Just Think Vol.7: Hip Hop in the Digital Age
By A.Evanshttp://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
The internet appears to be the best and worst medium ever. At the click of a button you can order a new living room TV, design the layout of an apartment you wish to rent, watch a movie while it is still theaters and even order a spouse from another countries (lol). In fact, the internet has become a Jetson's robot that can do anything. The internet is a master chef, a DJ, the newest record label, the best model agency etc. The internet has killed or diminished physical products and has led to a reduction in newspaper and magazines printed. This convenient method of material gratification has definitely impacted how we shop for items and has affected sales in all types of stores. This is the digital age people and it is here to stay. So when an artist says "Hip Hop isn't dead... its gone digital", they were right on point in fact I think it's safe to say this game we called Life has gone digital. In the words of Dead Prez "It's Bigger than Hip Hop" or as Rick Ross would say it's more than music.
Have you noticed?
Is it me or does it seem like people don't' buy CDs anymore? I mean I remember a time when people would line up outside of Virgin Megastore to copp the new Jigga during the Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 days. The internet has completely taken over in the music industry. Not only can consumer legally or illegally download an album before it comes out, labels now offer the option to sample the album before downloading it fully, that used to be a sampler CD or tape, but is now available online. With multiple platforms like Rhapsody, Limewire, and of course iTunes consumers no longer have to hike to the Virgin Mega Stores, Sam Goody's or Best Buy to get the new latest and greatest albums. The internet has the music industry in such a chokehold you don't even have to go your local hood spot to get your Mix-tapes and promo CD's thanks to websites like "Dat Piff and Get Right Music" to name a few. The impact that the internet has in the music industry is leading to rumors of digital record labels being started which would completely eliminate the physical CD once and for good. It makes me wonder if we went from 45's to 8tracks, to cassette tapes to CDs, to Mp3s; what could possibly be next.
Pros & Cons: Sales & Exposure
There seems to be numerous advantages and disadvantages in the music industry because of the internet especially when it comes to sales. Hip Hop success is based on numbers these days, and how many records you can sell. "Men Lie Women Lie numbers don't" Unfortunately the internet has definitely proven to be a disadvantage for artists that are signed to major labels. The problem lies with albums being leaked and illegally downloaded before the release date. Once the album is downloaded no one attempts to buy an album they already have for free. On the flip side the internet is perfect for the up and coming artists or underground artists to gain exposure and market themselves virally. One mans trash is another mans treasure I guess life is just a double edge sword.
What's next?
Remember when portable CD players came out and you saw someone with a cassette player you laughed or looked at the cassette player like it was a dinosaur? Fast forward to the internet and iTunes era where Mp3 players make CD players look ancient. All you have to do is hook up your device to your computer download your songs, click and drag and you're good. If we are always evolving and moving forward I have to ask what is next. We can already download music to our phones, so what will come after that? Is there gonna be like a micro chip we can place in our ear? What lies ahead for the musical industry in this ever changing digital era will the sales and download epidemic be resolved or will it get worse?
What do you think?
Marketing Buzz of the Week
By Max Rivers
http://www.Twitter.Com/MaxRivers
The Rise of the C-Tweet
Social media has obviously given voice to employees in ways that never existed before. Early corporate bloggers were often brand enthusiasts themselves and tended to "get" the brand a gut level; soon enough, voice and tone guidelines became more actively put in play to govern blog writing. But Twitter is different. C-level execs are part-lead ambassador, part-celebrity. Twitter accounts can build a cult of personality and extend a dynamic that has long existed for top CEOs into a broader set of C-level executives.
1.The objective
An executive's objectives for a Twitter account are likely a mix of the brand's interest and self-interest. A simple rule of thumb here: If it is conspicuously endorsed by the brand (via the account name or use of the logo, for example), then the objectives should directly align with the vision and mission of the brand. If the brand is merely a description of the executive's occupation, there is more room for flexibility. And, with an endorsed account in particular, have a discussion with internal counsel to set up some basic legal guardrails before you jump in.
2. The commitment
Twitter is a hungry beast. If you're truly in it, you've got to tweet. Conventional wisdom seems to have it at somewhere between five to 10 tweets per day as the minimum for an active account with a healthy following. Generating 30 to 50 compelling, pithy statements (or links or retweets) each week may sound simple, but it can easily turn into a chore. Carve out time in the day to address this need -- to feed the beast without turning this into a distraction.
3. The exit strategy
Admittedly, this is a tough one -- considering the lifespan of Twitter itself and the questions that may exist around its own future. At the end of the day, an executive's account will be more of a reflection on him or her than it is on the brand. Executive impermanence is a fact of life -- and while creating deeper connections between a brand and its key executives can have tremendous value for partners, customers, analysts, employees and investors, an executive's inevitable departure along with several hundred thousand Twitter followers is likely to sting a bit. A strong Twitter following is becoming a brand asset -- and succession planning for the future of this asset is an important consideration. It may be worthwhile to try to mirror an executive's Twitter following within a more overtly corporate account. Or perhaps encourage junior executives to build their own followings, assuming this does not conflict with the points above.
Twitter is yet another example of where brands have to accept a loss of control. In this case, it is not about putting the brand in the hands of the market but in the hands of the people for whom the brand is their livelihood. A certain amount of letting go is a necessity. We will undoubtedly see a few missteps in C-tweets, and we'll learn and move on. Ultimately, the medium may change but basics of branding still apply -- both for the brands themselves and for their executive stewards: Be true, be relevant, be transparent, respect your brand and your customers, don't make a promise you can't keep.
| Real Talk: Misunderstood "A Hustler's Tale" By Cedric D. Shine http://twitter.com/NativeNotes |
| Driven by dreams of material things,Can't blame em; on TV that's all he seen.Takes more than a reckless spirit,To build a crack empire.Learn the ways of the street fast,Or your life will soon expire.Fiends is clickin' to what they got on 43rd,So you set up shop next to the woods on 45th,House in the cut you don't want no ish. Takes more than a reckless spirit to do what your doing.More like economics and trade agreements,In that language you're fluent.If only Columbia or Harvard came to the hood,Maybe this young man wouldn't be misunderstood.With these practices You'd be a top CEO, But instead we're relegated to the streets.It ain't fun out here,Everybody's packing heat. So you wholesale your product,So all the abusers come to you.Now their consumers,Are your customers,And everybody knows you.Business is good, assets and such.Be careful brother, don't press ya luck.You got big dreams,To get ya family out the hood.Never was too flashy,But now your rims are what make you look good.Just some more attention,Before they wave ya goodbye.Coppers watching, enemies plottin', snitches will end ya life. He coulda been bigger than John Rockefeller.Coulda taken his charisma and used it for something better.The world judges you for serving with hope with despair.The streets is watching,You cant sleep,This lovely crack house is surrounded by fiends.Your enemies creep with guns,With ambitions to blow holes in your dreams.Yet the cops pick you up,Putting football numbers behind this big dream.Too many keys to count,You're on your way to the bing. Don't get me wrong, they crooked too.You ain't got no boats to get all these drugs through.All them drugs they caught you with didn't even make it to the precinct.They supply your competition and our communities are still bleeding.Only if Penn State and Temple came to the hood,Maybe this young mans life wouldn't be so misunderstood! |
For more information and bookings visit www.frankieneedles.com and www.frankieneedles.tv
Charismatic, energetic, with a million dollar smile and a voice reminiscent of a finely tuned bass instrument, Manhattan born Frankie Needles started his career as a mobile disc jockey at the age of sixteen. He studied percussion and music theory at The Third Street Music School on New York's Lower East Side and later nurtured his love of music with his first set of turntables in 1986. It wasn't long before he went from bringing down the house at apartment parties in Washington Heights to stirring crowds at many of the hottest clubs on Miami's South Beach; Opium, Mansion and Amnesia just to name a few.
| The innovative Master of Ceremonies landed several high-profile DJ sets including a birthday party for Russell Simmons, an NFL Super Bowl 'Super Ballers Weekend' party for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and a New Year's Eve party for producer Jermaine Dupree. In addition, he hosted the "Frankie Needles Radio Show" on Miami's Mix 96.1 which later landed him an on air mixer position alongside DJ Khaled & DJ Irie on 99 Jamz. His multi-ethnic Latin flavor soon attracted the producers of a cutting edge show "The Roof", after being introduced by world renowned artist Fat Joe. Frankie was quickly invited as a guest DJ and immediately become host and DJ on "The Roof". His creative flair and talent created a unique and diverse fan base for the groundbreaking show featuring Spanish and English programming and for the first time ever, brought national attention to the Latin-Urban movement. The syndicated radio show "The Top 20 Latin Urban Countdown hosted by Frankie Needles" premiered in the summer of 2005 in collaboration with LBC and Westwood One. The weekly, two-hour program features a mix of the hottest Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae music. As a pioneer of the Latin Urban genre Frankie continues to use his influence to help break some of the music industry's well known artists and garnish them increased exposure and promotion. The show has been creating serious noise since hitting the airwaves and continues to enthrall and entertain its listeners throughout the nation. Most recently Frankie Needles served as Music Supervisor and showcased his resonant voice in the film Illegal Tender, directed by John Singleton. He was also invited to appear in "Podemos Con OBAMA" a music video featuring key influential Latin artists in support of Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. The video aired across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Frankie is the official DJ of the Latin Grammys and DJ/host of the McDonalds Latin Grammy Street Parties Tour and he is honored to participate as a panelist on the Latin Grammy in the Schools program to motivate and educate students. Concurrent with his soulful message, "Latinos Stand Up!"™, Frankie Needles is standing up and paving the way for an entire generation, a whole new genre and an exciting new cultural movement! Stay tuned! For more information and bookings visit www.frankieneedles.com, www.frankieneedles.tv or click on photo. |
Sincerely,
Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment