Foursquare & Fan Rewards

Rewards and the element of friendly competition can be a great way to generate interaction between artists and the fan community, and utilising new technology can be a great way monitor and benefit from the information gathered.

The increase in adoption of geo-location services, such as Foursquare, present such an opportunity.

Independent Artist Spotlight: Chris Bryant

I have decided to start a (hopefully) regular feature in which I get to find out from artists themselves how they are working with the new found musical and creative freedom they are currently enjoying, at the same time sharing with you some of the great music out there to be discovered.

The first artist I have the pleasure of featuring is North Carolina singer-songwriter, Chris Bryant.

Traditional vs. Digital: Artist Management in 2010

As an observer, something like the yearly MIDEM conference in Cannes is a great way to catch an insight into the current views of those inside the music industry about what is happening right now, and how they see things changing in the future. It is often supported by fantastic panels with often conflicting views. [...]

Fan Inclusion: A Unique Fan Experience

For me, one of the most exciting elements of a transitional music industry in which independent artists are becoming empowered is that bands are free to make their own rules and guide their own stories and careers, without being stuck in a ‘traditional’ release campaign structure.
More and more frequently I’m reading articles covering independent artists [...]

"Deluxe Packages & The Independent Artist": Multi-tier Releases for the Indie Musician

With the success of multi-level priced releases by artists such as Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails showing that true fans are willing to not only spend money on what is also being offered for free, but that in many cases they are willing to spend far greater amounts of money on extra materials than has [...]

Why the difference between D2F & D2C is more than just a letter

As the industry shifts and tries to settle, the opportunities that developments in technology allow for independent artists are well documented. George Howard has written a great article briefly analysing the ‘leveling’ effect that these developments have caused.
When George mentions the changes in distribution and publicity/promotion, two phrases come to my mind, both of which [...]

Musicians Making The Most of Social Media Opportunities

Anyone who has read this blog for any amount of time, or discussed with me the opportunities artists currently have online, will know I’m a big champion of how important fan interaction is to music artists, whether they be signed to a major label or totally independent, releasing work and marketing themselves.
Amanda Palmer of the [...]

Artist/Fan Interaction Online – The Artist's Suffering

While developments in social media can mean great things for independent artists looking to strengthen ties with developing fanbases, an increasing number of major label artists are also utilising platforms to interact with their audience.
A number seem to be relishing the opportunity for furthering their egos with increasing online narcissism, while others seem more grateful [...]

Fan Interaction Through Integration

After reading another fantastic article by Andrew Dubber, it got me thinking about how strongly this should be a part of all independent artists online presence. With all the potential for online interaction, involving fans where possible provides bands with invaluable promotional and fan loyalty opportunities.