Five Tips for Musicians to Engage Their Fans Digita. Note: This is the first post from Jason Feinberg, MediaShift’s new music correspondent. With his background in online marketing, Jason will be sharing his insights into how artists can best utilize new technology in connecting with fans. There was a time when celebrity musicians were positioned as unreachable idols. Those days are long gone; in today’s wired marketplace, musicians have to forge a personal relationship with their audience to keep their fans’ interest.
And for many, that means creating opportunities for fans to have an inside look into all aspects of an artist’s life. In the current music industry climate, many artists are realizing that they must go further than ever before to be seen as approachable — they must run their organization with almost complete transparency. What has caused this shift toward transparency? Never before have consumers had more choices on how to entertain themselves. Musicians such as Weezer have used Twitter to engage fans Related. Bandize Leaves Beta With A Bang. Bandize left beta this morning with a strong suite of new online features and tools designed to help artists organize the business of being a band. A sleek and intuitive interface guides users through setting up an intergarated system that you and your bandmates can use run your band's business.
Show dates, accounting, merchandise inventory tracking, contacts, product management and tasks can all be tracked and shared online using Bandize. click on image to enlarge In addition to the site makeover, with the launch comes these new features: Import existing shows from MyspaceImport contacts from Outlook, Apple Address Book, Gmail, Yahoo! Bandize is priced at $15 per month with an unrestricted 30 day free trial. Tell us why you deserve to win a free year of Bandize in 140 charracters or less and you might win 3,6 or 12 months of free Bandize!
Hypebot: Universal Goes Direct To Fan With Echospin. Universal Music Group Distribution has signed with Echospin for direct-to-fan sales and promotions from their artist websites. The two companies say it's the first time that a major music company has empowered its entire roster of artists to sell digital, physical and mobile goods from a single location. One example of the new platform is the 3 Doors Down “Ultimate Fan Pack,” an Echospin-powered exclusive offer, which includes re-mastered CDs, a re-mastered vinyl LP, a poster, a special autographed “early entry pass,” T-shirt and an instant download of the re-mastered “Kryptonite” MP3 single. click on image to enlarge Also upcoming are online stores and offers from Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, Hollywood Undead, Mary J Blige, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, Julianne Hough and the Verve Music Group, which will include music and products from Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Queen Latifah, Katherine McPhee and Herbie Hancock.
From the press release: a2f2a. Your Digital Record Offers Alternative To ITunes LP. The album is not dead; it's just evolving. iTunes LP is one iteration, but it's not the only one. Recently launched Your Digital Record offers artists and labels another branch of album's evolutionary tree with a (currently) free platform that transforms albums from mere digital files into an interactive multimedia bundle. Now in beta, artists and labels can: produce interactive digital albums by uploading tracks, liner notes, artwork, pictures, videos and other media in an online "studio. "share digital albums through embedded code, links and email as a widgetlink users to any digital or physical music store for purchase accept donations from fans directly via PayPal connect with fans and receive review. Several top indie artist like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have uploaded content and are using it virally.
Microfundo.