After five weeks of chaotic promotion, Donda is finally here. What can artists learn from Kanye’s latest album rollout?
Kanye West is a creative person. Other labels fit, like artist or producer, but he does more than that. Kanye makes music, clothing, videos, shoes, and more. He goes above and beyond to bring his wild ideas to life, which has made him an inescapable force in our culture. Love him or hate him; you always know what Kanye is doing.
The rollout for Kanye West’s tenth studio album, Donda, was something special. West hosted three live “listening party” events across five weeks, each with unique set designs and fresh music. Fans witnessed the evolution of the music right before their eyes, and many tuned in to each event with high expectations of what might happen. These events were, for lack of a better term, legitimate culture events. They were talking points for everyone from fans to cable news commentators, and it seems anyone you ask has an opinion to share. If that’s not the sign of a successful rollout, then we don’t know what is.
In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell looks for the positive among an undeniably divisive album rollout. He uses the things Kanye does well to educate artists about what really matters when marketing a record. You might not have billions to spend on promotion, but you can do more than you imagine possible. We’ll let him explain the rest.
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