Photos by Mike Severson
Category Archives: Business/Marketing
SONGWRITER CITY OFFERING SPEAKER & KEYNOTE PACKAGES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Songwriter City Now Offering Speaker and Keynote Packages Songwriter City, the premier destination for hit songwriter show experiences, has announced the launch of a new Keynote and Speaker division featuring some of the biggest songwriters in the … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business, Nashville, Songwriter City, Songwriters
Tagged keynote address, keynote session, keynotes, speakers
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Event Entertainment: The Challenge of New & Original
The event business is teaching me a great deal about the ability to bring high-quality entertainment to a diverse cross-section of companies, associations, and organizations. One key theme I have learned about and heard repeatedly from event planning professionals, is the … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, corporate events, event planning, Media & Entertainment, Music, Nashville, Songwriter City, Songwriters
Tagged corporate events, corporate meetings, event planning, eventprofs, live entertainment, Nashville, private events, Songwriter City, songwriters, songwriters in the round, visit music city
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Doing The Prep Work
In the business world we all realize how important it is to execute and deliver for a big day, whether it’s a show, meeting, procedure, or any other important event. And while that target day is a pinnacle of importance, it’s the advance work we do in … Continue reading
The “Why” Behind Building Songwriter City
After more than 20 years working at various companies in the music business, I have been getting asked the question in recent months, “Why did you decide to launch Songwriter City?” It sounds like an innocuous question, but it’s also profound. … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business, Nashville, Songwriter City, Songwriters
Tagged allen shamblin, bob dipiero, casey beathard, chris wallin, corporate events, corporate meetings, corporate show, country music, destination management, event plann, jessi alexander, josh kear, Music City, Nashville, private events, private shows, Songwriter City, songwriter round, songwriters, songwriters in the round, the warren brothers, wynn varble
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Bringing Local Back
We are changing banks again. We left the mammoth Bank of America to a smaller regional bank about a year ago. Seeing the writing on the wall regarding fees and charges with the regional establishment, we made the move to … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Life
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Rigid Mission
Have you ever worked for a company or been involved in a venture that was resistant to change, expanded services, or innovative ways of doing business? Met with resistance because of an overtly intense focus on their mission? I’m a … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
Tagged business, innovation, mission statement
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Remember Customer Service?
Have you ever had customer service so good and people working that were so nice that it kind of freaked you out? Almost to the point that you wondered what was going on? I had that experience recently at Firehouse … Continue reading
Revealing Speak at Billboard Country Music Summit
The Billboard Country Music Summit was held in downtown Nashville on June 7th and 8th. It was a gathering of all segments of the music industry to discuss, debate and pontificate about current issues within the music business and ideas … Continue reading
New Words For A New World
In a recent article concerning the 2010 first quarter sales of music at retail and online the following was written: “In examining where album sales occur, the chain category — which includes Best Buy, Borders and Trans World — suffered … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
Tagged Amazon, business, digital, itunes, labels, marketing, Music, retail, sales, Technology, Walmart
2 Comments
So Far In 2010: Digital Drops, Non-Traditional Rises
From Billboard.biz By Ed Christman, N.Y. With the first quarter of 2010 now completed, the good news for the U.S. music industry is the slowing decline of album sales. And another observation is the emergence of the non-traditional sector as … Continue reading
You Rock
From SETH GODIN’S BLOG This is deceptive. You don’t rock all the time. No one does. No one is a rock star, superstar, world-changing artist all the time. In fact, it’s a self-defeating goal. You can’t do it. No, but … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Life
Tagged business, career, goal, help, Life, marketing, productivity, professional, seth godin, vision, work
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How Much Of A New Thing?
It seems that every day I read a new article about a “hot” electronics or computer product preparing to be released to the public. What did I read about today? 3D-TV. I rolled my eyes. I’ve had my nice LCD … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Life, Technology
Tagged 3D, Apple, budget, computer, consumerism, culture, electronics, entertaiment, iphone, ipod, materialism, money, Technology, television, tv
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Country Radio and Social Media
Here is an interesting article from SOCIAL RADIO PROS on Country radio and social media: There has been a huge focus on moving radio brands to the internet. Internet ad revenue has grown exponentially while the spot business has declined. … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Radio, Technology
Tagged advertising, audience, branding, broadcasting, country, Facebook, marketing, Radio, Social Media, Twitter
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Top 10 Radio Trends for 2010
Top 10 Trends for 2010 By: Daniel Anstandig Social Media means Qualified Prospects. There are over five billion tweets sent per day, and the people who tweet have been shown in a number of studies to spend more money on … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Radio
Tagged 2010, broadcasting, comapanies, future, marketing, media, Radio, Social Media, trends
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Little Things Matter
Studies show that waiters can boost their tips from 10 to 100 percent by doing any of the following: Lightly touching the customer Smiling at the customer Squatting next to the table Introducing themselves by name Thanking them for dining … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing
Tagged advice, clients, customers, increase, money, restaurants, servers, tips, waiters
2 Comments
The Fan I Was Before, Again.
I got into the music business because I was passionate about artists and music. I had a heart for it and wanted it to be all around me. That dream came true and has moved me into places I could … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business, Personal
Tagged business, concert, fan, industry, Music, MuteMath, Radio, show
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The Contrast of Power
So I showed up early to meet a friend for lunch at one of my favorite places in Nashville. I was sitting at the table ordering my drink when I noticed three of the biggest names in the music business … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
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Social Media Revolution
Below is an interesting and well done video compilation by Erik Qualman asking if social media is a fad or a revolution. His book Socialnomics from Wiley Publishing will be in stores August 31, 2009. The thing we cannot forget … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Social Media, Technology
Tagged business, marketing, Social Media, Technology, Video
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Digital music sales will match CD sales by end of 2010
According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, while CDs remain the most popular format for paid music purchases, digital music sales are making up an ever-greater share of U.S. music sales. CDs comprised 65 percent of all … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business
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A Fix for the Music Industry
Inside Music Media has a piece on entitled “A Fix for the Music Industry”. A taste: “The problem is that the labels only know one way to do things — their way — and their way went bye-bye about ten … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
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Risk and Reward
From Seth Godin: The risk/reward confusion It’s easy to to adopt the policy of avoiding risk at all costs, that whenever possible, the products you launch or the engagements you have should be flawless and without downside. Here’s the problem: … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Life
Tagged business, marketing, reward, risk, seth godin
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Seth Godin Tribes Video
During Country Radio Seminar Seth Godin was the keynote speaker and had much to say on the future of marketing and social media. In another recent presentation to TED, Seth argues the that the Internet has ended mass marketing and … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Media & Entertainment, Music Business, Technology
Tagged business, marketing, seth godin, Social Media, tribes
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Nice Sales Week for Country
Rascal Flatts new album “Unstoppable” sold 351,000 in its initial week. It debuts at #1 in the Billboard Top 200 and is the trio’s fifth consecutive studio album to debut in the top five. The most interesting number and the … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
Tagged Artists, Billboard, country, country music, Jason Aldean, marketing, Rascal Flatts, sales
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Increase your chances of finding a job
I’m always curious at strategies aimed at finding the work one loves to do. Desired careers don’t typically just fall on your lap. You have to identify what it is you want to do, pursue that work on your own, … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Life
Tagged career, jobs, resume, search, unemployment
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Booking Shows the Social Media Way
Although not utilized as much as they should be, house concerts are nothing new to the creative touring of new or emerging artists. What is new is using Twitter to facilitate the set up and booking of a house-concert-based, social-media-driven … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Media & Entertainment, Music, Music Business, Technology
Tagged Artists, house concerts, Music, Music Business, Social Media, touring, Twitter
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Can Free Music and Profits Coexist?
A recent article from The Tennessean: Sarah Sidwell, a 19-year-old freshman at Belmont University, loves listening to music but doesn’t buy it that often. Instead, she listens to top artists on Pandora, a free online radio station that she customizes … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business, Nashville, Technology
Tagged Belmont, business, country music, digital, ilike, Keith Urban, marketing, Music, Nashville, Pandora
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2009 ACM Award Winners
The Academy of Country Music Awards were held last evening in Las Vegas. The show is always jam packed with performances which makes for a very entertaining and fast paced evening. The one problem the ACM’s had this year, besides technical issues, was allowing … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business
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What Real Hope Looks Like
Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for an intimate, nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Personal
Tagged Dave Ramsey, debt, economy, finances, financial, Life, town hall
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Post CRS Thoughts
The 40th Country Radio Seminar started off in encouraging style with Seth Godin giving an intelligent and rousing keynote. He knows his stuff when it comes to the music and radio industries and he certainly knows how to engage in discussion … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business
Tagged broadcasting, country music, Country Radio Seminar, CRS, digital, marketing, Music, Music Business, Radio
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CRS Keynote Speaker Seth Godin – A Warm Up
Booking Seth Godin as the Keynote Speaker for Country Radio Seminar was a smart move. It sends a signal to everyone attending that the intention of the industry is to look into the future for innovation and opportunities. Following are excerpts from a … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music, Music Business, Nashville
2 Comments
The Insanity of the Typical
It is said, “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” Is the music and radio industry insane? How long will we keep trying to do the same thing and expect a miracle? As … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business, Quotes
Tagged business, industry, Life, Music, Radio, records
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Digital Media Hype Getting Out of Control?
I’m sometimes put off by the technology everyone is saying I must have, and then if I choose to purchase it, find that within mere moments it is out of date or has a next generation that is the new must … Continue reading
CRS 2009 Already Off to a Good Start
CRB recently announced that Seth Godin will keynote Country Radio Seminar 2009. In my opinion they could not have booked a better individual to kick off the seminar. Seth is not only a marketing and idea guru, he also is … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business
Tagged country music, marketing, Music Business, Radio, seth godin
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Who Decides Musical Significance?
I was recently thinking about legendary Country artists that have little significance in today’s Country music world or in the pop culture at large. They certainly have respect and have been influences on culture, but they have either been shut … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Media & Entertainment, Music, Video
Tagged advertising, Artists, country music, marketing, Music, Video
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Serving Customers or Making Cars?
From Dan Miller: There seems to be a subtle shift that takes place in the history of most businesses. Let’s say Barney was a cave man who made great wagons. But there are only 20 people who live in his … Continue reading
Wal-Mart Getting Rid of More Music
More indication that artists and labels need to have a marketing strategy that assumes Wal-Mart is not in the equation. From Home Media Magazine: Wal-Mart Stores is rapidly downsizing shelf space for music CDs while increasing availability of Blu-ray and … Continue reading
Looking for a Web Designer?
For those of you looking for an outstanding company for web site design, may I enthusiastically suggest WV Magic Design. They do amazing work for individuals and businesses. WV also have an incredible application for artist managers and tour managers. If you are in … Continue reading
Posted in Business/Marketing, Music Business, Technology
Tagged Music Business, Technology
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Social Networking – Good for Small Business?
This is a short video clip from American Express hosted openforum.com in which Seth Godin answers the titled question: Do social networks matter to your business?” Also check out another clip entitled “No One Cares About You” here.
For The Record 