Top 6 Music Marketing Bloggers

There are always minds that speak to people that make them do more than read the words on the page. For most, checking their RSS Feeds daily, they are doing nothing more than reading regurgitated info that does not spark conversation, and most importantly action. Even A-listers generally give the same linkbait posts - you know the “10 Ways to do this” or “The Way Entourage Relates to Writing Titles for Social Media” style posts. And guess what, this post may be hypocritical, as it is a “top 10 list,” - only it’s a top 6.

The difference, I can (almost) guarantee that I will introduce you to at least one new voice, one new opinion maker on music marketing that will get you to take action - check out their site or grab their RSS Feed. And if you know them all, then number 6 will give you an idea of what to actually do with the crap you are reading. With this intro now in tact, I present the Gen-Y Rock Stars Top 6 Music Marketing Bloggers:

Derek Sivers

Just because he left CD Baby for greener pastures, this guy still lives and breathes the music industry and how it is changing and evolving for indie artists. Not just the business side, but the side of a budding entrepreneur, as someone who listens to others and their stories and as someone who has really seen it all in this business and is just getting started. Check out this clip from the article: Write? Write. Sleep? Sleep. Read? Read. Don’t fight it.

If you’re excited to work, work.  Sneak out of bed at 4am if your toes are tapping, and go do what’s on your mind.

But if you’re tired, don’t fight it.  Sleep.

If you’ve got writer’s block, enjoy the silence while it lasts. In another day, week, or month, you’ll be so filled with things to say you’ll be sneaking out of bed again.

Who knows why the brain is into different things at different times.

But we’re so much more effective when we follow what our body wants to do, rather than trying to fight it.

Justin Boland - Audible Hype

I honestly feel like you can learn more in Justin’s truths about the business and marketing in his writings than any school, book or Label Exec could possibly try to. Honesty and bluntness are the theme over at AudibleHype and the kid isn’t afraid to tell you yur plan sucks and so does your music, but is really quick to put on the folks doing it right, like my friend, artist and producer Godamus Rhyme. Justin and I don’t see eye-to-eye 100% of the time and that’s what makes me respect him. His writing on the state of hip-hop, how to release a record and research into the business is eye opening and “real” for anyone looking to DIY in music. Peep the writing:

…making an album in one week on an independent label and moving 18,000 copies…that’s not failing. That’s not platinum, either, but that’s still good money.

Second of all, let’s really talk numbers.  Brooke Hogan is an Amazon monster of a punchline, but “Brooke Hogan numbers” are both way better and radically worse than Slaughterhouse numbers.  Her first album moved 29,000 copies in the first week.  Her second…well, that one pushed exactly 3,381.  Apparently she’s up to 6000 now…months later…ouch.

But enough about women who could rape Mike Tyson.  The debate around Slaughterhouse brings up some really important points about where the music biz is at in 2009, especially the world of hip hop.

Kyle Bylin of Hypebot

Not to take anything away from Bruce Houghton from Hypebot (best news source in the business), but Kyle gets the interviews with the changemakers. From the 3 part series with Amanda Palmer to Ali from iLike to Jed from Reverbnation. His interviews and in-depth pieces speak to the technical culture the music business is moving into and also looks to get down to where it’s all going. Check out this Q&A with Jed about the challenges he faces in delivering quality content and tools to artists:

Q: As Chief Operating Officer of ReverbNation, what are some of the day-to-day challenges you face leading a tribe of artists?

Jed Carlson: The advent of the Internet has created a myriad of opportunities for Artists, and those that orbit them. Our challenge is to teach them how to take advantage of that. We think about Artists, big and small, as businesses and brands. It’s our mission to educate them on how to take advantage of the Internet, and outfit them with the tools they need to become better – equipping them with the skills, and tools, they need to succeed in the new environment.

An example is the way in which they are approaching the social networks. We have watched as Artists spend countless hours plugging away at their MySpace page, treating it as the ‘destination’ for their business activities. We are training Artists to take a different approach. Social networks should be viewed as ‘lead generation’ sources – giant, FREE, billboards on a super highway of music fans. The strategy for social nets should be to turn as many heads as possible to see your billboard, offer good content and engagement, but also to provide a way for those fans to ‘pull over’ to a place where the experience can be better controlled, the relationship can be ‘owned’, and the fan can be more easily converted into a ‘customer’.

Seth Godin

Yes, the famed author and change making marketer has gotten on the music bandwagon in the last year and his daily dose of information is extremely relevant to DIY musicians. While some are stating that by people following Seth’s talking they are actually not innovating, but following, I still feel that what he has to say about convergence, dealing with customers and fans as well as building a tribe is more relevant that ever to musicians without a clue. Check out this thoughts on “Music vs. the Music Industry“:

The music industry is really focused on the ‘industry’ part and not so much on the ‘music’ part. This is the greatest moment in the history of music if your dream is to distribute as much music as possible to as many people as possible, or if your goal is to make it as easy as possible to become heard as a musician. There’s never been a time like this before. So if your focus is on music, it’s great. If your focus is on the industry part and the limos, the advances, the lawyers, polycarbonate and vinyl, it’s horrible. The shift that is happening right now is that the people who insist on keeping the world as it was are going to get more and more frustrated until they lose their jobs. People who want to invent a whole new set of rules, a new paradigm, can’t believe their good fortune and how lucky they are that the people in the industry aren’t noticing an opportunity…

The New Rock Star Philosophy Guys

Hoover and Vonyo jumped head first into the online music marketing and blogging game with an outstanding free PDF eBook of the same name. Filled with telling tales real strategies and focus along with the here and now of tools, they are providing great support to this new era of rock stars. Their posts range from looking at classic artists and their models to looking into case studies of how to market your band and make some beer money in this business. Check out this quote from a Push vs. Pull Markting post:

We all know the band spammers who constantly post comments to check their music out.  I’m sure it works to a certain extent, but most comments are so in personal that you probably won’t bother approving it or checking it out.

Then there are the other artists who create something that will draw people in to check out their music.  It could be a great youtube video that people just want to share and tell others about. It could be the fact that they are one of the few people to write songs with an 8 string guitar. Whatever it is, they created something unique that gets people interested. Sure, they may have to get the word out initially by telling friends and fans, but if it’s truly special, it will start pulling more people in. People that actually want to see what you’re all about instead of being pushed into it.

Alex Wilhelm from Crazed Hits

Here is the thing with Alex, he is a super smart guy with an ear for the next “it” thing. The thing you may not know about Alex is that his site is the best online marketing research tool on the web for musicians. You know when you are doing SEO and are looking to rank for a keyword? What is one of the key steps? You look at the competition and do it better. With Alex’s site, he gives you the competition, now you need to do it better. Look at their promotions, the gigs they play, the bands they play with, the layout of their site, their fan interactions, join their mailing list and see how they write and anything else that can give you the upper hand. I am not saying to copy, I am suggesting you study. Want to know how important studying this list is? They have featured 72 acts on their site that have been signed to record deals! (Again, not suggesting you get signed, just that being in a position to be signed means you are moving in the right direction).

He also interviews music execs and hit makers. Get to class!

That concludes my top 6 recommendations. Did you learn about someone new? Is there someone deserving on this list that I forgot? Let’s shoot the music marketing blogger talk in the comments.

-Greg Rollett