With the launch of It’s A Pixies Podcast, a limited series program, the long-running indie rock group offers a glimpse at the future of music promotion.
‘Podcast‘ may be the most significant buzzword in music this year. Not only has the format been accused of encroaching on a form of entertainment previously reserved for music and audiobooks, but streaming services Spotify and Apple Music have been investing heavily in promoting notable shows, as well as creating exclusive podcast content.
According to MusicOOMPH, 71% of Americans are familiar with the term ‘podcast,’ and a little over half of the population has listened to a podcast. There are currently 700,000 active podcasts boasting a combined catalog of 29 million episodes, and that figure is going to grow substantially in the latter half of 2019.
The world of podcasting has already proven beneficial for many performers. Comedians in particular have found the freedom of expression podcasting allows as a way to engage their audience between specials and promote tour dates. Musicians can and should see view podcasts the same way. In a time when everyone wants more from everything they love all the time, podcasts present an opportunity to continually offer new content without rushing to release songs or records before they’re complete.
A press release this week announced that one group, iconic indie rock band The Pixies, is ready to embrace podcasts and the numerous possibilities it can offer. The band is promoting their upcoming record by sharing a limited, twelve episode series that documents the creation of the record and the conflicts that arise during production. The podcast is hosted and narrated by New York Times best-selling author Tony Fletcher who was with the band during throughout the creative process.
The full press release reads:
Good morning! “It’s A Pixies Podcast,” Pixies’ 12-episode series, makes its debut today and we hope you’ll check it out. It’s now live on all podcast platforms including Apple, Pandora, Acast, Stitcher, Google and more. The podcast is hosted and narrated by New York Times best-selling author Tony Fletcher who was embedded with the band and producer Tom Dalgety while the new album, Beneath The Eyrie, was recorded last December at Dreamland Studios near Woodstock, NY. The podcast provides a real fly-on-the-wall perspective of not just the recording, but of the interaction between the band members and Dalgety, while tracking in the main room or making a cup of tea in the kitchen. Beneath The Eyrie will be released on September 13 (BMG).
You can stream It’s A Pixies Podcast wherever you enjoy podcasts. The band’s new album, Beneath The Eyrie, will hit stores in September.
Artists at any level can get into podcasting, and they should. You don’t have to talk about your music. You don’t even have to talk about music in a general sense. Find something you’re passionate about and share that interest with your fans. It can be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whatever works for you. As long as you’re having fun, your fans will enjoy the experience, and they will come away from each episode feeling more connected to you. That connection translates to more engagement, more purchases, and more support.
