Marketing Pop Culture

links for 2008-05-16

• Coldplay Compared to NIN and Radiohead
  A look at web traffic in the wake of "free" albums
  (tags: Radiohead music+business music+downloads Coldplay NIN)
• Nintendo Wii outsells 360, PS3, PS2, PSP combined in April
  The broader demographic appeal of the Wii is at work
  (tags: nintendo wii xbox PS3 PSP)

The Empire Strikes Barack

Thanks to Todd And for the heads-up on this.  You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to love the creativity here.

links for 2008-05-14

• No off switch: "Hyperconnectivity" on the rise
  Consider the demands on the psyche, as well as on enterprise infrastructure.
  (tags: technology culture)
• Why Twitter Matters - And Why I Just Might Follow You
  Yes, I twitter, so this is of particular interest to me
  (tags: twitter)
• Would Ethical Music Work?
  Glenn asks the question, based on a WSJ article earlier this week
  (tags: music+business music2.0)
• Social Networking Ad Spending Update
  eMarketer suggests that spending will be down this year by $200MM, but it's still over $1B
  (tags: social+networks advertising media)
• imeem Leapfrogs Yahoo to Become Top Music Streamer
  Reported in Digital Media Wire via a Wired report
  (tags: imeem Yahoo+Music streaming+media)
• Differences in Media Consumption among Racial Groups
  Some interesting data point from BIGresearch
  (tags: multicultural)
• Become an Expert with the Power of Deliberate Practice
  Just 'cause I want to come back to read this later.
  (tags: Steve+Rubel)
• Facebook Agonistes: Advertisers, Adults, Developers Pulling Back; Banking On Global
  Further discussion on the declining ad spend on social networks.
  (tags: Facebook social+networks social+media)

Black rock musical "Passing Strange" racks up multiple Broadway nominations

Over at Bold As Love, I've listed the awards and categories that "Passing Strange" is in contention for.  All you lovers of great music and great songwriting should go check this out.  Discount ticketing info is at the end of the post.

Hero or victim?

One of this past Sunday's Postsecrets.

links for 2008-04-24

• "Do no evil" credo helps Google top annual brand survey
  According to Millward Brown, 2008's top five are: Google, GE, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and China Mobile. Read on.
  (tags: branding Google Millward+Brown)
• Sponsorships Top $1 Billion In '07
  This is the number for all music sponsorships, according to IEG.
  (tags: sponsorship music+business)

Life Changes

So, I finally make a tentative step back to blogging.  As I wrote to some friends a few days ago, I’m just now feeling like I’m getting some equilibrium back in my life.  Yeah, life happens and even when you make preparations, sometimes you’re still not ready for the way change sweeps through and disrupts a basically orderly existence.  But, no, let me allay any fears you might be having at this point: This story doesn’t involve any sickness, divorce, abrupt layoff or anything with such thudding finality.  No this is a happy disruption.

The short version is that my wife and I recently adopted a little girl from Ethiopia.  It’s something that’s been in the works for the past year, but was only finalized at the end of March.  So we spent the last two weeks of that month preparing for my daughter’s arrival, and spent about nine days in Ethiopia, where we had to go to get her and bring her back.

And what a trip: Amazing, joyous, eye-opening, and deeply moving are some of the words that come to mind to describe it.  But after all of that dust settled and we returned, we found we had to task of integrating this new person into our family.  Three had become four.  Somewhat more challenging is the fact that she basically spoke no English and we had about 20 words in Amharic that we mispronounced much of the time.  And let’s not talk about how she won’t go to bed until her big brother, my 8-year-old son, does.  That certainly throws a wrench into any blogging plans you have!

But the great thing is my daughter, all three years of her, is fiercely intelligent, so she’s quickly making her wishes and her presence known.  Good news is that we’re all adapting.  That’s what you do, right?  So, yeah, the equilibrium’s finally starting to come back.  Some perspective: This Saturday will make three weeks that been here in the States.

Anyway, the picture above was a shot I took as we were leaving the village where my daughter was born.  Our presence, along with some of the other adopting families, was a big deal and the kids from the village crowded around us as we were on our way out.

It was a great trip and I’m actually looking forward to returning to see more of Ethiopia.  However, on  a lot of levels, I’m glad to be back.

Thanks for being patient.

Barack Obama on race

What was on display today was the power of Obama.  Let me explain.  He frequently talks about unity and some dismiss it as naive dreaming.  However, what was clear today was that there is a strength in talking openly and honestly about the issues that lie ahead of us.  Race is such an issue, and he's right that every time there's an opportunity to have an open dialogue about it, the country tends to sidestep it.  Usually, whites end up feeling defensive and black folks come across as too angry.  And it's true, we do end up retreating to our respective corners.

But, by not pandering, by providing powerful contexts for behaviors and feelings on both sides of the divide, Obama has not only clarified his position on this issue, but he has provided ways for ordinary Americans to begin honest discussions in their own neighborhoods on this subject.

Bravo, Barack!  Now let's see if the country is brave enough to follow where you lead.

Click here for the transcript.

Bill Bragin, "Downtown Impresario"

Today the New York Times profiled a friend of mine, Bill Bragin.  When you talk about people shaping culture in New York City, certainly you have to talk about Bill.  As a programmer and presenter, he's put his wide-ranging and superb musical tastes to work in service of Festival Productions, Central Park Summerstage, Joe's Pub, and now Lincoln Center.  There, he'll run both the Midsummer Night's Swing and Lincoln Center Out Of Doors series.

“The way I define myself and my work is as an arts presenter, not a nightclub booker,” Mr. Bragin said in an interview. “This was exactly the right move. It’s multidisciplinary, it’s multiethnic. I have always been a generalist working in those boundaries between popular art and high art.”

It should be noted that he was instrumental in shepherding "Passing Strange" through it's early development at Joe's Pub.

To be in Bill's orbit is have driven home to you that there's so much great--yes, really great--music being created and performed.  Further, in an age when everyone can be a curator, Bill is a "trusted source".

Read the full New York Times article here.

Digital Music Forum: The Indie Takeover?

Jaylaan Ahmad-Llewellyn, Bluhammock Music
Jim Cooperman, Wind-Up Records
Matt Laszuk, IRIS Distribution
Amaechi Uzoigwe, Definitive Jux
Mitchell Wolk, ADA
Rich Bengloff, A2IM (moderator)

First, some apologies: This is not a live blog post.  I did something stupid and lost the original post.  Kinda bummed that Typepad hasn't created an autosave feature.  Anyway, I'm recreating this from memory.

Jaylaan: Not lamenting over the industry that was.  Trying to figure out how people are consuming music today and how I and my artists can get paid off of that.

Amaechi: Look at the glass half full.  Find the niche for your artist and serve it well.