Tag: digital promotion

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How Ghostemane Is Redefining Success In The Music Business [VIDEO]

Ghostemane Anti-Icon

In a world of copycats, Ghostemane is forging a unique path through the music business that is turning heads and winning fans worldwide.

Ghostemane is the perfect example of a modern superstar. After releasing eight albums in six short years, the versatile musician has amassed a fiercely loyal global following without the help of mainstream media. His 3.3 million monthly Spotify listeners and 40 million monthly streams place Ghostemane among the ranks of today’s biggest names. Yet, he doesn’t have a major label or the money that comes from playing ball with the quote/unquote “traditional music business.” He is a self-made headliner, and his new album, Anti-Icon, seems poised further to accelerate his already astonishing rise through the underground ranks.

It’s easier to tell you what Ghostemane has in common with mainstream stars than to list the numerous traits that set him apart. First, he has immaculate branding skills that tell you everything you need to know before hearing a single second of music. He also understands that the music business is part of a global marketplace. The internet has made it possible for any musician to engage with listeners and grow an audience worldwide. He focuses his time on creating music at a high-volume to constantly deliver new songs and videos, and images to fans, which helps keep his name on the tips of their tongues. He’s as ubiquitous as anyone can hope to be, and he doesn’t sacrifice the quality of his product to meet the ever-growing demand.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Ghostemane is a rare example of an independent artist who knows what they want and what they’re willing to give up to achieve their goals. He appreciates the power of saying “no” to anything that doesn’t align with the career he pictures for himself, and he’s willing to do things ‘the hard way’ to ensure his vision comes to fruition.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell explores the many contributing factors to Ghostemane’s success, including his vision and refusal to compromise. James then uses these traits to outline a refined path to success that artists from any genre can follow to develop their careers further. Check it out:

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Industry News News

Instagram, owned by Facebook, denies hiding posts

A series of viral posts claiming Instagram limits posts to 7% of a person’s following has prompted the company to respond.

There is too much content. That is not an opinion, so much as it is a statement of fact. Unless an individual commits to following a small number of accounts online the chances that they see everything posted by everyone and every brand they love are incredibly low. The leading social media platforms know this to be true, which is why most rely on algorithms to determine what content users see and in what order that content appears in their feed.

Recently, Instagram came under fire from public outcry after a post went viral on the photo-sharing site claiming that just 7% of a person’s following will see their latest post. The claim was then amplified as accounts of all sizes began regurgitating the baseless accusation and encouraging people to engage more with posts they like to ensure that content is seen.

Instagram broke its silence on the matter earlier this week via Twitter. In a series of tweets, the company stated, “What shows up first in your feed is determined by what posts and accounts you engage with the most, as well as other contributing factors such as the timeliness of posts, how often you use Instagram, how many people you follow, etc.”

Their explanation continued in a second tweet, adding “We have not made any recent changes to feed ranking, and we never hide posts from people you’re following – if you keep scrolling, you will see them all. Again, your feed is personalized to you and evolves over time based on how you use Instagram.”

Essentially, Instagram fine tunes users’ feeds based on the content they interact with the most. The company places an emphasis on user engagement over when an item was posted. Facebook, which owns Instagram, does something similar with its users news feed.

Twitter faced scrutiny after it made similar changes to how tweets appear on users’ timelines. However, chronological order has returned to Twitter as of September 2018.

Facebook has made no plans to reintroduce a chronological timeline to its platform, so it is unlikely that Instagram will change their approach to content curation anytime soon.

For now, users hoping to see specific content should make it a point to like posts from the accounts they most enjoy. Keep in mind, however, that engaging with highly active accounts, such as those who post multiple times a day, will drown out less active accounts over time.

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News

The incredibly simple secret to writing emails that get replies

Everyone working in music receives a lot of emails all the time for a wide variety of reasons. Writers and music critics, for example, receive press releases from anyone with an artist or release to promote who is smart enough to find their email address. They also have messages from editors, personal contacts, and – in the case of blog editors – aspiring professionals looking for an opportunity. It’s overwhelming, and it is becoming increasingly hard for any one message to stand out.

Many marketing blogs will tell you that an eye-catching subject line is all you need to get someone to open your message. This may be true in certain circumstances, but an open only brings a reader to your message – it does not make them engage with it.

If people don’t like what they see at first glance your email is no more successful than the messages that were trashed without an open. Grammar and structure aside, there is one thing that can grab the attention of a writer (or anyone) at first glance:

Use their name.

First or last or both, doesn’t matter. Just use it.

This seems surprisingly simple, and it is, but the vast majority of publicists, artists, and others vying for attention these days do not take the few seconds needed to properly address the recipient of their emails.

Here is a sampling of the most common, least engaging greetings being used today:

  • Dear Music Blogger
  • Hello, Music Friends!
  • Dear [Wrong Name]
  • Media Friends:
  • To whom it may concern
  • ATTN:
  • [Name] <– This happens when they leave what should be automated forms blank, and it happens a lot.

Technology may make connecting with one another easier than ever before, but it still lacks the personal touch of traditional conversation. Even letters written by hand required something more tactile than digital message can allow. Using someone’s name tells them you view them as something more than a faceless body existing in the void of the internet that you seek to use for leverage in the entertainment industry. It’s so simple, yet can mean so much. It tells someone you see them and their work, which often is the result of great sacrifice, and it subconsciously makes them care a bit more for what you have to share.

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