Express Yourself

As a followup to Monday's post on Empowered Fans, here's one way I'm empowering my fans to express themselves ...

Check out these audio testimonials:

From Jason Fladlien, www.straihtwikidcrew.com

From Sylvia Young, www.totalkaosent.com

Want to record your own audio testimonial? Find out how on this page.

-Bob

Beastie Boys & Empowered Fans

In my recent post called The Hunted Become the Hunters I discussed the growing empowerment of music fans and consumers in general. Another offshoot of this evolution is the blurring of lines between people who produce creative content and those who consume it.

Case in point: Here's what Beastie Boy Adam Yauch told Wired magazine in an article last month ...

One night, I was prowling around on our web site's message board and found a phonecam video clip that someone had taken at one of our shows. It was really grainy and shaky, but I loved how it was shot from eye level and showed a personal take on what was happening onstage. I thought it would be cool to apply that approach to a full-length concert film, so that it actually feels like you're watching a concert and not some big, overblown MTV video.

To make their new concert movie, the Beastie Boys distributed Hi8 videocams to 50 fans at a show in New York City -- and asked them to record everything they saw. Yauch then combined his favorite bits from the 100-plus hours of footage into a feature film.

In this new era, artists aren't the only ones who do the creating while fans passively sit by and wait to be fed the latest music. Now everyone has an opportunity to express themselves. Use this to your advantage. Ask your fans to produce videos, artwork, T-shirt designs, even alternate versions of your recorded music.

Get fans involved and allow them to be co-creators in your success story.

-Bob

MC Lars Taps Into iGeneration

Have you heard of MC Lars and his rap-inspired tunes aimed at the "iGeneration"?

Check out the tracks "Download This Song" and "iGeneration" on his MySpace page to see what I mean.

Lars is a good example of someone who is doing two smart things, marketing-wise:

• Tapping into (and rapping about) a current event or trend -- in this case, the realities of the digital generation, with a big dose of flipping off the traditional corporate music industry.
  
  
• Creating a new musical category Lars calls "post-punk laptop rap."

Opinions seem to vary on the quality of his songs and whether they fit more into the comedy or trailblazer genre. But one thing's for sure: MC Lars has received a good amount of media coverage -- MTV.com, The Village Voice, Now Toronto magazine, Chart Attack, Full Effect magazine, and IGN.com, to name a few.

What event or trend does your music tap into? And what new category can you create and establish yourself as the preeminent artist in?

-Bob

The Power of Online Music Videos

As a followup to my earlier post on 2006 being the year of Internet video, check out this clip from guitar player Justin King:



A music video doesn't have to be flashy. It just has to represent who you are and what you do in an interesting way -- a way that people will want to let their friends know about.

Also visit this page at YouTube and see all the options the site gives you to share video content.

(Thanks to Lanette of the Almost Patsy Cline Band for making me aware of this online video.)

-Bob

2006, The Year of Internet Video: Get Ready

When I spoke in Austin last month at a GoGirls Music event during SXSW, a fellow in the audience asked me what I saw ahead as the next big trend. My response wasn't exactly brilliant, but I encouraged musicians to prepare to present themselves visually -- because video capabilities were becoming more common online.

Well, in the weeks since then I've been blown away by what's happening with Internet video and the explosive growth of sites that offer it.

Take a look at the list of web sites below. Most will host your streaming video content for free. Some of them even allow you to edit together various video clips, photos and audio into your own DIY productions.

http://www.youtube.com/
http://video.google.com/
http://www.stickam.com/
http://www.zippyvideos.com/
http://www.eyespot.com/
http://www.jumpcut.com/
http://www.videoegg.com/
http://www.grouper.com/
http://www.vmix.com/
http://www.vimeo.com/
http://www.ifilm.com/
http://www.photobucket.com/
http://www.dailymotion.com/
http://www.vsocial.com/
http://www.metacafe.com/
http://www.castpost.com/
http://www.streamload.com/
http://www.putfile.com/
http://www.homemovie.com/
http://www.simplestar.com/

Back in December 2005, blogger and media expert Robin Good wrote about video and his prediction that it would flourish in 2006. Boy, was he right.

• First, there was blogging, which gave everyone an easy way to post and share their words (text)
  
  
• Last year, podcasting took center stage by offering the same capabilities with sound (audio)
  
  
• Sites like Flickr.com have done very well by giving people the freedom to easily store and share their photos (images)
  
  
• The next logical step is video.

Blogs and podcasts are still going strong and will continue to thrive. But you must be aware of and make smart use of video to squeeze the most out the Internet.

In fact, I've jumped on board and will continue to do more with audio, while experimenting with ways to incorporate video into the ways I get my message out.

Check out this short, silly test video I created yesterday using a paid service called Audio Acrobat:

Internet video is here. Now. So get ready.

-Bob

Voice Your Opinions

I want to hear what you have to say about my books, special reports, and audio programs -- and give you some exposure in return. If you have purchased any of my titles, please call my new Testimonials Line and record a message of up to five minutes explaining how one of my resources has helped you.

I'll use the best recordings on my web site and as breaks on my Artist Empowerment Radio podcasts.

Just call (214) 615-6505 and enter 5160 then #. (Your regular long-distance charges, if any, will apply.) After you hear my greeting and the beep, record your message. When finished, hit any number. You'll then have the option of hearing your message, re-recording it, or saving it.

Be sure to include your name, your band or company name, and web site address. Spell out any words or names that need to be clarified. I want to attribute your recording correctly.

Want to hear a fun sample of the best way to leave a testimonial? Click this link: www.audioacrobat.com/play/W0xbN9GQ

OR ... if you're feeling really ambitious, create your own testimonial recording on your own and include one of your songs in the background. Then e-mail the MP3 or a link to it. I'll let you know if I can use it.

-Bob

P.S. FYI ... my best-selling title these days is, not surprisingly, the new MySpace Music Marketing ebook. But the second most popular title on my web site is 50 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Music on the Internet. Click the links to see what all the buzz is about :-)

Beatle Bob and Me - Caught on Film

I'm famous. Sharing the screen with Jello Biafra, Mojo Nixon, and the legendary Beatle Bob!

A friend recently sent me a link to www.myspace.com/bb_rocks. That's the MySpace home of director Jenni Sterling and Arammana Productions, which is producing an indie documentary called "Superfan: The Lies, Life and Legend of Beatle Bob."

I clicked the play button on the embedded video player, and lo and behold, there I was -- talking about Beatle Bob. I'm the first voice you hear on the trailer.

(Not sure who Beatle Bob is? Click here to find out.)

I met Jenni and a camera guy at a local music store about a year ago and was interviewed for the documentary. Hadn't heard much about it since, until I was sent the link. Very cool.

Later in the clip, you hear former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, right before they return to a shot of me. Another classic scene is a rant by Mojo Nixon near the end.

Again, you can watch it at www.myspace.com/bb_rocks. Note: You may have to download the latest version of Flash to have the audio and video work together.

See you on the red carpet :-)

-Bob