entertainment show

Frank Ocean Opens Up About His Sexuality, Details Relationship With A Man

2012-07-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

Frank Ocean posted a heartfelt letter early Wednesday morning (July 4) on his Tumblr in which he opens up about his "first love," a young man he spent a handful of summers with beginning at age 19. The candid post from the Odd Future singer quickly began making the rounds on the Net.
"Whoever you are, wherever you are..I'm starting to think we're a lot alike," the "Novacane" singer begins. "Human beings spinning on blackness.
All wanting to be seen, touched, paid attention to." The lengthy letter, titled "thank you's" details a relationship Ocean had with a man, who it turns out had a girlfriend just as Frank had had, and the tumultuous emotions that followed. "He wouldn't tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years," Ocean continues before adding, "I couldn't imagine keeping up my life without him."
The Def Jam artist also chronicles how he used music as catharsis: "I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create world that were rosier than mine." He ends by revealing that he has shared his story with some people close to him, including his mother. And although he admits to being unsure what happens next, he says he finally feels emancipated from his past: "I feel like a free man. If I listen closely.. I can hear the sky falling too."
In a message Frank posted to his Tumblr not long before the "thank you's," the singer hints at the note to come. Titling it "BasedGod Was Right," a reference to rapper Lil B (a straight MC who provocatively dubbed his album I'm Gay.), Frank writes "we're all a bunch of golden million dollar babies. my hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of the bullsh-- than we did. anyhow, what i'm about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you's section in my album credits, but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it'd be good to clarify.."
Rumors that Frank was bisexual began to circulate this week after a post went up on the blog This Is Max. The blog referenced lyrics from Frank's upcoming album, Channel Orange, in claiming that the singer had a penchant for both men and women (It has since been removed.)
Ocean first broke through at the top of 2011 with the release of his free Internet album Nostalgia, Ultra. The LP was marked by its honest and soul-baring songwriting, including and tragic love songs like "Novacane," "Swim Good" and the Eagles-remake "American Wedding," and quickly made Frank a breakout star in the rambunctious Odd Future crew. Jay-Z, Kanye West and Beyoncé sought out his pen, and by the end of last year, Ocean had appeared on Watch the Throne and written "I Miss You" for Bey's 4 album.
Because the emotive Ocean only sang overtly about heterosexual relationships, his sexuality had never come into question. That is, until a BBC 1 Xtra writer posted an early review of Channel Orange on her personal blog a few days ago, noting that on the songs "Bad Religion," "Pink Matter" and "Forrest Gump," the singer used pronouns like "him" instead of "her."

50 Cent Sets July 3 Release Date For Long-Delayed LP

2012-07-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

50 Cent has confirmed that his next official LP, Five (Murder By Numbers), is set to drop on July 3. In a wide-ranging conversation with Philadelphia radio station Hot 107.9, which comes off his recent appearance on "Oprah's Next Chapter," Fif also touched on label politics and boxer Floyd Mayweather's stint in prison.
The new album, which follows the back-to-basics Lost Tape and The Big Ten freebies, will be the last in his turbulent deal with Interscope.
"I said I was gonna put a record out that was completely up to album standard, and I'm gonna do that. I worked on this album for a long time. It's been three years," he said.
The reason for the delay? Label politics. 50 actually gave his longtime home Interscope credit for his musical successes, but noted that it's easier to see their failures when an artist doesn't have excessive hype. "Labels at different points, they drop the ball," Fif said. "It's not visible when the momentum is feverish. For me, with Interscope, all the success I've had in music has been with them."
The G-Unit CEO, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, also gave an update on his friend Floyd Mayweather, who is currently serving a three-month sentence for domestic battery of an ex-girlfriend in front of their two children. "He's not doing good right now," said 50. "He only been out seven hours since he been in there. They doin' everything to make this difficult." Right before Mayweather began his sentence last month, Fif told MTV News that the boxer has a deep connection with music. "Floyd has a huge passion for music that people don't know about," 50 explained. "It's a big part of what makes him comfortable and takes his mind off of how hard he has to work to stay being the #1 fighter in the world."

Exclusive: Preview 50 Cent's 'You Will Never Take My Crown'

2012-07-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

After months of anticipation, 50 Cent fans are going to have to wait a few months longer for the rapper's next official LP. Despite previous plans to release his next album on Tuesday (July 3), Fif announced early this morning that he'll release Street King Immortal in November, with or without the support of his longtime label home, Interscope Records.
"My official Interscope album is called STREET KING IMMORTAL due out in nov," the G-Unit CEO, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, tweeted early Tuesday.

After months of anticipation, 50 Cent fans are going to have to wait a few months longer for the rapper's next official LP. Despite previous plans to release his next album on Tuesday (July 3), Fif announced early this morning that he'll release Street King Immortal in November, with or without the support of his longtime label home, Interscope Records.
"My official Interscope album is called STREET KING IMMORTAL due out in nov," the G-Unit CEO, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, tweeted early Tuesday.
5 (Murder By Numbers), which was widely believed to be his fifth official album, will now be offered to fans on Friday for free — as what he called an "appetizer" — instead of being released for sale as planned.
MTV News has obtained an exclusive snippet from one of the songs off 5 (Murder By Numbers — a reggae-tinged, New York-flavored number called "You Will Never Take My Crown." "Gram after gram, time after time, I got the grind/ I can't help it, I got the shine," he raps on the drum-heavy track.
Claiming that he was receiving little marketing or support from Interscope, 50 recently lashed out at his label and the industry, saying it will be the last in his turbulent deal with the label.
"I said I was gonna put a record out that was completely up to album standard, and I'm gonna do that. I worked on this album for a long time," he said in a June interview with Philadelphia's Hot 107.9 radio station. "It's been three years."

Self Storage For Musical Instruments

2012-07-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

If you are a musician, you are bound to have a lot of musical instruments, which can vary from your current musical accessories to your collectibles. You can never seem to get rid of your old instruments, and your emotional attachment with them necessitates a secure self storage. Are you an Internet savvy person with a passion for musical instruments? Being an online retailer of musical instruments is a great business venture for the musically inclined entrepreneur looking for a way to make some real income off of their interests.
Musical instruments provide the art form that is music to our ears. And people love them so much; they even decorate their houses with instruments, even if they don’t play them, to impress guests to their homes. Actual musicians are just trying to find ways to purchase them at a cheaper rate. Of course, they’re looking online. First, think about the type of music store you envision. Don’t have capital for a storefront or room for inventory? Self storage is the perfect place to store your inventory. Will you specialize in one type of instrument? Or have a variety of percussion, keyboards and guitars. Look into wind instruments, musical accessories like shakers and tambourines, amplifiers, cases, DJ equipment, electric guitars, microphones, and string instruments. The possibilities are endless, but try to form a niche. To make your store unique, stick with where you have the most experience. If you’re like most online entrepreneurs, you might be a bit strapped for cash. Have any other skills? A way to increase profits is to offer local classes to music students or clubs and perhaps even rent some of your inventory out to them. Your online business can start on a part-time basis from home. A self storage can safely keep any inventory you’re keeping and is easy to access once you make that first sale.

Once you get going, start a VIP club or offer discounts to regulars and students to make them feel special. Everyone loves a good deal and it’s a great way to get your customers to keep coming back. In the age of the Internet, anyone can have an online business. It doesn’t cost much to start one, and with facilities like self storage units, your overhead is marginal. Make sure you’re always updating your website to keep up with current technology and trends. The music industry changes constantly and your online instrument business should always reflect changes to keep up. Perhaps the greatest benefit of an online musical instrument business is that you have something of value to share with the world, which can potentially generate income for you for the rest of your life.

Streaming Radio – It Offers Music Online and a Whole Lot More

2012-07-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

If you listen to all of the commercials out there, it seems like you need to spend a fortune to listen to music online. With download fees, royalty fees, and monthly listening limits, listening to your favorite music online can get awfully expensive.

But if you're looking for a way to listen to all of your favorites and save some money, check out streaming radio!

Streaming radio is just that – radio stations that stream their signals over the internet. With internet radio, you don't need to be in a particular area or region to hear stations you like. Instead, you can listen to any station, anywhere, just with the click of a mouse.

Since these are all real radio stations, they all offer real DJ's, real playlists, real programs, real commercials, and real news updates. It's no different than what you would hear riding around in your car, or at home on your stereo. And, as an added benefit, internet radio is completely free! When you log onto a streaming radio website, you don't have to worry about subscribing to anything or finding hidden fees later.

But, internet radio offers a whole lot more than just your favorite music online. With streaming radio, you can also unleash the power of talk radio!

Talk radio shows are usually on AM stations that are incredibly tough to get over the air – meaning it can be difficult to listen to your favorite shows while you're at work, driving around, or babysitting the kids.

But, with internet radio, the signal comes through your internet connection – instead of over the air – so that you get crystal clear reception. That way, you can listen to virtually any talk radio show in the world, without battling static and interference.

And, if your favorite talk radio show happens to come on right in the middle of your mid-morning conference with the boss, that's OK, too. Chances are there's another internet radio station streaming the show, so you can catch it later, when it's more convenient.

With streaming radio, you get a whole lot more than you get with music downloads... and, it's a whole lot cheaper!

Guitar Finger Picking

2012-07-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Finger picking is a technique of playing the classical guitar where you use your thumb plus at least one added finger to pick or pluck notes, using your fingernails, fingerpicks or else fingertips. Various really gifted players be capable of use all 5 fingers on top of their picking hand, but most guitar players only use 4 fingers with use their pinky finger as being a support in the acoustic guitar. Finger picking is most excellent acoustic guitar playing method that you will need to be trained if he's up for mellow songs, or something that originated from piano playing. As for me,
it is a well known even the most effective guitar performance that I'd really love to determine myself. Not just that it exhibits a fantastic talent, it's also much more pleasing in your ears to listen to because of its soft, by-the-note, playing. Nearly everyone classical guitarists alter the shape of their picking hand fingernails for the purpose of manufacturing a preferred sound. Though, this isn't important in non-classical music; one should buy finger-picks to suit on the hand. Commonly finger picking calls for picking through chords well thought-out in the melody. Finger picking is needed comprehensively in folk guitar and classical guitar , other than it is usually frequent in other genres.

Finger picking is surprisingly trouble-free on an electric guitar, which can be odd for the reason that finger picking is frequently considered an acoustic technique. The player can grasp their picking hand's fourth finger against the right edge (left edge on a left-handed guitar), and whether it is held straight and steady, this technique is probably accustomed to brace the hand. This method known as anchoring, and is frowned upon by some players. It is usually possible on acoustic guitars by employing the bridge similarly, but this isn't as successful as it would soften the sound. Classical guitarists never anchor while playing.

When strumming with individual fingers, the broad-spectrum rule is move the wrist on condition that the thumb is needed, while if any other finger is used, only said finger will be used.

When you begin trying to study, your finger coordination are going to be bad and it is easy to get downcast. Requires quite a few days to let your muscle tissue build up, but if you practice with all your fingers without delay your on the whole dexterity will boost much faster.

Things to Know:

· Keeping your picking hand fingers curled is extremely important. If your fingers are even somewhat straight when finger picking, you need to adjust your technique. Your palm should move very little in the finger picking process. All movement should be done with fingers.

· If you are serious about wanting to finger-pick well, you might want to consider growing the nails on your picking hand slightly. This will give you a "brighter" sound

Guitar Lessons For Beginners - Learning The Fundamental Guitar Strategies now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-07-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Ever dreamed of playing a guitar? But having second thoughts because you don’t know how to start as a beginner? Don’t fret because today there are numerous obtainable guitar lessons for beginners to help you. In starting your guitar lessons, it is crucial to learn the primary guitar techniques to achieve success in guitar playing.
The two primary ways of right hand techniques are, by using a pick (commonly known as the plectrum) or perhaps fingers. Plectrum is used in country, rock and pop music, in which it is useful with regards to strumming and also even louder guitar sound.

Making use of fingers is most often encountered amongst flamenco guitarists and classical guitar players, as mixture of guitar strings is way better performed with the right hand fingers, and often has softer sound when compared with the pick. Aside from the classical guitarists and flamenco players, the use of the pick or fingers is usually a matter of individual taste.

Finger picking is known as a style of playing the guitar in which you use your thumb and a at least one other finger to pick or perhaps pluck notes, with the help of the fingernails, finger picks or maybe the tips of your fingers.

Talented players can make use of almost all five fingers on their picking hand; although some players only use four fingers and use the pinky finger as a support to the guitar. Most classical guitar players modify their fingernails with the goal of making a desired sound, even so this isn't crucial in non-classical songs; it’s possible to buy finger picks to suit the hand.

Generally finger picking involves picking through chords organized within a melody. Finger picking may be used extensively in classical guitar and folk guitar; yet it's likewise common in other genres.

Finger picking can be interestingly very easy for electric guitars, of which is unusual due to the fact that finger picking is usually regarded as a traditional acoustic style. The player may have his or her picking hand’s fourth finger up against the right edge (left edge on a left-handed guitar), and once it is held steady and straight, this method lets you support the hand.

This method is known as anchoring. This method is frowned upon by many players. It’s possible on acoustic guitars by using the bridge in the same manner; however this isn’t as effective because it will deaden the sound. Classical guitar players do not ever anchor while playing.

Whenever strumming using individual fingers, the overall rule is to move your wrist only when the thumb is used, whilst if all the other finger is used, only the said finger should be used.

Once you start learning to play guitar chords, your finger control will probably be unpleasant which can quickly make you disappointed.

It will take several weeks to allow your muscles develop, however, should you train and practice using all of your fingers together your general dexterity will increase much quicker. Learning the guitar can be very hard; however it may also be fun and also rewarding when you finally get the hang of it. It just takes patience.

Online Radio – How to Use It to Get Your Music Fix

2012-07-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

What kind of music really gets your heart pumping? Do you love to rock out to the latest top 40 music? Or, do you love something a little older – like 70’s music? No matter what your fancy, you can find it all 24/7 with online radio!

What is online radio?
It is live streams of radio stations from around the world. With online radio, you get to listen to real radio stations through your internet connection, instead of over the air. And,
online radio is always streaming – so you can listen to your favorite tunes any time of the day or night! Since online radio is made up of real radio stations from around the world, you get real DJ's picking the music. It's far better than listening to playlists that are randomly generated by a computer!

When you listen to online radio, it won't be any different than if you were listening to the radio station over the air. You will get all of the same commercials, news updates, and traffic reports as the people who are listening locally. But, since your radio signal is coming over the internet, instead of over the air through an antenna, your sound quality will be much better. You won't have to worry about static, or interference in large buildings, or during thunderstorms.

As an added benefit, online radio is completely free! You don't have to deal with any download fees or monthly listening limits. You simply get the music you want, without any strings attached.

So, what kind of music gets played on online radio?

Absolutely everything!

Since online radio websites literally have thousands of radio stations to choose from, you can listen to anything you want! If 80's music or 90’s music makes you nostalgic for your high school days, there are plenty of 80’s music and radio stations to choose from. Or, if you want to travel back in time for a Disco theme party, you can use online radio to find some great 70's music.

But it's not just oldie goldies. With online radio, you can also listen to more recent music. There are plenty of radio stations available that play the very latest top 40 music.

No matter what you like, you can listen to it all. Whether you're at work, at home, or even in the car, you can listen to all of your favorite songs

Speaker Cables: Ensuring Outstanding Bass Output Everytime! Guaranteed!

2012-07-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

Speaker cables have long been established in the market as well as in the hearts of customers as a desired upgrade. But despite being so much in demand, a gap or a lacunae relating to tailor-made cables can always be observed in this area. Yes, there is a significant dearth of manufacturers who are actually rolling out,custom-made speaker cables of any length. Interestingly, smart manufacturers have identified it and are now busy making and supplying the same to customers, especially in any combination of spades and banana plugs as per requirement.

Speaking of versions, speaker cables are now available in various categories. But whatever be the version, the end result in the terms of excellent bass of speaker cables should always be there for customers. One of the popular versions, is the siren multi core speaker cables that are individually insulated with a PVC jacket. In addition, there is a further coating (also known as secondary jacket) for both left and right channels. There is another additional insulation inside the teflon seal. Lastly, all channels are wrapped to their precise windings including the teflon spiral fillers. Such speaker cables can cater to single and bi wiring demands easily. Again, the output in this case is something that can be easily rated as excellent since it delivers outstanding response across all frequencies.

Other than multi core speaker cables, there are ultra flat speaker cables. As the name suggests, these speaker cables are extremely flat. In fact, the most accurate term to describe them is 'paper-flat'. But despite being so thin, these speaker cables are extremely easy to install. Interestingly, owing to their paper-thin size, these cables can be easily cut to the required length with scissors or blade. Additionally, they also give the impression of invisible installation, and can even be plastered onto and inside walls. Moreover, these ultra flat speaker cables come with a transparent PVC outer. Another feature of these cables is their low capacitance and high conductivity due to large surface area.

To sum up the whole discussion, both siren multi core and ultra flat speaker cables belong to high-quality category and are extremely cheap from pricing point of view. This makes them all the more desirable among all customer-group. Clearly, speaker cables is the choice of every customer today.

What to Look For in a Guitar Teacher and How to Select the Best One for You

2012-07-05T05:49:00.000-07:00

Learning to play the guitar can be an extremely rewarding experience, but it is made even more so if you find the right teacher who is also a guide that will help you achieve your musical goals with the right resources. Choosing the right teacher can be frustrating because it's difficult to figure out which ones are exceptional; in addition to this if you choose the wrong teacher then you can end up being demotivated through no fault of your own. I have been responsible for hiring all the instructors at my music school Starland Music Center for 30 years. I'll share with you what I've learned over the years what I consider to be the best ways to separate the "wheat from the chaff." Teaching with a plan

The best teachers always prepare and have a plan: it's said in teaching that for every hour of teaching you need to prepare twice as much. You should be able to tell whether you're dealing with a professional just with your first meeting - they will determine where you are, where you are trying to go and then propose a method for getting you there. Even in the first lesson they might give you exercises to evaluate where you are.

The best teachers are not afraid to tell you their methods.

You can always tell the worst teachers, because they are the ones who "wing it." If you can tell that your prospective teacher hasn't prepared for the lesson and looks like they are making up stuff on the spot - they probably are. Get away as fast as you can. With these types of teachers you won't achieve any progress, because there's no system to their teaching. If you don't realize this right from the beginning, you end up six months later feeling like you haven't progressed at all and you become very confused. You may even blame your lack of progress on some ridiculous notion that "you don't have any talent."

The best teachers stick to their plans and while they may reward you now and then by teaching you a song you really like, more likely they will find out anyway your tastes and incorporate those into later lessons when you get to that level.

Travel distance

How to find a good teacher also depends on how far you are willing to travel for your lessons. The more consistent you are in not missing your lessons the faster you will progress - and it's much easier to be consistent if you don't have to travel too far to see your teacher. 30 minutes travel time is a good average, but only you know what you can honestly tolerate.

Abilities vs. teaching skills

The two are not mutual (but neither are they mutually exclusive). Just because a guitarist is an amazing performer, does not mean that they could be a great teacher. In fact, it's more likely that the best teachers are the ones who are unable to perform so much because they are teaching so much. When you are a beginner, it's best to go with a teacher who is excellent at teaching you all the basics, you don't need to worry too much about how great a performer they are. But then as you advance, you can always seek out another teacher who specializes in a particular style that you like.

What you should be looking for is a teacher who is both an inspiration and someone who has traveled the hard road of being a student and comes back to show you the way.

Instructor experience

1) One way to work out whether your prospective teacher has enough experience is to see how many students they teach. If it's true that it takes thousands of hours to learn to play an instrument, then it's also true that it takes thousands of hours to learn how to teach! Ask them:

- how many years they have taught

- how many students do they teach a week

- how long do students stay with them

But be careful, because teachers with a lot of students may also not have enough time for you or not track your progress enough.

An organized teacher who has many students is also a good choice. This means taking notes, keeping track of your progress and using some sort of register.

Personal Note: At one point I had 60 weekly 1/2 hour private students. Though I was working long hours I had no problems keeping track of each student's progress and giving them my full attention during the lesson because I had a system.

2) The level of current and past students is also something that is significant. If you are looking for beginner lessons look for a teacher who is skilled at teaching beginners. There are totally different teaching methods and styles involved in teaching different levels.

3) Age range of students. It's best to divide students into children, teenagers and adults. Look for a teacher with experience teaching students of your age range.

Training does make a difference

Your prospective teacher should not only be trained at how to play their guitar. Ideally you want to pick a teacher who has also been taught by good teachers. Good teachers will always model their lessons on the good teachers' methods that taught them. These types of teachers will use methods and materials that worked well when they were learning and keep you away from methods that don't work.

A teacher can also be taught by a school. College graduates are likely to have training only in classical guitar as most universities do not offer programs in popular music. But many instructors that I've hired have been to schools such as Musician's Institute in L.A., Grove School Without Walls, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA., which do offer popular music.

The other way to learn to teach guitar is to take a course with the same name - though the only one I know of is the one I teach at the Starland Music Center using my proprietary system along with the principles and techniques of proper instruction. You can also get wonderful books on this topic (check out author Joe Livoti) and you can learn a lot from method books and testing the ideas on your students

How to choose a good headphone

2012-07-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

These days, listening to music has turn into a common method of entertainment in people's life. A good headphone will let you much more get pleasure from the good music. The following are several suggestions about deciding on the headphone sort and brand.
How can you choose a good headphone? For the selective purchasing of headset, it is not complicated as the loudspeaker box and the sound card; it is relatively simple compared to them. Based on the function, the telephone can be separated into two kinds, headphone sort and earphone type. The former type mainly is not easy to take along,
it is used in the home or office place and most of then are equip with the microphone. While the latter type is primarily easy to listen to music when go out, this is mainly employed to listen music in MP3 player or walkman. For that reason, if you decide on and buy the headset, you must take into account the above situation and determine which 1 is more appropriate. If it is used at residence, selecting a headphone kind is much better, and it also can not be broken quickly. Nevertheless, if you usually use them within the outside, it would be finest for you to buy some earphone type due to the fact it is more convenient to make use of when you go outside. Right after more than thirty years' development, the headset has become plenty of people's necessary equipment to listen towards the music. It is small and exquisite, do not disturb others, and the sound effects are more real. Compared with ordinary mono headsets and some audio equipment, it can give a person more vivid stereo feelings.

I frequently hear my pals talk concerning the Monster studio. This sort headphone has extremely innervations and fairly excellent, it truly is really suitable for the fancier who like to listen towards the rock music. Studio appear extremely glaring, and this kind is quite excellent headphones. Monster can be a quite Americanism head set, it appropriate for some rap music like heavy metals and rock and roll, but in the voice and classical music, it express not quite great. Everybody has own appropriate music kind. Music fanatics can pick the headsets based on his favor.

The Monster Organization has the first-class research and development team. The items are put on production soon after rigorous test from the function to every detail style. The product monitored and produced by professional production team. Every link has strict security assessment, performance testing and quality inspection. The Monster Business has the perfect advanced technologies and ideal after-sale service. The Monster Company always takes the rights and interests of consumer into account and provides the good quality and best style. Increasingly more people like to use the Monster Beats, and the Monster Beats genuinely could be your very good choice. So if you want to buy headphones, do not forget Monster Beats.

How to Be the Next Jusin Bieber

2012-07-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Do you want to become famous? And do you want to become famous like Justin Bieber did? Well what if I was to tell you that it's not actually that hard to do?

Bieber may be too criticized by many but is a great example of what the marketing, social networking and other elements can do. First Bieber began releasing their videos through YouTube, a platform that has given 5 minutes of fame to many people, but these 5 minutes stretched into years due to other internet tools... Twitter.

If we learn from the biography of Justin Bieber is that if someone wants to become famous, should begin now to put their videos (as real as possible) on YouTube,
because you never know who might "accidentally" discover your talent for delight the young fans. This is exactly what has happened to Justin Bieber. Twitter really help Bieber began to attract attention from your target market. Many marketers still do not understand the scope that is Twitter users and yet this was the platform that Justin used to engage with your audience. Justin currently offer your movie called "Never Say Never" (never say never), a type of documentary which presents the story of the singer and how he came to where he is now.

And of course had to take a perfume especially for girls called "someday" but the video is a little weird and may even get you a laugh, in two days has reached the 2 million views. A very good example is Google; that is starting to become obsessed with the pop stars. This search engine company has made a change in its marketing strategy. Last month, he joined Lady Gaga in an ad to show all the opportunities offered by the Chrome browser. Now he has done the same with Justin Bieber.

The announcement is similar to Gaga, but also shares some similarities with the recent announcement Dear Sophie, which shows a father using Chrome and other Google products to remember her daughter's childhood.

It makes sense that Google has thought Bieber for their promotion. The young celebrity was discovered thanks to his performances uploaded to Youtube. And with it, Google manages to reach an important demographic: teenage girls.

One of his secrets: Its well-defined market.

Justin Bieber is not intended that all are his fans; he knows it would be almost impossible, yet the market for young girls have it well controlled. So it adds the elements of marketing, good use of digital tools and a well-defined market and the rest is history.

5 Common Reasons to go for Professional Video Production

2012-07-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

1- Production: The website video or the production of the company is considered to be the most important part and the essential thing is that each and every topic must have a related video. The best part about the Professional Video Production people is that they are very much experience people and they can grab the attention of the people just by showing the perfect video.
2- Post-Production: Another important factor about the producers of the video production is that they have a good knowledge and ability to fit each and every element into the video in proper manner
. If you want to capture more traffic on your website then website should be build in proper manner. Attracting customers on the website is the most important part and you should lose your people. If you have a high quality video then you can have a long lasting impact on your incoming traffic.
3- Propagation: There are different ways of popularizing your websites through presentations to the client, short films and the website video. So it is very much important to create a perfect website through the professional production company. By option for this option you can have your marketing video, Real Estate Videos, training video or any other type of video.

4- Voice: If there is any kind of errors in style of recording the voice then it could reduce the interest of the people in your company. Hence it is very much important to have the good communication. So it is recommended to take the help of perfect vocalist to achieve success. If you are able explain your information and content in clear along with suitable voice then your business will surely have a strong growth rate.

5- Graphics: People take very much interest in the websites if it is full of animations as well as graphics. Hence to make sure that animation is handled in an appropriate manner you should always work with the professionals. Another thing which can also be considered is the good quality photographs. People are also going for the 3D and high definition cameras.

Learn to play the piano within the comfort of your home

2012-07-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone has considered learning to play the piano at some point in their lives. Playing the piano is a favorite pastime of many. Now there is a piece of good news for piano aspirants. They can learn to play the piano online. They can enjoy free piano lessons at the touch of a button. How to play the piano is not such a big deal after all! Beginners can learn basic lessons and experienced piano players can hone their skills. It is a fun, exciting experience to learn to play the piano within the comfort of your home.

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Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles Expecting First Child

2012-06-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles announced Monday that she is expecting her first child with husband Justin Miller. The pair married last November in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, which means that their first child should arrive just in time for their first wedding anniversary.

The band's manager Gail Gellman confirmed the news to USA Today, offering the statement, "They are thrilled beyond belief." Gellman did not reveal whether the child is a boy or girl, leaving fans to speculate its gender via the band's song titles, which include "Every Girl Like Me" (from "The Incredible Machine") and the 2005 debut single "Baby Girl."

In the meantime, Nettles just began her stint as a judge on the ABC competition series "Duets," where she and fellow recording artists John Legend, Robin Thicke and Kelly Clarkson mentor aspiring singers, and appropriately, sing duets with them. She and her fellow judges will mentor two singers apiece, and the winning newcomer will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Nettles' contestants are John Glosson and J Rome.

Pepsi & Billboard Launch Summer Beats Concert Series

2012-06-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Pepsi and Billboard today announced the first-ever "Summer Beats Concert Series." This new program will include three Twitter-enabled shows during the summer season featuring performances by Billboard chart-topping artists across multiple genres, marking another extension of Pepsi's "Live for Now" global campaign. The series will kick off on Tuesday, June 26th with a surprise performance in Los Angeles, followed by a Nashville concert at the end of July and a major event in New York City in late August.For the first time, fans watching the concerts via the Pepsi Twitter page livestream will be able to influence elements of the performance in real-time. The live events will cater to crowds of up to 1,000 people, while millions of music fans around the world will be able to watch online through Pepsi's enhanced Twitter profile page and on Pepsi.com. The concerts will be promoted on Billboard.com and will be available on-demand after the show as well.

The "Summer Beats Concert Series" will serve as an integral part of the broader partnership with Twitter. The program launched last month with free weekly music downloads and original recap videos.

"The Summer Beats Concert Series truly brings Pepsi's Live for Now mindset to life by offering fans the ability to interact with and impact a live concert event," said Javier Farfan, Senior Director of Cultural Branding at PepsiCo. "This component supports our overall Twitter program by inserting spontaneity and social media engagement into the concert experience and changing the way fans enjoy music."

As part of this partnership, Pepsi will also present the "Billboard Songs of the Summer" chart on Billboard.com. Launched in 2010, this chart ranks the most popular songs of the summer season, based on cumulative performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The official Billboard Summer Song for 2012 will be announced the week following Labor Day.

"We're thrilled to be working with Pepsi to build on the compelling content and exciting experiences that Billboard brings fans throughout the summer," said Billboard publisher Tommy Page. "Billboard has significantly increased its presence during this major music season from the launch of the Songs of the Summer chart in 2010 to the Summer Blowout event in 2011, and the Summer Beats Concert Series is the perfect platform for the brand to expand its footprint and engage with even more fans in 2012."

Pepsi also recently teamed up with Viacom to give away free tickets to upcoming Summer Beats concerts. Fans can enter by tweeting images of their "Live for Now" moments using a designated hashtag, and winners will become the official Pepsi NOW Photo Correspondent on-site

Flo Rida Checking the 'List' For Cee Lo Green, B.o.B Tour

2012-06-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

will be coming 'round to a venue near you this summer.

The "Right Round" MC will headline the month-long "R You on the List" tour, joined by Cee Lo Green and B.o.B.

Flo Rida's fourth studio album, "Wild Ones," lands June 25, a week before he hits the road. The album's Sia-featuring title track is the latest hit for the musician, peaking at No. 5 on the Hot 100 in May. B.o.B released sophomore effort "Strange Clouds" in May, with the album hitting the Billboard 200's top 10.

The July run will also mark Cee Lo's last dates before beginning his first Las Vegas residency, a three-week stint at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

The hip-hop trio will be joined on select dates by viral pop upstarts Karmin and Houston rapper Kirko Bangz.

"R You on the List" July tour dates:
7/3 - Coral Gables, FL @ Bank United Center
7/5 - Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Center
7/7 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay
7/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sports Arena
7/20 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
7/21 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
7/25 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
7/27 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
7/28 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center

American Teen With Illness Travels to Korea to Meet K-Pop Idols

2012-06-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

An American teenage girl with a serious illness has been able to sing with the South Korean boy band she idolizes. Donika Sterling on Wednesday told the five-member K-pop group SHINee in Korean that she loved them.

The 15-year-old has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which gradually causes the loss of muscle tissue and slows down parts of the body.

Sterling and SHINee both sang parts of the 2009 song "Ring Ding Dong." She smiled and clasped a bracelet given to her by a SHINee member.

SHINee members told reporters in Seoul they were extremely touched when Donika said the group's music gives her strength.

Sterling is from Brooklyn and said she hopes to see SHINee again if they have a New York concert. On Sunday (June 17) she got to meet the hit group Super Junior while they were shooting a music video. All nine member reportedly sang their song 'Sorry Sorry' a cappella

Jay-Z, Rihanna, Elton John to Perform at London Olympic Arts Festival

2012-06-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Musical stars, including Jay-Z, Rihanna, David Guetta and Elton John, films from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Mike Leigh and art from Yoko Ono and others will all be part of the London 2012 Festival, a cultural celebration across Britain tied to the Summer Olympics that kicks off on Thursday.

The festival, which runs through Sept. 9, includes 12,000 events and performances across the country in celebration of the Summer and Paralympic Games. Organizers say there will be 10 million tickets for free and paid-for events in such fields as film, music, theater, fashion, dance and art. The festival's web site describes it as "the biggest festival the U.K. has ever seen."

With a budget of around £55 million ($86 million), the celebration is seen as a chance to showcase Britain's cultural heritage and put the country in the Olympic spirit.

The festival is the finale of the so-called Cultural Olympiad that was started in 2008 to inspire creativity in all forms, especially among young people. According to organizers, 18 million people have taken part so far.

Ruth Mackenzie, director of the London 2012 Festival in a statement called the event "a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience to match the once-in-a-lifetime visit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the U.K."

One of the most star-studded events of the London 2012 Festival will be a BBC Radio 1 show that the station says will be its "biggest-ever free live music event." The lineup for the June 23 and 24 extravaganza that will feature six stages in the Hackney Marshes area of East London includes Jay-Z, Rihanna, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Jessie J, Lana del Rey, Leona Lewis, Tinie Tempah, Plan B, Florence and the Machine, Dappy, Jack White and more.

The music event is part of BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 that it has organized in partnership with London 2012 Festival and the Hackney Council. Around 100,000 people are expected at the music gathering.

Among other London 2012 Festival events, Peace One Day, an organization dedicated to the idea of having one day a year free of conflict, will have an opening night concert in Northern Ireland co-produced by Jude Law who is an ambassador for the organization.

The group also will have a big concert in September led by Elton John at Wembley Arena in London. It will mark the closing of the London 2012 Festival. Further artists will be announced over the coming weeks.

The London 2012 Festival kicks off Thursday with a fireworks display by Lake Windermere in northwest England and a big open-air concert with Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela at Scotland's Stirling Castle.

Also outdoor sites with screens "across the country will show festival films to entertain thousands of people throughout the day," according to the festival web site. Films include shorts and excerpts from Royal Shakespeare Company shows. Plus, the opening day will see the unveiling of Yoko Ono's worldwide anti-violence initiative "Imagine Peace" on the outdoor screens.

The festival will feature additional film and comedy events, with Australian comedian and musician Tim Minchin bringing his brand of musical comedy to a show, and "Ha Ha Hackney" bringing LGBT comics to the Hackney Empire to celebrate 66 years of comedy between the 1948 and the 2012 Olympic Games.

Leading British fashion designers and artists will also collaborate to champion London 2012 next month in an event called Britain Creates 2012: Fashion + Art Collusion.

20 Great Gay Moments In Music

2012-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Adam Lambert Glams Up "Idol," Debuts at No. 1

While Adam Lambert didn't make his sexuality a major talking point while competing on "American Idol" -- he later came out in a "Rolling Stone" cover story -- "Idol" viewers and fans at home knew there was something special about the flamboyant contestant. Lambert was out in his personal and professional life well before he hit the "Idol" stage and made his mark as the contestant to watch. On the show, he fired up audiences with his glam rock stylings, sexed-up stage persona and multi-octave range. Though he finished the 2009 season of "Idol" in second place, he remained the season's breakout star and has since worked to become a role model for LGBT tens. His major label debut album "For Your Entertainment" has sold more than 800,000 copies in the U.S. and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the No.
10 Hot 100 hit "Whataya Want From Me." Earlier this year, his sophomore set, "Trespassing," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. -- Keith Caulfield.Jay-Z and Obama Support Same-Sex Marriage.After Barack Obama publicly endorsed same-sex marriage, Jay-Z voiced his own support in an interview with CNN. "I've always thought it as something that was still holding the country back," said the rapper. "What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business. It's no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination, plain and simple." Other stars, from Lady Gaga to Alicia Keys, also backed the president's words.

Ways to Attract More Music Fans Faster

2012-06-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

Attracting more fans. Admit it, that's what music marketing is all about -- getting more people to come to your shows and buy your CDs. And hopefully, getting a lot more people to do those things.
Why else do you work so hard to travel and play as many places as you can? For what other reason do you meticulously write and record songs? I don't believe the reason is so you can practice and keep up your chops in obscurity. It's not because you want to impress influential managers or A&R people. You work hard because you know you have something of value to offer ... and you want to reach as many people as possible with your music.
Marketing is the thing that helps you reach that goal. But marketing is also a subject that confuses a lot of musicians. Songwriters and band members the world over know they need to promote themselves. But many don't know where to start, much less know how to continue effectively.
Does this describe you? Do you ever feel like you're spinning your wheels, not sure exactly what you should be doing next to market yourself? If so, this would be a good time to cover some basic marketing concepts for independent musicians.

The VFW Hall Principle
Let's say you went to an average U.S. city (such as Kansas City or Denver) and you rounded up 1,000 people and gathered them in a giant VFW hall. These 1,000 folks would be randomly chosen and made up of people from all ages, genders and backgrounds. Next, you'd distribute information about your act to these people and play tracks from your new CD for them.
After this direct exposure, what are the chances that one person out of those thousand would be attracted to your music and identity enough to buy your CD or come to your next show? Most musicians, regardless of what style they play, should feel pretty confident about being able to win over at least one new fan from this group of 1,000. That's a one-tenth of one percent conversion rate.
Now let's multiply that formula by the entire U.S. population of 285 million people. One-tenth of one percent would be 285,000 people. Mind-boggling, isn't it? That would be enough fans to make you a bonafide star.
Meanwhile, Back at the Corporate Office
Next, switch gears and consider how major labels market themselves. They select and promote acts that they feel have the potential to appeal to 10 or more of those same 1,000 people. Then the labels spend millions of dollars in what I call shotgun advertising. They spray their marketing message over a targeted chunk of the population (which often amounts to many millions of people), knowing well that only a small percentage will be interested enough to respond and become fans. Sometimes, this widespread tactic works well enough to sell lots of CDs and concert tickets -- but it's very expensive.
As an independent artist, you can't afford that type of marketing campaign. But you know those potential fans are out there, and you know that you can be successful by connecting with far fewer people than a major label requires. It's just that your ideal fans haven't found out about you yet -- and you're not quite sure how to find them.
What's a frustrated musician to do?
The answer: You must find creative, low-cost ways to go directly to those one-in-a-thousand fans. Don't waste your time and money promoting yourself to people who will most likely never embrace your music.
Here are four steps to take to reach new fans:
1. Define Your Distinct Musical Identity
You must have a firm grasp on what your music is about. And you must be able to define it clearly and quickly. What are your strongest musical traits? What sets you apart from other acts? What attitude or social statement do you make? Being a generic rock, pop or hip-hop act won't cut it. Dig deeper and discover your unique identity. When you do finally reach some of those rare potential fans, don't lose them by not being clear about who you are.
2. Describe Your Ideal Fan
Once you have a handle on who you are musically, it's time to paint a clear picture of your ideal fan. Can you articulate how your fans dress, where they work, what TV shows they watch, what they do for fun and who their favorite cultural heroes are? Observe the types of people who come to see you perform and note what they have in common? Knowing precisely who your fans are will dictate what avenues you use to reach them and how you communicate your message once you do reach them.
3. List Ways of Getting Access to Your Fans
Once you know exactly what type of music fan you're going after, start making a list of the various resources these specific people are attracted to. What magazines and newspapers do they read? Where do they hang out? What radio stations do they listen to? What retail outlets do they frequent? What web sites do they surf to? What e-mail newsletters do they subscribe to? For example, if your fans are mostly Harley riders, go to a search engine like Google and start entering keywords related to motorcycles. Evaluate the search results and compile a list of the many good sources you uncover.
4. Network and Promote Your Music
Armed with this targeted list of contacts, get busy! Send e-mail press releases to niche media outlets. Contact the webmasters and editors of appropriate publications. Post messages in specialized forums. Visit and interact via the web sites of similar-sounding bands. Contact organizations and charities related to your musical niche.
In short, go to where your ideal fans are. And market yourself through these outlets relentlessly. Why waste time and money trying to promote to everyone ... when you can save money and be far more effective by going directly to those valuable one-in-a-thousand fans? Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

First Question You Must Answer When Promoting Your Music

2012-06-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm going to use up this entire article dealing with one subject, because I think it's vital to the success of your music promotion efforts. Every day I see the same mistakes being made in this area and feel I owe it to you to drive this crucial point home.
Suppose you walked into your local record store and one of the employees (a complete stranger to you) came up and handed you a box filled with CDs and said, "Here, these are extra promo copies. You can have any CD you want out of the box."
Now let's pretend that you were not familiar with any of these artists. As you picked up each CD to consider whether or not you wanted it, what would be the first question to pop into your head? In other words, what basic question would you need to answer first before you could make an intelligent (and quick) decision on which one you'd take?

Would it be "Who produced this CD?"
No.
Would it be "What record label put this out?"
No.
How about "What are the names of the musicians and what instruments do they play?"
No.
Would it be "I wonder how great these folks think their own music is?"
No.
Is That Your Final Answer?
Hopefully, you've come to the same conclusion that I have. The first question that anyone asks when encountering new music is: "What kind of music is this?"
I've used this box of free CDs example to make a point: This is exactly the same position that music editors, radio program directors, A&R people and music publishers are in when they receive your unsolicited recordings along with dozens of others. Even though it's great to think that everyone already knows who you are and what you do, the sad truth is that most of your contacts will be clueless. That's why giving them the first (and most important) clue up front is essential.
Human beings need some way to process information and file it away in the proper place in their heads before proceeding to any follow-up questions, such as "Where is this band from?" or "What unique spin do they put on this genre?" Without creating a mental category or comparison to something fans are already familiar with, it's nearly impossible to get to these important follow-up questions. And if you can't move this sorting-out process along in a swift manner, your music marketing efforts end up dead in the water.
Why, then, do so many people who promote music either ignore answering this fundamental question -- "What kind of music is this?" -- or bury the answer so deep in their press materials that the reader gives up out of frustration before ever uncovering it?
Unless you are (or are working with) a well-known artist, the people receiving your promo kits will be in the dark as to who you are and what you play. Your job, therefore, is to answer that first all-important question right off the bat: "What kind of music is this?" It should be one of the first things people see when viewing your press package.
Straight From the Slush Pile
Here's an example I randomly pulled out of the overflowing box of review CDs in my office not long ago when I was a music editor. When opening the package, the first thing I see is a cover letter. Here's how it reads (I've changed the name of the person, label and band to protect the misguided):
"My name is John Jones, vice-president of Widget Records, here in New York. I'm writing to announce that one of our bands, the Losers, will be playing in St. Louis on July 24."
It's important to Jones that he announces who he is and what he does right off the bat. I'm sure this makes him feel good about himself. But how does this introduction move him closer to his goal of getting media coverage for the poor Losers? At least I know about the St. Louis date, something that should matter to me. But since I don't know what kind of music this is, I'm not impressed. On to the next paragraph.
"The Losers' music is already on national college and commercial radio."
Excellent. His mother must be very proud of him. But is this jazz radio? Alternative radio? Polka radio? Ten stations? Eight hundred stations? Huh? I'm still being kept in the dark.
"The Losers are a new band founded in 1994 in New York City. These shows are part of the year-long tour to promote their debut album."
More senseless background details before I even know what kind of music this band plays. But one thing I do know is that Jones sure likes talking about his band and its accomplishments. Now I'm starting to doze off from reading this.
The Music Needle in the Haystack
Finally, I come across this line ...
"The Losers' music combines Celtic violin with punk-influenced distorted guitars and melodic rock vocals ...
What? A description of the music? Say it isn't so! And I only had to wait till the fourth paragraph to get it. And it ends up being a pretty cool description: Celtic violin with punk guitars. Now that's different. That's something I'd like to pop in the CD player and check out. What a great media hook for the band.
Unfortunately, the label's vice-president has done the group a disservice by burying this vital piece of information in a dreary cover letter. Most media people would have given up on it long before they got to the intriguing description.
But this never occurred to Jones. It was much more important for him to pound his chest and proclaim his name, title, city and the fact that his as-yet-undefined band was getting radio airplay. What a missed opportunity! Don't make this same error.
How much better it would have been if his letter went something like this:
"Dear Bob,
When we first told people we had signed a band that combined Celtic violins with distorted punk guitars and melodic rock vocals, they told us we were crazy. But we proved them all wrong with the Losers, a band that is now on a major roll. Last month alone, over 325 college stations around the country were playing cuts off the band's new self-titled CD. And now you can experience the Losers for yourself when they come to St. Louis on July 24. I think your readers would get a kick out of hearing about this unusual Celtic/violin/ punk/melodic mixture ..."
This version (though it could probably be reshaped and made even stronger) pulls you in and lets you know what you're dealing with quickly and interestingly -- as opposed to Jones's dry resume listings.
Are You Guilty of a PR Felony?
Now take a look at some of the promotional tools you're using right now. What's the first thing you see? Your address? The band members' names? The record label name? Some vague reference to how impressive your music is without a specific definition of it?
Stop beating around the bush and start getting to the heart of the matter. Media and industry people are partly overworked and partly lazy. Don't shroud your message in mystery, hoping it will tease people and make them read further. Remember this important rule: No one will ever be as interested in reading your press materials as you will. So give them what they need up front, fast and simple.
And answer the most important question first: "What kind of music is this?" Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

Ultimate Music Business Conspiracy Theory

2012-06-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Whether it's the second gunman on the grassy knoll, the alien mystery at Roswell or what really is hidden within the high-security confines of Area 51... conspiracy theories abound. Many of us are amused by the speculation, while hardcore buffs examine every nuance looking for clues to support their version of the story.
If you'll notice, all of these conspiracy theories involve some type of dastardly deed or cover-up. Someone is out to brainwash us or hide the facts from the public. After all, "the truth is out there," according to X-Files scripture. I never seem to hear people suspecting, for instance, a conspiracy by furniture salesman to stuff money into the nooks and crannies of the couches they sell. Yet I always find change under the cushions when I clean. Hmm... maybe they're secretly... Oh, never mind.

There's another kind of conspiracy conjurer. You know the type. The artist, musician or writer who believes the deck has been stacked against him or that nobody will ever give her a break. "This town is just not artist-friendly," he/she proclaims. "This sucks. Why bother?"
To listen to these people, you'd think the radio stations, theatre groups, art galleries (or whatever venue applies) were all part of a sick joke, trying to obliterate creative growth. And just like the bigger conspiracy nuts, they find clues and plenty of ammo to support their claims.
"See, that guy never returned my call," they announce. "I can't buy a job in this town." Anything even remotely inconvenient that happens to them lends credence to the devious master plot.
Here's a fun little game that I challenge you to play. It's called the Inverse Conspiracy Game. For one entire day, I encourage you to go through the day believing wholeheartedly that there is a conspiracy involving you. Only with this Inverse Conspiracy, the whole world and everyone in it are involved in a conspiracy to help you succeed.
If you're familiar with the recent Jim Carey movie "The Truman Show," you know what I mean. In the film, everything that happens to the main character is a preplanned scene -- only he has no idea it's fabricated.
So for one day, imagine that everyone is pitching in on a secret mission to help you. There's a positive reason behind everything that happens to you. Even seemingly negative events are put into action in order to propel you toward a reward that's just around the corner. And it's your job to break the code and figure out exactly how the world intends for you to use what happens to your advantage.
True, this isn't your father's conspiracy theory. It will take some brain work to reorient your mental perspective -- especially to keep it up for an entire day. But just think how this shift in attitude might alter your progress. You'll be forced to view everything in a far more constructive light. And when bad things do happen, it will be your mission to find the hidden opportunity (instead of more reasons to stop trying to reach your creative goals).

Give this inverse conspiracy theory a try. You can always go back to looking for evil schemes and cover-ups. In the meantime, you just might discover an alien on a grassy knoll waiting to help you succeed. Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and free e-zine that have been delivering marketing tips and inspirational messages to music people of all kinds since 1995. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

Outrageous Music Marketing Ideas

2012-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure exactly what triggered it, but recently my mind started popping with creative, off-the-wall ways to promote your music. So I jotted down some notes and am sharing them with you in this article.
I'll let you determine whether these are truly "outrageous" ideas. But one thing is for sure: They certainly aren't the traditional things that most musicians think about when they do marketing.
Ready? Here we go ...
Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #1
Turn Yourself Into a Happy Meal
I definitely advocate that indie musicians *not* try to emulate the same tactics as the major labels. However, there are times when you can take one of their ideas (or an idea from a related entertainment industry) and give it a small-scale spin.

You know how the major film studios promote their new animated features by tying into fast food chain kid meals, such as the McDonald's Happy Meal. Most likely, you won't be able to land a nationwide Happy Meal deal. But you might be able to do something cool with a local deli or restaurant.
I know a couple of radio disc jockeys in my town who have sandwiches or special meals named after them at certain eateries. Why couldn't you do that? Especially if you perform regularly at a particular coffee shop, bar or restaurant.
For example, if your band is called Sweet Potato Sunrise, approach a manager with the idea of offering a Sweet Potato Sunrise omelette, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise latte, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise daiquiri?
You get the idea. The special name would get you exposure at the establishment whenever it's open (hopefully, you're item will be listed on the menu). Plus, you can use the unique promotional angle to get mentions in the local press.
Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #2
Become an Instant Cult Classic
The success of the quirky film Napoleon Dynamite has me thinking. The movie itself is still growing on me, but I'm fascinated by the buzz it has among people who really connect with it. Most of my friends who rave about it have seen it numerous times and claim that the more they see it, the more they appreciate and enjoy it.
What a nice position for a filmmaker to be in. Admittedly, a lot of people don't like the movie and its flat characters at all. But those who do appreciate the film like it a lot -- and preach about it to their friends, memorize lines, encourage theatres to have midnight showings, etc.
How can you tap into that? It's hard to manufacture cult status, but here's an idea: What if your music CD came with an accompanying trivia game? And what if the game tied directly into the theme, style and lyrics of your music? The game instructions could be included in the CD sleeve or delivered separately to everyone who bought one. Or, to make a greater impact with the trivia game idea, you could package the CD in a DVD case or even a small retail box.
To make this work, you'd have to come up with a cool, interactive game idea and have a CD filled with interesting, funny or insightful lyrics and music. But if you can get people examining the nuances of your material and sharing notes with other people who are memorizing your stuff, you might have some powerful buzz going for you.
Check out my blog at MusicPromotionBlog.com for more outrageous ideas. But hopefully, these will get your wheels turning in the meantime.Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

Who Do You Sound Like?

2012-06-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

Admit it. Most musicians hate to compare themselves to other artists. Does this describe you? If you feel you are a unique, one-of-a-kind creative being, I wholeheartedly agree with you. But if you think you shouldn't tarnish your musical identity with comparisons to other artists, I ask you to reconsider.
Why? It has everything to do with this crazy little hunk of matter called the human brain. According to the Berkeley Lab, "Humans retrieve information best when it can be linked to other related information." In other words, without a familiar reference point, people have a tough time filing away and remembering new sights, sounds, smells, etc.
Tapping Into 'The System'
In an article by Allen Barker, he writes, "Memory is a dynamic process. It arises from reminders and cues." The process that helps the brain sort out new stimulus is called "associative memory." Barker continues, "An associative memory is a memory system that takes an input 'key' and produces the 'closest' stored memory that matches that key.
If the memory had stored a picture of a chair, for example, and were presented with a 'key' of half a chair, it would fill in the remaining half of the chair."
If you think this is all impractical mumbo jumbo, check out the work being done by Pandora. It's Music Genome Project is a system that analyzes music using "a set of attributes that capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of consumers who browse the material. Each song is analyzed along 400 distinct musical attributes to create a complete musical analysis."
Sounds deep, but in essence, the Pandora research works much like Amazon's "customers who bought X also purchased Y" recommendations.
Making the Mental Music Connection
Another site that understands the importance of this concept is WeSoundLike.com. The home page reads "Find new music like your favorite music! Just browse for your favorite music artists and we'll tell you the new and upcoming artists that are influenced by them!" To add your act, go to the submission page at www.wesoundlike.com/SubmissionForm.cfm.
Convinced yet? Music fans need clues. People who enjoy your music also enjoy other artists. And many of those artists are more familiar to the masses than you are right now. So tap into the mental links that already exist in the minds of fans who support other similar-sounding artists.