YouTube is preparing to set up a Merch Store that will allow artists to sell tickets, music, and t-shirts.
With 800 million people per month coming to YouTube, you have a pretty big stage to share your music, and now we’re adding features to also make YouTube your box office, merchandise table and music store,” YouTube announced.
“Fans will be able to buy artists’ merchandise, digital downloads, concert tickets and even unique experiences like meetups,” it added.
Steven Paul Jobs, 1955-2011
Steven Jobs, the Apple Inc. chairman and co-founder who pioneered the personal-computer industry and changed the way people think about technology, died Wednesday at the age of 56.
We frankly hear the line “I am authentic” from artists like Lady GaGa and other celebrities. Are they authentic or calculated personalities?
In fact, marketers and social networking coaches are preaching that to succeed on Facebook and Twitter, we must all “be authentic”.
A proposed panel at next year’s South by Southwest interactive conference promises to teach attendees “how to be authentic and human without embarrassing yourself.”
Artists, politicians, reality television stars, and celebrities are obsessed with authenticity.
“What you can’t do is be told by a social media guru to act authentic and still be authentic,” said Jeff Pooley, an associate professor of media and communication at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. He said authenticity today is more accurately described as “calculated authenticity” — a k a stage management.
““The best way to sell yourself is to not appear to be selling yourself,” Professor Pooley said. Politicians do it. Celebrities do it. And you, reader, do it every time you tap out a status update on Twitter, Facebook, Google+. ”
Nicki Minaj, the hip-hop singer has adopted theatrical alter egos with names like Roman Zolanski and Nicki Teresa.
“I’m definitely playing a role,” Ms. Minaj explained in BlackBook magazine. “They don’t pay to see me roll out of bed with crust in my eyes, and say, ‘Hey guys, this is me, authentic.’ They pay for a show.”
Lil Wayne’s new album Tha Carter IV, sold 964,000 albums during its first week and set an iTunes sales record.
On top of that, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV accounted for 1 out of every 7 albums purchased last week in the US.
“The top 10 albums accounted for more than 25 percent of all albums purchased, while just three artists (Wayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Adele) placed an album above 100,000 units.” Digital Music News
Indie artist Kim Boekbinder is planning a fall tour through Kickstarter, an online pledge system for funding creative projects.
Typically, an artist books a shows then promotes it, hoping people will attend.
In Boekbinder case, she sells the tickets first through Kickstarter and books the venue after people have bought enough tickets to fully fund the project. Also, each pre-sold performance is different, with its own setlist, backdrops, tour poster, t-shirt, costumes.
According to Boekbinder, the strategy worked and she plans to book an entire tour through Kickstarter.
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