prPOPS!

Between classes, projects, work and trying to keep some semblance of a social life without completely dropping off the face of the earth, I’ve been busy. Too busy in fact to regularly post on this blog. Sadly (though I’m not quite sure for who), this is going to be my last blog post. Maybe I’ll be back. Maybe not.

Lucky for me, I’ve been surrounded by new forms and outlets for music over the past few months. I’ve been creating a PR plan for the lovely historic Kent music venue, The Kent Stage, with my partner Emily over the past few months. Submerging myself in the venue, its history, its culture, audience and music has been a fascinating learning experience.

I’ve also just completed one of my all-time favorite classes ever, Record Promo, taught by the marvelous and iconic Gene Shelton, former VP of Media Relations for Warner Bros. Learning the ins and outs of the music industry fed directly into my passion for music. Where else can you take a class where for three weeks straight all you do is listen to music, critique it and essentially be the A&R people of the record label? Sweet.

Record labels have taken a serious dive over the past few years due to the increase in music downloading. Over the past few months not an issue has gone out from Rolling Stone magazine that hasn’t discussed the exposion of Live Nation and the decline of the standard label. I definitely feel for all of the people losing their jobs, but what can I say, I love my iPod.

The increase in online activity isn’t all bad. I’m a recent convert to MySpace and am absolutely drawn to the different channels and tools it has to check out new bands, artists, listen to unreleased material, catch bulletins on show additions or postponements, etc. Forget finding old friends- let me discover a new band!

The interactivity from Web 2.0 capacities doesn’t hurt the bands one bit when trying to publicize or promote themselves. E-newsletter blasts, MySpace and Facebook profiles, blogs, forums, e-fliers and Web sites. Aside from some of the majors losing some change from (possibly illegal) online sales, the garage band down the street is praising these new Web technologies!

In this Internet day and age, indie labels and promotion agencies like FTF Records and Kent State student-run GTB Entertainment can take advantage of the big-business bust and get its artists out in front of the world.

Using new 2.0 strategies, tools and tactics, these businesses and talented musicians have opportunities they may not have had even five years ago. Hell yeah.