Entrepreneur
Producer
Drummer/Musician
Thank you for checking out my posterous page.
My blogs usually have to do with the music industry and the business world in general.
But of course...everything is fair game.
Well, against all odds...she has done it again. Taylor Swift has somehow managed to get people to reach into their wallets and purchase her album. I will admit that she is a fantastic writer and I certainly appreciate her work and respect her accomplishments, but to say she is a talented singer or guitarist...well that just ins't true (yes I have seen her live multiple times, and she isn't any good in my opinion).
Taylor Swift is a well oiled, completely fuled, brand machine. She isn't just about the lyrics, or the guitar playing, or the singing, etc. ALL of it comes together to give her the total appeal for her fanbase. She does indeed utilize all of those aspects to her credit, but it's how she/her label goes about marketing the albums and the songs.
From the article/link above:
"When Taylor Swift's album "Red" was released last week, the pop singer's most ardent fans wasted no time downloading the digital edition on iTunes, vaulting it to No. 1 on the online retailer's Top Albums chart in a quick 36 minutes. Those who wanted to hold a CD with her latest 16 songs were also able to snap it up as early as 12:01 a.m. Oct. 22 at thousands of 24-hour Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores.
By daybreak though, the options had multiplied: A deluxe 22-track edition was available at Target, and if the music alone wasn't enough, Swift aficionados could also pick up a custom pair of Keds "Red" sneakers ($49.99) or get the album along with a large pizza as part of a Papa John's deal that featured Swift's image on the pizza box (all for $22!).
The multi-pronged delivery of Swift's album is part of a sophisticated marketing campaign that has contributed to the extraordinary first-week sales for "Red" of 1.21 million copies according to Nielsen SoundScan, the biggest first-week figure in more than a decade."
So, you could buy a pizza and somehow get your hands on a copy of her CD...! This is insane people. It's insane because who ever thought it would work...was right.
If you bought the new album, share which version you purchased and why you bought it.
This post is a few days late, sorry about that...it's been a busy weekend! The show floor looks the same everyday so if you want to see pictures of that, head over to my Day 1 post.The morning session at Summer NAMM day 2 was with Joe Calloway (pictured)...the author of "Becoming a Category of One: How Extraordinary Companies Create and Sustain Success".This session was all about getting new ideas, differentiation, competition, and setting yourself apart in the market (wether it's youself, your product, company, etc.).Here are my favorite lessons from the day:- "Be better tomorrow than you were today". It's simple - to improve and grow yourself or your business, you must ACTUALLY work towards it. You have to constantly strive to achive greatness...never settle.- "Ideas have no value...unless you DO IT". This relates to the previous point as well. You must act on your ideas in order to find out if it will be successful or not. If you have an idea and just sit on it, you will never know.- "Mistakes are opportunities". You have to know what doesn't work. If you make a mistake, you realize something doesn't work, then you can try adapting it or scrapping it alltogether. Don't be afraid of mistakes, see them as opportunities to fine tune your product/business.- "Be great at what you do, love everyone, have fun". If you follow these, you will stay on the right track. In order to stand out, you must be great at what you do...people will notice this. Love everyone...all of your customers, your employees, etc. They operate your business. Lastly, having fun is a must. If you are miserable, why are you doing it? If you are always unhappy, do you really think that your customers and employees are going to want to work for you or buy your product?
[[posterous-content:pid___1]]This was my first time at Summer NAMM, which is not nearly as big as the show in Anaheim...but it was still pretty big and very cool.
As you can see from my pictures, the exhibits spanned from drum companies (my specialty lol), to guitars, to violins, to computer gear. Tons of instruments and audio gear all under the same roof...what's not to love about that?!Today's breakfast session featured Joe Lamond (NAMM CEO) and Chip Averwater (Chairman of Amro Music). Amro Music is one of the largest music retailers in the U.S. so it was quite interesting to hear how he grew his business, utilized new technology, and attracted customers. Here's a few of my favorite points from the session:- "It's not wether we can do it, it's wether we can do it best" = the winner takes all and second place gets nothing. Perform better than your competitors.- "Planning is simple. Execution is the challenge". Knowing how to do something isn't hard...putting it to the test is what will proove wether or not it can be called a success.- "Complaints are opportunities to create loyal customers". This is a great piece of advice, and it is definitely true! Think of how many times you have been upset by a company that has a crappy return policy or warranty...you are MUCH more likely to go back to a company who gives you a full refund or replacement item...right?!- "Good management is an attitude, not a technique". I worked under some pretty terrible managers in my first couple of jobs. It was easy to tell what person was in it for the money, or who really cared about the employees or the customers, etc. Attitude is EVERYTHING! Day 2 is tomorrow - excited for another great day in gear heaven!
This was my first time at Summer NAMM, which is not nearly as big as the show in Anaheim...but it was still pretty big and very cool.As you can see from my pictures, the exhibits spanned from drum companies (my specialty lol), to guitars, to violins, to computer gear. Tons of instruments and audio gear all under the same roof...what's not to love about that?!Today's breakfast session featured Joe Lamond (NAMM CEO) and Chip Averwater (Chairman of Amro Music). Amro Music is one of the largest music retailers in the U.S. so it was quite interesting to hear how he grew his business, utilized new technology, and attracted customers. Here's a few of my favorite points from the session:- "It's not wether we can do it, it's wether we can do it best" = the winner takes all and second place gets nothing. Perform better than your competitors.- "Planning is simple. Execution is the challenge". Knowing how to do something isn't hard...iputting it to the test will proove wether or not it can be called a success.- "Complaints are opportunities to create loyal customers". This is a great piece of advice, and it is definitely true! Think of how many times you have been upset by a company that has a crappy return policy or warranty...you are MUCH more likely to go back to a company who gives you a full refund or replacement item...right?!- "Good management is an attitude, not a technique". I worked under some pretty terrible managers in my first couple of jobs. It was easy to tell what person was in it for the money, or who really cared about the employees or the customers, etc. Attitude is EVERYTHING! Day 2 is tomorrow - excited for another great day in gear heaven!
Ok, I am SOOOO tired of all of these people that think these headphones are amazing and allow the user to "hear things they never could before" blah blah blah.
Look, I'm not trying to give you an ego or anything like that, but this is what I do. I have worked with numerous Grammy Winning Producers and Engineers....I would say they know what they are talking about when it comes to clarity in music...wouldn't you?!?! So take it from the community of Grammy Producers/Engineers, not just myself.Beats headphones are a fashion statement. I admit, they look pretty cool...BUT, they ADD an insane amount of crap (that's right, they ADD bass and other effects..therefore they CHANGE THE ORIGINAL MUSIC), they cost hundreds of dollars, they are made out of cheap plastic (everyone's biggest complaint is that they break), etc.Want to know what many pros use for reference in the studio to ACTUALLY MIX THE ALBUMS? Sennheiser HD280 PRO - boom, that's it. $99. Excellent Noise Isolation (I wear them on the plane, and I can't hear engine noise), excellent sound reprodution, crisp highs, warm mids and deep lows. If these are the headphones the pros use to CREATE/REFERENCE the music you listen to...why wouldn't you use them to listen to the music too?! Don't believe me? Read the reviews on the website about the HD280s, then read the reviews on the Beats. There you have it.
Ok, now I know this debate could go on and on and on, because honetsly it comes down to your personal opinion...so let's understand that right out of the gate. But, there are certainly many FACTS that give the Droid the gold medal over the iPhone. I am a Droid and PC user, but I also use Apple products (an iPod and iMac at the studio)...so please don't think I am giving a biased opinion. This is simply me sharing my experience with Apple and Droid products and their consumers. First, let's address the user profile for Apple products...WATCH THIS () Yep, Samsung got it EXACTLY right with their new ads. We all know there is a "culture" with Apple users now. People who think they are young hipsters setting a trend. You know, they guy sitting next to you with Apple earbuds who thinks he's too cool for anyone to even look at him, yet he has a $1,200 laptop sitting on his lap just "begging for attention"...yea, that guy. The same guy from the ad who thinks he's "too creative" to go for a non-Apple product, yet his friend calls him out as being a barista...haha. Now I know not everyone is like that, but 80% of Mac users buy the products just because "everyone else has one" or "they look cool"....that's stupid.
Now, I'm NOT saying that Mac's aren't good computers because they have advantages over PC's in some cases (I use both PC and Mac at work). I use them for their processing speed and compatibility with digital audio workstations. However, I have just as many problems (if not more) with Mac's that I do with a PC.
Which brings me to my next point:
Everytime someone recommends an Apple product to me, they always say it's the best ever and they never have any problems with it. However, I constantly see them having problems with the Apple products they are recommending. I don't get it...I can't tell you how many times I experience this DAILY! Basically Apple users give positive word of mouth about the products, yet forget to tell everyone how many problems they actually have with them. They leave out the negative experience, and only share the positive experience! This phenomenon is amazing. Every company in the world wants that. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the products are actually good, it just means that the company has a dedicated fanbase. Great, good for them.
So that's what I have to say about the brand, let's get down to the products. Lately, Apple has seen many flaws in their products from the crazy "antenna problem" on the iPhone 4 (you know, the one where you can't HOLD THE PHONE IN YOUR HAND?!?!?!), to the battery life on the iPhone 4S (I realize this has been improved by an update, but seriously...this shouldn't have happened in the first place). When was the last time you heard about mass problems with a Droid?
Look at it this way, at any given time, walk into a Verizon store (or any wireless network) and count how many of the phones use the Droid OS. Now count how many use the Apple OS. The Droid wins somewhere around 20:1. So let me get this straight, at any given time there are "20" new Droid phones on the market...yet only one version of the iPhone? Sure, you can call it "exclusivity", but is it really? READ THIS (http://www.jumptap.com/blog/android-and-iphone-now-hog-91-of-mobile-os-market-share/)...so there's the fact.
"Android hit 58.8 percent and iOS reached 32.2 percent market share respectively." Droid wins. “With Google activating 850,000 mobile devices daily, it’s no surprise that Android has continued to outpace every other OS on the market,” said Paran Johar, Chief Marketing Officer, Jumptap. "So after all of that, where does this leave us?
4 FACTS WHY DROID IS BETTER
1. Google - think about it. Google is the #1 search engine, maps engine, image engine, email service, etc. They are THE epitome of the internet...everything revolves around it and every other site depends on it. WHY wouldn't you want to have a device created by this company?! Even the iPhone uses Google (maps, search, etc.)! Now that says something. Plus the experience is fantastic. If you have a Gmail account, then you are ready to go. Droids automatically back up your contacts, calendar, emails, etc. NO NEED TO PLUG INTO A COMPUTER AND SYNC WITH A PROGRAM. I think this is a MAJOR flaw with the iPhone. I think the iTunes experience is lackluster and time-consuming. (remember, I do have an iPod touch). Google is an amazing company and really has taken the internet to new places.
2. Flash - Droid has it, iPhone doesn't. This gives the Droid user the EXACT experience they would have on a computer. I found it hilarious when my friend asked me to load a webpage on my new 4G HTC Droid (he's an "extreme" iPhone 4S user and wanted to show how his iPhone was "better") only to find out that mine looked exactly the same as the computer while he MADE AN EXCUSE ABOUT HOW HIS WAS STILL LOADING...no dude, it's because all of that content is Flash and you don't have it. He made a few other attempts to try to glorify his iPhone, but no luck. I played flash content, such as music players, right on the webpage. Then he made another comment that surprised me and proved the theory above...how he HATES that Apple doesn't "get with the program and get Flash"....hahaha oh gosh! A perfect example of an Apple user telling a positive experience, yet holding back on the negative.
3. Customization - The Droid OS is OPEN PLATFORM. Being ‘open’ isn’t just a selling point with Android - it means you can basically do things that iPhone users can only do if they jailbreak their phones - and thereby invalidate their warranties. For example, you can install apps from any source, not just the official Android Market. As nice as the Apple OS looks, I’d take Android’s visual customisation any day of the week. I love being able to tinker with my device and applying my own personal look. So, you are an iPhone user and think you are "creative"? Yet your device is closed platform...and you can't customize it at all...seems like the oppositte of creative to me.
4. 4G LTE - The iPhone will eventually have 4G speeds too - but right now they don't. They could have and should have given their users that option with the 4S...but nope. With my 4G Droid, I get up to 32mbps download speed. This is nuts. Droid was the first to offer 4G. That means Droid remains the front runner for the future of this technology. Apple is behind, trying to catch up to put 4G speed in the next iPhone (which has no release date yet...).So there you have it. Those are the FACTS that made it obvious to me that Droid was a better choice. You can try to convince me that the iPhone is better, but you won't succeed. I can see it now...someone saying, "but the iPhone 4S has siri!"....ok great, I have global search feature just like it on my Droid...nice try.
I know, I know...it seems like I'm bashing Apple and their products. I'm not. They make good products and they definitely suit some people well, but I just don't see any facts that proove their products are better. It all comes down to your personal preference.
So the next time you get a new phone, take everything into consideration and use your OWN judgement (don't base your decision off of what you've heard).
Had to re-post this article by my good friend/mentor.former professor: The Era Of Silencing Voices Is Ending: A response to the RIAA’s Cary Sherman’s Editorial in Favor of SOPA
By George Howard
In a recent editorial, Cary Sherman (Chief Executive of the Recording Industry Association of America, which represents music labels) makes the argument that in order to stop SOPA, websites like Google and Wikipedia are presenting lies in order to advance an agenda:
The hyperbolic mistruths, presented on the home pages of some of the world’s most popular Web sites, amounted to an abuse of trust and a misuse of power. When Wikipedia and Google purport to be neutral sources of information, but then exploit their stature to present information that is not only not neutral but affirmatively incomplete and misleading, they are duping their users into accepting as truth what are merely self-serving political declarations.
It is deeply troubling to read comments from the head of the RIAA accusing others of attempting to use their positions in order to advance an agenda that maintains a status quo.
Those who fear and have the most to lose with respect to technological innovation are the ones who will cling hardest to the models that support their livelihood. The RIAA—with their historic, ongoing and insistent reluctance to embrace any type of technological innovation that they deem a threat to their business model—is the poster child for this type of behavior.
Mr. Sherman states, for instance, that policy makers:
…knew that music sales in the United States are less than half of what they were in 1999, when the file-sharing site Napster emerged, and that direct employment in the industry had fallen by more than half since then, to less than 10,000.
One can only surmise from this statement that Mr. Sherman desires to go back to 1999 when technological developments did not have such an impact on the industry he represents, as they do today. Of course, he doesn’t mention the VAST amount of jobs created because of these technological innovations. Nor does he mention, as my colleague and TuneCore Founder/CEO, Jeff Price did in his article on SOPA, that the RIAA’s calculation of music sales is far from accurate or comprehensively complete:
The problem is that the bills lobbied for were done so by the RIAA, the organization that no longer represents the music industry. The majority of today’s music is being created, distributed, bought, streamed and shared from artists outside of the RIAA label member system. The RIAA and its members are no longer the voice of the industry; they are the voice of what was, and an ever-shrinking part of what is.
As Venture Capitalist (and noted music fan) Bijan Sabet recently pointed out on his blog, with respect to another entity trying to cling to an outmoded business model:
Now Hollywood wants the nuclear option. They want to turn off sites that they don’t like or because of a few rogue users. They don’t want to give a take down notice and live with the rules of the DMCA—they just want to erase the site from the web along with data from the vast majority of users that don’t infringe.
Mr. Sabet does a nice job of presenting a counter-argument to Mr. Sherman’s seeming point of view that rejecting SOPA is illegal (“We all share the goal of a safe and legal Internet”), by referencing the current governing law, the DMCA:
I’m over simplifying things greatly but the basic DMCA deal was the following
1. Users take responsibility for content they upload 2. Content owners notify website owners of infringing material 3. Website owners receive the notice, review the notice and then take down any infringing content.
That is how the web operates.
The DMCA is, of course, not an easily-understood document, however it is the dispositive document when it comes to governing this ever-evolving technological world we find ourselves in.
The proponents of SOPA (essentially the RIAA and the MPAA) want to change the laws. Fair enough. There is a process to do this. What they didn’t rely upon, and what Mr. Sherman apparently rails against (Would they have cast their clicks?” he asks — who is “they?”) is an ever-increasingly vocal constituent who — because of the very same technology that Mr. Sherman seems so opposed to — is now better connected, informed, and able to make his or her voice heard than ever before. It is very possible, therefore, that Mr. Sherman not only desires to go back in time to an era where the industry he seeks to protect had a monopoly on what records were made, distributed, and promoted, but also a time when it was far easier to get legislation like SOPA passed without the type of public outcry that he must deal with today. In both cases, unfortunately for Mr. Sherman and others, he can no longer silence the voices.
George Howard is the former president of Rykodisc. He currently advises numerous entertainment and non-entertainment firms and individuals. Additionally, he is the Executive Editor of Artists House Music and is an Associate Professor of Music Business/Management at Berklee. He is most easily found on Twitter at: twitter.com/gah650
My brother Brandon and I are getting ready to enter the "Only In Louisiana" pre-party!
From the event: "Revel in the Mardi Gras spirit as we honor Louisiana's musical heritage, serve up our legendary cuisine and entertain you with a few of ou rmusical treasures."A great event that I'm thankful to be invited to. It really puts an emphasis on the music and media incentives in New Orleans and how its shaping up after hurricane Katrina. I went to college in New Orleans so it definitely holds a place in my heart. Laissez les bon temps roulet!!!
Hey everyone, I'm heading to Los Angeles for the Grammy's in ONE WEEK!
****REMINDER:I'll be bringing YOU along (via the Flip cam) to show you everything that I can. Pre-parties, red carpet, etc.****Be sure to check back throughout the weekend for video updates, pictures, posts, etc. There are tons of things going on so I'll do my best to update you as they happen, but the video content will be uploaded after the events because I wont be back at a computer until then.I can and will be updating my Twitter and Facebook pages AT ANY TIME throughout the trip. I will update as performances happen, tell you if I liked them or not, who's winning the awards and if I agree or disagree, etc.Be sure to comment, or tweet back and I will respond to you and answer your questions. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Maybe you liked a performance that I didn't, tell me why! This is supposed to be about sharing an experience together, not about me.
Here are the links to those accounts if you don't know them already:
For those who are asking, here are the two nominations I am credited on: - A&R Production on "Royal Tailor - Black & White" - A&R Production on "Leeland - The Great Awakening"
Be sure to watch the Grammy's LIVE on Sunday, Feb 12!
How do you raise your kids to be go getters? Forbes interviews filmmaker Mary Mazzio, who explains how she raised her son with entrepreneurial values. She shares four of these values:
SOPA and PIPA are terrible bills for obvious reasons. They further erode the liberties in the 1st amendment. Don't get me wrong, I am against Piracy, but these will totally restrict our freedom to use, create, explore, etc. things on the internet. Please sign the petition, share the link, and help protect our rights to create content to share with the world!
Hey everyone, welcome to the new year! It's been a busy one already...here's the scoop:
Grammy's
I'm proud to announce that I am now Grammy nominated in the field of A&R Production. Two albums I worked on (Leeland/The Great Awakening, Royal Tailor/Black & White) are nominated for Grammy awards. I'm humbled, thankful, and proud.
On that note, I will be going to the Grammy's on 2/12/12 so be sure to stay tuned for updates, photos, videos, etc. from all of the events happening that weekend. I'll show you what I can!
New Music
I'm currently working on (drumming, producing, mixing) the next Austin Pidgeon album, slated for release sometime this spring. The first single, "What I Find", is already on iTunes, Amazon, Spoitfy, etc. - so go check it out!!!
I will have a new single coming out soon called "Echo". If you liked my previous singles "With You" and "Everything" then you will love this one too. Can't wait for you to hear it...recording my vocals tonight!
I'll be drumming for a few new acts live this year. I hope to continue to diversify my musical abilities and play some new styles in addition to my favorites.
Stay tuned, there's lots to come in 2012!
P.S. - as always, thanks for checking out my blog. Go back and see some of my older posts...maybe you'll find something new that interests you!
