Universal / NBC Lost Its “Cool”

Universal has lost its “cool.” They have lost sight of the core of their business, the fans. This isn’t breaking news, but it is disturbing to me and the way that I consult my musician clients.

The facts:

Universal now enforces that everyone on their music roster, limit streaming songs to 90 seconds. These include Myspace pages.

Universal has pulled all of its content from iTunes including hit NBC TV shows and all artists.

Universal/NBC has removed all content from YouTube and replaced it with behind the time Hulu.com.

The real facts.

The next generation of music fans get their music online. Whether this be finding new bands on Myspace, Purevolume, or whatever. They also buy music digitally so they can play them with the white ear buds on an iPod. They buy their music with iTunes, like it or not.

YouTube plays and streams more videos per day than you could even imagine in your wet dreams. They find out about movies, tv shows, bands and celebs through this little time waster. Like it or not, this is the future of video.

Much like the tv, kids like to have 1 box give them loads of choices. That is why iTunes, Myspace and YouTube are the major players in the entertainment market. I can log into Myspace and get hit from every direction by any band that I want, all without leaving the site. With iTunes, a customer can browse through an infinite number of artists, tv shows and movies and put them all into 1 shopping cart and pay with 1 pre-established account. With YouTube, they can watch whatever they damn well please and be redirected to other clips from the same genre. This generates their interest to go see a movie, DVR a tv show or check out a band live.

What they did and how they could have avoided the screw-up:

All of their music is available at other online sites, most noticeably Amazon Music. So are their hit TV shows. The problem is that no one knows this outside of tech circles and bloggers. Hulu.com and NBC Direct have been ripped apart by bloggers and media industry since its launch and the fact remains that everyone on YouTube, stayed in YouTube. They are now just watching other networks shows and then turning on the tube to their advertisers on prime time.

The Myspace thing is just ridiculous. It took Colbie Caillat apologizing to her fans via a Myspace blog to discover this bizarre finding. What now? Fans will listen to someone else on Myspace and buy their songs via iTunes. How ironic.

Conclusion

Universal, you had the fans in the palms of your hands. You were greedy and looked for more money. Who is going to pay close to $10 for one episode of Heroes when I can get the whole season on DVD for $25 in a few weeks. Oh and I have DVR too, so I can watch it whenever I want on my big screen.

Sorry Universal, you are not going to survive this new media age with actions like this. Call me I got some solutions.

Speak out and let Universal know how they snubbed the most important people in their organization, their fans and customers.

-g-ro

The Future of MP3 Downloads. Food For Thought Major Labels.

Tonight I had the pleasure of being interview by Mark Jigarjian, a Media Production major at Rollins College in Winter Park. The talks ranged from the general Myspace Marketing of bands, to viral videos on YouTube to how social media and technology has changed the game and leveled the playing field to anyone with music as a passion.

The interview will air early next week after they talk to a few more people in the industry, and edit the piece down from all my ramblings.

One point that I came up with towards the end of the interview was that of merging media distribution. I brought up the point of Blip.tv distributing my videos with one click to my Myspace Blog, Myspace Bulleting, Facebook application, Twitter account and Blogger Blog.

I then motioned that MP3’s can and should be distributed in the same way. When you upload a song, why couldn’t it be virtually sent out to Myspace, Facebook pages, SnoCaP, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, CD Baby and the countless number of indie sites offering music downloads and streaming capability?

I then took it a step further and said that it would possibly take the power of the major labels to make such a deal or process happen. With their resources and power, the majors could make it possible for musicians to aggregate their downloadable music through a bevy of platforms with a single upload. And they could even take a cut of the sales. How about that major labels?

I call this the G-Ro Music Aggregation Theory. Put it in the books.

-g-ro

Jay-Z, Smart Move With American Gangster

Jay-Z is back, oh, but you already knew that. Man, I’m late on this breaking news thing. American Gangster came out 2 weeks ago and landed Hov with his 10^th number 1 album, tying Elvis for 2^nd all time number one albums. Not bad for a trapper turned rapper.

Jay is a marketing genius; there is no doubt about it. He has a plan before it becomes a plan and sometimes the public doesn’t even notice it. Shawn Corey Carter’s last album, Kingdom Come was released with a video paid for by Budweiser. Remember the car chase with Dale Jr? Yea, Jay didn’t cough up a penny for that. He got sponsors, big ones.

New album, American Gangster. Do you think it is any coincidence that it dropped only a week 3-4 days after the movie of the same name dropped and landed at number 1 in the box office? I think not. Yea, Jay says it is loosely based around the movie, the movie inspired him, blah, blah. Jay worked around a deadline made by himself to get the album shelved at the height of marketing paid for by the major movie studios. Everytime the film was mentioned, a tag line about the unofficial soundtrack was mentioned. Jay was everywhere the movie was. Every interview with Denzel had a question about the Jay-Z album and their thoughts on it. More free press.

This is the ultimate hustler. He not only runs the baddest label in town, Def Jam, but has refueled Roc-A-Fella with a position to succeed just in time to make the 4^th quarter king a few bucks and keep his name in that elite John Elway staple. Freeway just dropped Tuesday. Beanie Siegel is next. Kanye is still the king and making headlines through tragedy and triumph.

You want to know what is even funnier from a new media standpoint? This was all done without a Myspace or Facebook campaign. No YouTube battles. No Twittering necessary. It was done through old media and the big corporations pulling the big bucks. Late night TV shows, TRL, MTV and BET. Movie studios, XXL, Rolling Stone.

I don't surf the net
No i never been on myspace
Too busy letting my voice vibrate
Carving out my space

-Jay-Z “Beach Chair” from ‘Kingdom Come’

Lunch With Joel

Today I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with online recruiting guru, Joel Cheesman, founder of Cheezhed. I reached out to grab a quick bite while he was in town for the Recruiting 2007 Conference and Expo. Lucky for me this meant an escape from the office for a few to rack the brain of someone who gets SEO in the recruitment field. Highlights form the talk included:

Use localized video-This will be a great addition to both RollettMarketing.com and the Orlando JobSpot. Thinking of doing a weekly show for both websites.

Leverage off the power of large domains like YouTube and Myspace. I always knew this but it makes a little more sense now.

Long tail is huge. If 2 people that need jobs are searching for “customer service part time near airport” and cannot find a job that suits them, I have failed as an SEO expert that is writing job descriptions. This is data that your webmaster needs to supply, even if you have to use a stick to beat it out of them.

Rethink Podcasting. I have been opposed to podcasting ever since I heard the word. Even with my recording background, the thought of someone listening to me talk on their iPod just didn’t sound enticing. What the hell, I can record the hell outta some music, so why not give it a shot.

Facebook Apps are useless for job seekers. There is still that wall up between job seekers and their social networks. All apps have failed and show no signs of innovation, viral capability and focus. Plus, no one markets them on their own sites. Imagine if Career Builder had links on their homepage? But they don’t and their app sunk to the bottom of the barrel.

Employers need to smarten up. Sell your positions. As a job poster I can only do so much to spruce up your crappy driving position. Make it sound enticing. If when you are posting a job online and think the job sucks, what will the job seekers think?

Their needs to be some responsibility on the part of the employer. If all you want is numbers in the door, so be it. But if you really want to grow your company, have a better bottom line and maybe get that Christmas bonus, start taking some pride in how and who you hire.

I’m done for the day. Joel it was awesome finally meeting you. I hope that we gave you some insight into the localization of job boards and the power that can be obtained from not having to always get the red tape from corporate. Anywho, its time to Rock For Hunger. Hunger Banquet tonight at UCF!!

-g-ro

Jumping on the I Hate Prince Bandwagon

Who does this guy think he is? Just because he has sold a go-gillion records, made un-makable amounts on money and can change his name from Price to a symbol back to Prince again, doesn’t meant hat he has the rights to take on fans for liking his music so much that they actually not only buy the CD, but they dance to it, listen to it in their cars, get tattoos and make stickers of the famed symbol and embrace one of the planet’s most recognizable rock stars.

Where does this guy get off? He is not only taking on YouTube and Pirate Bay but now fan sites that cite his lyrics and host pictures. God, if I had one fan site where people loved my music so much they would make pretty banners, signs and quote my lyrics, I would be a happy camper.

(Just in: Price has announced plans to “reclaim the internet,” oh boy!)

According to Rueters.com, the sites have vowed to unite under the banner "Prince Fans United" and take the matter to court if necessary.

"We strongly believe that such actions are in violation of ... freedom of speech and should not be allowed," said a statement from the three sites -- www.housequake.com, www.princefams.com and www.prince.org.

As of right now he is not suing any of the sites and has not gone through with his YouTube threats. This doesn’t mean that his image is cleared by any means. Just by reaching out to destroy loyal fans, he may impact the future buying power of the Price army.

Whereas now most bands coming up in the scene rely on YouTube, Myspace, Absolute Punk and other community style followings to catch a break and create a fan base, larger artists are shying away and looking down on anyone that is trying to “steal” their precious copyrighted music. Now I’m not saying that it is ok for fans to steal music from artists, I am saying that without fans and their allegiance to the music and the artists, there would be no fast cars and rock stars.

So this is a cry to all you major label artists;

1) You can’t stop the internet so stop trying.

2) Major labels are losing badly and you are part of the cause. Take charge of your own career and stop relying on suites who can’t comprehend the power of the new media and what it can do

3) Embrace change –first there were records, then 8 tracks, then tapes and cd’s. It’s time to give way to the MP3 and its been here already for 7 or so years (old Napster is at least that old). Jump on the party ship, it will be boatloads of fun and

4) Embrace the fans who care so much about your music. There has never been a better time to communicate with your fans. Create a blog, respond to messages, create videologs, whatever just be a voice for your band. Look what it has done for Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes and any other Myspace Gen band.

Have fun with this one folks!

G-Ro has a Talk With Endavo Media

I first got introduced to Endavo Media when Peter shot me an email offering their services as a compliment to my clients online video needs. We started to chat and things got interesting being that their company is based out of Orlando and Atlanta (we're in Orlando) and at the time I was heavily focused on band consulting and online promotion, something they were very aware and active of.

I thought the best way to get into their heads and see where they were coming from was to do a little old Q and A session. After a little lacking form my end (can't lie, right?) the interview is done and I must say that I got some much better than average response. Peter had the sense to take this session and run with it fro both himself and Endavo Media. I will say that I will be utilizing his services whenever possible and I encourage for you to drop them a line to see how they can help your video enhancement needs.

In the session we got into topics that range from how their company reigns supreme and separates itself from the YouTube’s and MyspaceTV’s of the world as well as the state of social media, mobile advertising and video and a forecast and possible ultimate demise of Myspace!

So check it out folks and be sure to visit Endavo for all of your social video needs.

G-Ro: Give me your best elevator pitch.

Peter: Well before the elevator door even closes, I’d tell a music artist:
If you have video content and an audience, we can give you everything you need to connect to them directly so you can make more money.

Hopefully, that should grab their attention so if the ride takes us a few floors, I’d hit them with:

Endavo Media allows music artists (and anybody who has content), the freedom to connect with their audience to grow their brand and generate revenue through our online video management, delivery and marketing system.

Of course, if it’s a longer ride to the top floor…

Endavo Media is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the convergence revolution of digital communication and media technologies. We see ourselves as a provider of “freedom” to the entertainment & new media industry – “freedom to build and connect with your own audiences and communities and deliver your entertainment or information directly to your audiences anywhere, any way, anytime, and on your own terms”. We are a digital broadcast network and services company with a clear mission of providing comprehensive turnkey solutions for distributing digital entertainment & media directly to multiple consumer markets over the Internet and syndicated distribution channels, such as IPTV, Broadband TV and portable media. Our comprehensive solution delivers superior “managed” distribution power, for anything from home-grown video to commercial-grade TV channels, and everything else that’s needed to directly connect with audiences, manage assets and programming, and monetize those assets, without incurring the formerly typical costs of commercial network and systems operations.


G-Ro: At Rollett Marketing, we deal with local and indie bands and artists, as well as mom and pop operations and small businesses that are trying to get their ideas out through social media and networks. How can Endavo make its mark on this demographic?

Peter: The content owners you describe are in the sweet spot of our business of delivering entertainment through the new media and social networks over many different consumer devices. We not only work with established music artists like Lil Jon, but have a growing number of independent musicians and emerging bands that are using our video delivery solutions to build audiences and create hits. With us, it’s easy. You choose how best to reach your target audience and we’ll help you distribute your videos efficiently, provide a superior fan experience, and show you how to make money doing it.

G-Ro: Getting right into the meat, why would I choose you over say a free service like YouTube or Myspace TV?

Peter: Ah, we get that one all the time. The question is not whether the service is free or fee. The real question is “what is the best way for a music artist to connect with their audience?” We like YouTube and MySpace, but just posting a video on those sites doesn’t actually mean anybody is ever going to see it and certainly doesn’t mean you’ll make any money with it. That’s where we’re different. Sure, we can help artists connect to those networks and many others, but more importantly, we can drive fans back to the artist’s own website with innovative viral marketing tools. It’s all about broadening reach out there, but staying connected and in control of the music and the brand. Hey, for just $99 an artist or band can do all this with a custom branded MySpace video player that allows complete control of their media, links fans back to their website, and let’s them virally share the player for free on their own and their fans’ MySpace sites. All they do is easily publish their video files to our platform and our Media Management System will automatically convert the files into Flash format and deliver to as many MySpace players as they can get out there. Now, an artist can actually make money by promoting their events, sponsors, products using video or banner ads, even on MySpace. Check it out at www.GetMyOwnPlayer.com

G-Ro: Video is without a doubt the next level of internet advertising, how is Endavo preparing for this shift in advertising budgets moving from print and television to online and online video?

Peter: Our solutions leverage this shift to the benefit of our customers and the advertisers greatly. From the very beginning, we have built our entire platform around the idea that video and online advertising will be a key success factor for us and our customers. Advertisers and content owners are able to match up within our back-end system to target a very specific audience or to broadcast to the masses. Content owners can search and associate a specific advertisement in inventory to a specific video being programmed for distribution, then distribute to a target audience. Moreover, the content owner can track views and report back to an advertiser exactly how many times an ad was viewed. The beauty of working with us is that music artists can share in this new advertising revenue by placing their own video ads and banners on any of the media players that we offer. Best of all, the artist can control if, when and where the ads actually appear, which is unlike the way it works on the “free” social video networks.

G-Ro: Where do you see Endavo in 5 years/10 years?

Peter: Within the next 5 years (sooner actually) we would like to be seen as one of the “go-to” companies for delivering the next-generation of Internet TV, IPTV and Mobile TV and Social Media services and content management and logistics services, all rolled up in a comprehensive solution supporting anyone from an individual artist to a major studio.

Five and ten year forecasts for a business can be a bit out there. As for me in ten years, I plan to be sitting on a rock somewhere thinking about my next career move. Who knows, maybe I’ll have experienced enough stuff from this whole Web 2.0 thing to write a good book by then.

G-Ro: Do you see the shift into mobile devices as something that Endavo will focus on in the future?

Peter: Absolutely… our customers are recognizing that increasingly consumers are accessing their personal entertainment over mobile devices and cell phones. Actually, right now you can watch our customers’ videos on the Creative ZEN portable media devices and we’re talking to several companies about mobile phone opportunities. Accessing and bundling content, GOOD content, on devices is a fast moving trend. Our goal is be “device-neutral” where we just route the media to wherever our customers want it to be displayed. To us, that’s a real competitive advantage. What music artist has time to deal with figuring out the different formats required for all the devices that are out there? That’s where we come in. We handle all the transcoding and routing for our customer so they can focus on their core business. And speaking of devices, Endavo Media offers an IPTV set-top-box solution to content producers, television channel owners and programmers seeking alternative television channel distribution.

G-Ro: We have been talking about your Myspace player being a big push for your company. Do you still see Myspace being relevant in the next 3-5 years?

Peter: Whether it’s MySpace, Facebook, or the next big social networking site is really not that important to us. What we all know is that these social network sites have forever changed the way music artists are marketed and music is distributed and marketed. What’s important to Endavo Media is that wherever our customer wants to be, that’s where we’ll be.

Once again we’d like to thank Peter for taking time out from his busy schedule to give us some insight into Endavo and his views on the state of the social media scene. To get started with Endavo Media today, please visit their website or shoot me an email to get your brand recognized by the online community with a Brand Recognition or Social Media Package. Have a good one folks!!

-g-Ro E-MaIL mE

It Just Doesn’t Stop: Social Networks Are Everywhere and Growing

It’s like that old commercial for a kid’s product I believe that said “10 million strong, and growing.” Only this time it’s '100 million strong and growing'! With Social Network sites taking top rank in Newsweek last week (Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg on the cover) to Myspace’s ever growing numbers to more sites with crazy names that are popping up everyday (just look at how many blog entries Mashable.com makes in a single day), the general public is finally realizing that these sites are not just for kids.

It’s not that I like to rehash these points everyday in this blog, but in the early stages of Rollett Marketing, I have had a hard time explaining social networking sites to a generation that didn’t even have the internet in their youth.

Us Millennials are spoiled! Just look at my survival pack for a meet and greet with a recent client:
-Sidekick with accompanying Bluetooth
-iBook
-iPod
-Oh, and some papers in a binder in case someone actually wants to see that!
-I'm just missing my iPhone (which won't happen until Apple gets out of its AT&T contact

What most people beyond their college years are starting to understand is that major players like Google, Yahoo, MTV, Viacom (parent company of MTV), Microsoft, Apple and more are starting to back these sites (and these sites aren’t cheap either!).

What is starting to happen is the capitalization and monetization for small businesses and large corporations on sites like Myspace, YouTube and Facebook. The great thing about these sites is their price to get in the game. Nothing! Yea that’s right, these sites are free to use. No more monthly hosting fees, no need for expensive merchant accounts, no flash design!

From a recent Fortune online article:

“The reason social networking matters is simple: people do things together, and this new software promises us the means to engage the social aspect of our lives in everything we do online. Among other things, shopping, consuming media, researching, planning our time, and of course communicating can all be done more efficiently if we have manageable information about what our friends are doing. It goes way beyond high school and college kids sharing photos and exchanging gossip.”

As you look to get your marketing plan going this fall, don’t overlook the social networks and their potential. A great feature to their pricing is that you can experiment with more than one site to see which fits your business model best. Bands are just now embarking onto Facebook and utilizing the new open platform applications to sell their tracks virtually royalty free to anyone but PayPal. Real Estate offices are opening their doors to the prospect of 100 million 17-24 year-olds who need a place to live when mommy and daddy throw them out on their own (and they get that ‘real job’ making Facebook applications!). Restaurants are sending out daily specials through Twitter and posting videos of what’s happening at their establishment. The possibilities are endless and it starts with your imagination.

Social networks are here to stay folks. The Millennial Generation is growing up fast and you might have to adjust. I write a great blog over at www.orlandojobspot.blogspot.com where I touch on the growing trends that social networks are having on hiring, training and development. Employee Evolution is a voice to that very group as well.

Explore your social graph. Explore some creativity in your marketing. There are 1 million bands that sound like you and have a Myspace page. There are millions of people making t-shirts. There are more houses for sale than being sold. Make a move, be bold and be a part of the next great movement in Marketing! Yea I think I like my job!

-Greg “G-Ro” Rollett

Trying to Rent out a Property? Have you considered YouTube?

It seems more and more realtors and property managers are using video as a way to promote their properties. It seems a photo just isn't as effective as it was only a few days ago, lol.

Wired reports that sites likerentthisjoint andReelProperties are using YouTube to effectively market homes, apartments, condos and more for rent.

ReelProperties has even produces PUPS (Pop-Up Properties) exclusively for Prudential Douglas Elliman. These videos cost $150 and apparently work, getting one property rented out in less than a week after the video posted.

Some of the comments from the post confirm that this is being used and working: "I did this to help sell my 36ft motor home on Craigslist. I did a 30 second walkthrough the inside to get a feel for the place. It was super easy to upload to YouTube. I got about 3,000 views since I posted it."

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdWAI7mdXo

Another ranted: "we turn user-submitted footage into fully produced video tours for either homes for sale or rentals."

Seems like an obvious next step in the progression of online promotion. These videos, once uploaded to YouTube, can easily be embedded onto your blogs, myspace pages and websites.

I don't see why this cannot cross into other fields. Short videos have never been easier and cheaper to film and produce. Editing software like Windows Movie Maker and others are free downloads and offer cut and paste style editing that most anyone can pick up in a few minutes. Uploading takes 15-30 minutes but is a painless and FREE process. If you are worried about embedding the code, that's just a simple copy and paste.

I'd love to hear of other businesses that are taking the leap into video as a promotional outlet. Obviously YouTube is not the newest technology but finding new ways to use it is.

Look for video from us at Rollett Marketing very soon, including tutorials, interviews and mini-commercials advertising our services. Keep in mind the millennial generation's short attention span and keep the videos short and to the point. Always remember to use good keywords in the titles, descriptions and tags and do note that YouTube is owned by search king of the mountain-Google!

-Greg Rollett
grollett@tmail.com for instant communication
greg@rollettmarketing.com for package and company information
www.rockforhunger.org to visit a great cause in the Orlando community

Social Networks Impact Music Downloads; Piracy Growing

While music piracy rises and legal downloads of music allegedly slow (that is, unless you're iTunes), social networks boast a growing impact on the way users consume music.

This news comes per a survey by Entertainment Media Research (EMR) and law firm Olswang, MarketingCharts reports.

The survey interviewed 1,700 music consumers age 13-60 and found that music is important to social networkers: 39 percent have embedded music in their personal profiles.

70 percent said they embed music to show off their taste; half said music is a good way to reflect personality.

Some other survey findings:

• Some 53 percent of people actively surf social networking sites to find music.
• 30 percent said they went on to buy or download music that they had discovered on a social network site (for MySpace, the proportion is 36 percent).
• On popular sites the numbers of people who use sites to find music increase - for MySpace and Bebo, 75 percent and 72 percent, respectively, and 66 percent for YouTube.
• 46 percent say they wish it were easier to purchase music they had discovered on social networking sites - for example via a "buy now" button on the site.
• The number of those saying they illegally download music tracks has increased, from 40 percent in 2005 and 36 percent in 2006 to 43 percent in 2007.

MarketingCharts provides more charts and data.

Exclusive Interview with Pittsburgh DIY Hip-Hop Group Grand Buffet

I recently had the honor of chatting with one of the members of one of my favorite indie hip-hop groups, Grand Buffet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jarrod Weeks, aka Lord Grunge hit me back with an insight to the behind the scenes promotion madness of this Fighting Records group.

Riding off the success of two Fighting Releases The Haunted Fucking Gazebo and Five Years of Fireworks these 2 are making their way to the Backbooth in Orlando, FL as part of Florida promotional leg. Make it out to the Backbooth this Saturday July 28th. Doors are early at 8pm, and you do not wan to miss this show!

For more information on Grand Buffet and to check out tour dates and all that good stuff visit GrandBuffet.com or the grand Buffet Myspace Page.

Without further delay check out what Grunge had to say about Myspace, YouTube, 1-800-Flowers.com and how we still need physical products and record stores.

G-Ro-Does Grand Buffet have a plan online? Or does your label, Fighting Records handle most of your online planning/organization?

Grunge-We’re working on an online store. We had one going for a grip, but we’re going to come correct with a new one before the next tour. Fighting definitely does a good job of selling merch online, though, and it’s cool to be able to just link to that.

G-Ro-I have been in touch with you guys through myspace, so obviously you guys read your messages and reply and all that good stuff. What does having that connection with fans, other artists, venues, etc create for you as a group?

Grunge-Myspace is a double-edged sword. I mean, myspace is cool, but it seems to me that a few dickheads fuck it up for everyone else. Kind of like America, na mean? Naw, scratch that. Myspace isn’t nearly as cool as America. But they do share that trait, a few miserable pieces of shit make it suck for everyone else. Except, in America, the people that fuck it up for everyone have to devote years of their life to studying in Secret Societies, mastering numerous arts of deception, reading Karl Marx, and/or working Government jobs whereas on myspace any piece of shit with access to the internet can start fucking everything up.

G-Ro-Do you utilize other websites outside of myspace that have greatly made a difference in your career?

Grunge-Orbitz is cool for this travel shit, 1800flowers is also hot, when I’m trying to lasso this romance from this pussy. I’ve also got to say that the Cato Institute’s website is outta sight, I ought to read it every morning.

G-Ro-King Vision will be dropping in the fall, is there a goal for the cd? Obviously, you guys will hit the road but is there anything special you have going off for this album? Bonus download tracks, video, contests, etc?

Grunge-It’s hard to say. Maybe if the label comes up with some idea, they might set it up. But I’m going to guess that no, there probably won’t be anything like that. I’ve never been into the concept of trying to trick people into liking our shit. Which is not to say that all forms of marketing are trickery. But fuck that shit.
Come to think of it, I can’t front. I tried some shit like that once, like ten years ago. I offered to buy dinner for anyone and everyone who bought our CD in Pittsburgh. It didn’t pop off well. Lesson learned.

G-Ro-What is your view of digital downloads? Do you take advantage of it? If so what outlets are you using-iTunes, SnoCap, etc? If not, is there a reason?

Grunge-I’m not against any of that shit. BUT, I am against the concept of NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY CASH FOR MUSIC..

Naw, fuck this. This is some loaded shit, I’m starting to bug out over it. Sorry. If anyone wants to build on the dangers of a cashless society more, email me. lordgrunge@grandbuffet.com

Bottom line, I buy a shit-ton of music, it’s pretty much all I buy, and the thought of not being able to roll into a store and just pay cash for that shit is some cock. I’m talking like, if there were NO MORE stores that sold these CDs and vinyl, you HAD to do itunes or something. I wouldn’t be down. As long as I’ve got the option, I’m straight.

As far as downloads, I don’t mind people downloading our shit. If they like it and can support in some other way, that's cool. No sweat. If not, no sweat.

Since you asked, though, I think it has contributed to the overwhelmingly smug, scumbag air of entitlement that everyone under the age of 30 has today. When you think about it, it’s by and large all mother fuckers who can afford to own computers, pay for internet access, buy iPods – basically people who can afford to actually PAY for the shit. They’re the cats who are scheming on it. the truly poor people still have to shell out dough for bootlegs on CD-Rs and tapes. So this whole generation of wannabe egalitarian, mealy-mouthed assholes who think that paying for music is passé can suck my dirty dick. And of course, the real blame lies with their parents, right? Right?

G-Ro-Your view on podcasts, internet radio, etc? Has it made any impact? Do you think it will, if it hasn’t?

Grunge-I think that shit’s all good. I fully support anything that circumvents the FCC. I had a podcast going on Liberated Syndication (pittsburgh-based company, good folks) but I fell off. I'll get it going again this fall, though. Lordgrunge.com is where it's at.

G-Ro-You guys are in the middle of a Florida leg of shows, how do you handle promotion of those shows personally? Do you hit the myspace, email lists, etc or take another approach?

Grunge-Definitely, we hit up these myspace bulletins. Our email list got the shits from Outlook Express. Fuck that software, it broke my brain. Years of hard work down the shitter.

G-Ro-What are some advantages Grand Buffet has had for being a mostly DIY indie?

Grunge-We get to scream DIY TILL DEATH all goddamned day and hold it over the heads of other artists who have better careers.

G-Ro-How do the two of you split duties returning emails, comments, etc? Is there one of you who handles that aspect better than the other or is it a balance and first comes first answers?

Grunge-I normally do the business stuff for the band, and I suppose internet duties fall under that umbrella in my mind. Jackson’s got his own, separate myspace page, for solo shit, and HE LOVES IT. He really takes it to that place that most myspace fans only dream of. Comments on your birthday, long, spell-checked responses to messages, blogs out the ass – some real Billy Corgan shit. I’d let him handle all the online stuff, but he’d get first crack and scam on all this myspace pussy. I can’t have that, now can I?

G-Ro-Lastly, the whole youtube thing. What can we find on Grand Buffet in youtube land and videos in general?

Grunge-A bunch of bullshit that might’ve been funny if you’d actually seen it at a show but is really unfunny and boring when you watch it on Youtube.

Thanks Grunge, through your humor and words you gave a great picture of the indie scene and the progression of online marketing and promotion.

Indie bands and artists, here’s what you can take from this interview:

-Microsoft Outlook=bad for mailing lists. G-Ro’s suggestion is to use an outside source such as FanBridge.com. You can see their interface on this blog in the top right corner (and you can sign-up to my list while your at it). Tell them Greg from Rollett Marketing sent you and you will get some extra free stuff.

-Downloads are good for exposure but they still can’t replace getting the cd/record in person. I’ve gotten this from every hip-hop artist I have talked to so far. Keep that in mind when you are thinking of digital only albums!

-Podcasts are becoming more and more popular and you might want to think of starting a weekly or even bi-weekly Podcast on your website. Hold interviews with your fans, other artists or just talk about your week in the band, etc and play some of your new tracks or rare music.

-Let your music do the talking! You can have all the gimmicks in the world to sell your music, but if your music is garbage no one will want the extras to go along with it. I’m personally a big fan of extras, bonuses and deals, but I always make sure my main focus is on the center project that is being sold/pushed. It has to be solid before the bonus, otherwise start selling your bonuses!

-Grand Buffet will be f’in awesome live! If you can’t tell from this interview then get out of the studio and off the computer and see a show with dedicated artists who are making DIY work! Go to Backbooth.com for more info on the show!

-Hip-Hop 4 Hunger is next Thursday-get your tickets now to see the AB’s, X-144 and SPS, Caveman Theory, Greyscalemusic and Minstrel’s Company live while becoming aware of the problems in our community and contribute to the changes to make it better.

-g-ro

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