We've spoken of the idea of fans and the new model plenty. I'm certain the rest of you will post interesting conversations about this. Personally, I love the possibilities this model creates, especially the expanse of talent available at my disposal . I don't have to steal it, if you let me stream, sample, or name my price. Doesn't mean I won't but at least I have the option. Plus, I'll feel less of a delinquent when my reason for "theft" isn't to stick it to the man. Because I do want to help support these artists, and that an easier decision to make and action to take when I know a larger percentage of the profits are going directly to them.
The title of Kirsner's excerpt says it all. Building an audience of Fans, Friends, and Followers. Re-conceptualize the idea of an audience, and begin building relationships in new ways. Traditional labels may have the money, but not the loyalty. A strong connection, engaging community, superb fan base and buzz can be infinitely more valuable than aid from the top.
Spoke of the importance of connections, literally linking one site to another, connecting potential and like-minded audiences. All streamlining and simplifing the chain from creator, feedback among the audience, to the product itself.
Kirsner presented a few examples of different media creators, all of whom hit on important points of advice. Choose the medium that suits you best. Dont start a blog if you dont want to write it, convey your personality through vlogs and gain a following on YT with the help of ratings, comments, links. If you want to be profitable, do some research and diversify your income and products - both digital and not.
The most intriguing statement was the flipside of the new age - that "there has never been a noisier, more competitive time to try to make art, to entertain people, and tell stories." Everyone is producing.
At the same time, our attention spans are rapidly dropping. If we aren't engaged, we lose interest. There is a surplus of content begging for our sparse attention.
For example, for the last few hours I went back and forth hopping about the internet, looking up unfamiliar people mentioned in the readings, getting distracted by other artists (like TMBG) watching some YouTube videos, back to work, then back to distractions. And this continues until I get tired and bored. What did I retain? Not much, except what I then use back in conversation. Maybe a specific song to add to a playlist, a quote for a conversation, saving a few items here and there on my virtual memory, hoping to maintain an impression on my actual one.
Engage / Make it so.
Susan, All great points...I believe traditional media gatekeepers like NPR are worried that they are losing the grasp on the wallet of the ones they thought they once owned. I am stuck on this word "fluke" that they accused Coulton's business plan of being. It seems that they want to scare people into believing they cannot replicate it, to calm the storm of produsage. The less people try to make it on their own, the less the big companies are needed to make it happen. The employees will have to find a way to make it happen in the new new media world, for goodness sake - are they afraid of being cutting edge again. I mean, isn't that what the hits are made from - ingenuity and creativity?
ReplyDeleteI say, the big companies (labels) should follow your advice, "If you want to be profitable, do some research and diversify your income and products - both digital and not."