Seth Godin: Sliced bread and other marketing delights

 

Marketing takes guts and drive to be successful. With the entertainment industry heading full speed ahead into a new digital era, marketing approaches are being reassessed to bring the most rewarding results possible. But how does one do that not knowing what the outcome would be? Seth Godin known as the marketing Guru couldn't have said it better as he elaborates in this 18 minutes presentation of what marketing is all about and how we should tackle it. One thing I really resonated with Godin is when he made the comment of "how do you get your idea to spread?" Yeah the market is constantly changing especially for those in the music industry however knowing that challenges will present themselves as a result of change, doesn't  make a difference as Godin puts it. Godin goes to explain that people who have an idea and know how to spread that idea usually win and succeed at it. It doesn't matter what your trying to market whether its a record, a book, concerts, new clothing, etc. Its about selling it to the people who are listening; the ones who after listening just might tell a friend. Sometimes the all it really takes is to really hone in on what is it the people want. Who cares? When you figure out your target it market and you "talk to them" they just might tell someone about it and the chain effect is planted. Godin uses Pearl Jam as an example of good marketing because they only sell their music on their website and no where else. This directs all fans and intrigued visitors to go straight to the website and through there is where they find out everything they need to know about Pearl Jam. Also being directing all marketing to one major source (their website) it allowed for the integrity of the band to stay consistent and credible. Fans know that if they want to know all the low down on the latest music and retail products available that they can get their hands on, they can find it in the one place and one place only, the official Pearl Jam Website. In all if you create something remarkable like Godin puts it, it definitely more noticeable and where it grabs your attention is where you'll want to be. Find the consumer/fans/people that actually care about the product you wish to put out because those loyal, interested followers will definitely spread the word. In the words of Godin "Make it Remarkable."

A Look at an Intellectual Interview between Super Producer Swizz Beatz and NYU

So as I was browsing the web looking for the next insightful video to share with my readers, I came across this resent interview of Swizz Beatz and NYU from back in March of this year. I really appreciate the fact that the artists that have really mastered their trade in the entertainment industry have not forgotten where they came from. It is refreshing to see that even a producer as well recognized as Swizz Beatz can give back to the next generation by teaching classes and offering constructive critics and in sight to students seeking a career in the entertainment industry. Swizz Beatz is a mega entrepreneur in every sense of word. From breaking into the industry at the young age of 18 to now, Swizz Beatz is known as a Super Producer, Rapper, Designer, Writer. Swiss is a great example and testament to how the marketing direction of the entertainment industry is moving since his start in the industry. As a result of the market going digital and the demand for music is readily available through music downloading sites; artists, record labels, publishing and distribution companies have had to come up with innovative ways to feed the public demand and yet win them over in such a fashion that the fans will still reach out and purchase their album.  Everyone knows that album sales have continued to plummet as the digital demand grows and advances. So how does the entertainment industry compensate for the fall in album sales despite all the financial efforts spent in marketing the product, meeting the financial quota for publishers and distributors? That readers, is the question of the day and the answer keeps evolving as the days, years go by and a new generation of eager creative talents join the industry. However for the time being Swizz beats has come up with an proactive method to the madness; Offering free singles under what he calls "Monster Mondays" where he releases free music on a weekly basis to his fans to create buzz for his work, please his followers, and also demonstrate his ability to stay relevant with the times. Fans are the driving force behind the artist. Fans help a single go viral and as a result of that, demand builds up. When the buzz is great then money sponsors begin to pour in and maybe a music video will come out of it or a surprise performance or appearance you never know. Luckily this method of offering back free music to the fans has proven successful for Swizz Beatz and numerous opportunities have presented its self to him. Other artists such as Timbaland and Kanye West have notices the success of Swizz Beatz with "Monster Mondays" and have also started to offer complementary music.  Among all things I feel that artists who have been in the industry for years should definitely consider taking Swizz Beatz by example and maybe offer interactive seminars, public figure talks, or even teach a class like Swizz Beats does as another way of giving back to the next generation of entertainment entrepenuers, agents, artist, managers, etc. Just as a well accomplished artists can sign a new artist to his or hers label, so can he/she teach or educate a class of what they have come to learn of the years. The more educated students are to tackle the industry the more interesting the direction of the entertainment industry will take. With the industry becoming more technologically dependent, Music marketing, publishing, and distribution and everything that surrounds entertainment will need more heads than one keep it flourishing for many more decades to come.