we hear from Matt Lombardi, co-founder of Hear It Local.
Why do you think music blogs are so popular?
Music blogs are popular because they are so accessible. Fans like hearing about music from other fans – and blogs allow you to easily indentify like-minded writers with similar music tastes. It also helps that they are usually free sources of information.
How do you think music blogs/aggregators/social networks have impacted the industry?
These sources have completely transformed the industry for emerging artists. New artistists no longer need to rely on the help of industry professionals to grow their fan base. Talented artists with social networking savvy can connect with thousands or even millions of fans easily and cheaply on social networking sites.
How have they changed your music consumption and/or marketing efforts?
Online radio has opened up so many doors. I listen to a much more diverse array of new music than ever before…at work, at home, and when I’m out for a run. Blogs and social network sites make it easy to
discover new music and then immediately download or purchase it.
What’s the best thing to happen to the music industry in the last year or so?
The popularity of online innovations like twitter, which allow music fans to stay connected to local artists.
What’s the worst?
The economy has been hard on music venues and artists. Many music fans don’t have the same kind of disposable income to see live shows every week.
What is the single biggest strategy/technology/innovation/societal shift you think will impact music in 2010?
I see revitalized interest in local music. While technological innovations have given us the opportunity to find new music from all over the world, I’ve noticed a shift towards using online platforms to reconnect with one’s local music scene.
And speaking of…
At hearitlocal.com/tc we are looking to compile diverse insights from various music bloggers covering the MN music scene. Please reach out to me at matt@hearitlocal.com if you’re interested in participating as a guest blogger.
Big Zach, Unicus, Alicia Steele and DJ Gabe Garcia of Kanser invite you into their practice space for an intimate performance on MPLS.TV’s “City of Music” series.
The Legion of Doo are dropping their latest mashup off their sophomore record, The Legion Of Doom v Triune.
If you’re not familiar, TLOD is the remix/mash duo of Trever Keith (Face to Face) and Chad Blinman (producer Saves The Day, Get Up Kids), whose material has been featured on the soundtracks for Underworld: Evolution, Saw II and some television shows.
This latest album is collaboration with battle rap veteran/Footsoldiersmember Triune. TLOD mixed samples from old public domain films, original instrumentation and beatz, then layered atop Triune’s rhymez.
I spell beatz and rhymez with a z to seem cooler than I actually am.
Nicolas Fromageau, a founding member of M83, has a new band with multi-instrumentalist Christophe Guérin and producer/manager Jean-Philippe Talaga (founder of Gooom Disques) called Team Ghost.
The band’s debut EP, You Never Did Anything Wrong To Me, comes out May 3 on Sonic Cathedral Recordings.
I received an advance copy of one of the five new Jimi Hendrix V-Album releases –Valleys of Neptune, Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland and First Rays Of The New Rising Sun — that came out out yesterday via ScatterTunes.
Unfortunately I already own Are You Experienced? digitally (and on vinyl), so I’m writing more about the format here instead of the album.
The V-Album format is designed to convince people to PAY for music by adding lots and lots of added value. For example, the advance copy of Are You Experienced I received features:
17 High-Quality MP3 Tracks
Lyrics to All 17 Tracks
Digital Images of Select Handwritten Lyrics
Hi-Res Digital Photos
Digital CD Booklet
Links to Hendrix Merchandise
17-Min. Documentary Video
It looks like this:
I’ll admit I’m not the most tech savvy person, but I do consult clients on social marketing strategy, user experience and even do some information architecting on a daily basis. With that said, I was definitely confused how to import my V-album through the ScatterTunes iBoard versus the V-Album iBoard (and why they both stayed open after the import).
When I did finally figure out how to import the tracks, I was pleasantly surprised it gave “Import mp3s into iTunes library” as an option. Since that’s where the bulk of my digital library exists, it’s great to have it in both stores. Turns out V-Albums offer high-quality (320kb), non-DRM MP3 songs that exported into any MP3 player. That’s fantastic.
When you open the Hendrix V-Album, it immediately goes full screen and let’s you page through lyrics (including sweet hand-written Hendrix lyrics), photos and the album booklet while you stream the album, as well as watch bonus video footage and link out to jimihendrix.com and Facebook.
This is cool technology, yes. It’s hard to argue that all of these extra goodies aren’t better than a tiny thumbnail graphic that comes with most digital albums.
Overall, ScatterTunes iBoard V-Album is two new tech names too many and not as intuitive as it should be, especially when competing with the simplicity of iTunes in both name and function. For me and my music consumption, I’m not sure this solves a problem I need solving. Maybe I’m in a “Purple Haze,” but I’ve built a habit of “listening” to music rather than “experiencing” it.
This is an interview series in preparation for my SXSW Panel: The State of Music Blogs in 2010. I reached out to a number of influencers, musicans, labels, marketers and music fans to get their perspectives on the topic and will be posting these in a series leading up to the conference.
Today we hear from songwriter, guitarist and self-described arrogant frontman Nick Leet of High on Stress.
Why do you think music blogs are so popular?
I really enjoy music blogs. Fuel Friends is probably my favorite. I have a very similar taste in music as the writer so I usually check out what she writes about whenever she speaks of something new and exciting. Part of being a great musical mind is sharing your expertise with others and learning about bands from others. Music blogs are like a special friend who introduces you to something that you’re missing out. Like a good friend but without the drama.
How do you think music blogs/aggregators/social networks have impacted the industry?
I think they have made it easier to get your music out there. The record industry has become a dinosaur. I think it’s super sweet that an unknown band or songwriter can spread the word without the help of a record company stealing all of the profits.
How have they changed your music consumption and/or marketing efforts?
I’ve found some cool music I wouldn’t have heard. It has done great things for High on Stress as far as marketing. You can reach a lot of people all over the world by promoting your songs to music blogs.
What’s the best thing to happen to the music industry in the last year or so?
I’m not so sure much has been positive lately other than music blogs. I think the mainstream music industry is in terrible shape. Usually there are a couple of major label acts that don’t make you vomit in your mouth. That hasn’t been the case for a long time now. The music passing for rock n’ roll is embarrassing lately. That goes for a lot of the hipster indie bands as well. I find more interesting things locally than nationally.
What’s the worst?
Read above. :)
What is the single biggest strategy/technology/innovation/societal shift you think will impact music in 2010?
It shifts every year. Myspace is dead as hell. I think it’s a bummer because it was a great place to hear music. Facebook is more interesting but I don’t think for bands it works as well. It does keep you visible but it’s more about personalities than music in my humble but worthless opinion. I think Facebook and Twitter are on the decline. They will be replaced by something else that probably hasn’t seen the light yet. It’s hard to predict them but it’s key to stay on top of the shifts from a marketing perspective.
And?
I hope they continue. I also hope that they continue to support the underdogs.
I’m digging Minneapolis band The Sunny Era’s take on what I’ll call renaissance pop.
Eric, Laila and Rob meld vocals, accordion, violin, piano, drums and classical guitar into a smoking jacket lounge vibe that’s light on the ears but has enough sustenance to stand by itself.
I imagine bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers listen to music like this to unwind. And frankly, today’s bands are missing out on a healthy dose of serious accordion.
The group’s latest effort, This Darkness of Love was a top #20 add and came in charting at #184 on the CMJ. Not too shabby.
This is an interview series in preparation for my SXSW Panel: The State of Music Blogs in 2010. I reached out to a number of influencers, musicans, labels, marketers and music fans to get their perspectives on the topic and will be posting these in a series leading up to the conference.
Today we hear from local Minneapolis musician Tim O’Regan of Darkfold.
Why do you think music blogs are so popular?
Because they give people exposure to music they would not have heard of otherwise. Once you find a blogger with similar taste it becomes a no-brainer to follow their lead.
How do you think music blogs/aggregators/social networks have impacted the industry?
They haven’t impacted them as much as they could have because the labels resisted them. All our best resources from mp3.com to bittorrent has been attacked and/or driven underground. Bloggers shouldn’t have to fear persecution for putting songs online. In and ideal world music bloggers would put short genre or theme-based mixes together that people could easily download — from major-label and underground artists. Technology would enhance the presentation and ease and logistics and that could make music blogging far more popular and mainstream.
How have they changed your music consumption and/or marketing efforts?
If it were easier to hear the songs without having to download/sample them and if there were more blogs of similar musical taste I would focus on them more. But I plan to promote my band to the ones I know about.
What’s the best thing to happen to the music industry in the last year or so? Apple being allowed to lift the DRM restriction of the iTunes store. Not all songs are unencumbered but it’s a start.
What’s the worst?
The industry’s continuing, pointless war against file-sharing. From suing a MN mom Jammie Thomas-Rasset for 1.92 million for sharing 24 songs to successfully killing bittorrent sites Mininova and The Pirate Bay, the losing battle continues, unmolested by logic. An acceptable musician-payment framework is still elusive as well.
What is the single biggest strategy/technology/innovation/societal shift you think will impact music in 2010? The economy might be a big factor. If unleashed from legal restraints mobile tech could change the music landscape.
This is an interview series in preparation for my SXSW Panel: The State of Music Blogs in 2010. I reached out to a number of influencers, musicans, labels, marketers and music fans to get their perspectives on the topic and will be posting these in a series leading up to the conference. 
How have they changed your music consumption and/or marketing efforts?
Recent Comments