Fire Alarm Companies

Jay Frank wrote the book FutureHit.DNA

few years ago, and is actually a fascinating look at the music industry. Frank, a former senior vice president of strategy for the CMT Music (part of MTV) and music programming vice president of Yahoo's music, essentially tried to scientifically breakdown that led him to be a "hit" song the modern digital age. Of course, some may consider this formula (and perhaps cynical), but I can not recommend this book enough. Not just "oh that's what makes a hit song," but check how to change listening habits in the digital age, and even that may affect its success and it is not.



seems that Frank does not just want to write about it, but it is about to put his theories to the test. Today is the announcement of a new label called DigSin, which will focus on the release of singles for artists instead of full albums. But here's the interesting part: all the music will be available free of charge. Whether you want to do is create a database of subscribers who want to be pushed for new great songs that release. Indeed, instead of a "tag" in the traditional sense, one may think of him as a "Tastemaker", or even a friend or trusted filter.



I must admit I was fascinated by this concept for a while. I wrote in the past about how I paid a small label / distribution company for an annual subscription in the past to a "CD of the month" club, because I trusted the man who ran for an impressive CD. In this case, it was a small operation, where the guy who ran the label you consider each of the tastes of the customer and try to match the music they love. It was like having the kind of record store who knew their tastes to choose what they listen to. It was fantastic. In this case, Frank is trying to do a larger scale ... and not pay for it.



In this case, it seems that Frank is going to look at alternative sources of income. If you are able to gather enough music fans, it's certainly a possibility. I bet there will be some sponsorship opportunities that make sense, but I could see some more creative efforts as opportunities to sell merchandise or tickets for concerts.



The timing of this is interesting because it starts at the same conference, where Ian Rogers, TopSpin director - and a former head of Yahoo Music - gave a talk of the race to be trustworthy, noting he believes the next step in the music industry. Basically with so much content out there, finding the right content for you is the key, and it will be a matter of trust. If you trust someone to bring you good music is a powerful bond.
course, it is interesting to note that Rogers, in his speech, said that record companies can not be the reliable partner, because people will doubt his sincerity as to whether or not the musician who pushes to sign with them is really good. It's an interesting question. I think it's possible that a trusted brand, but it's hard. Although, in fact go back to an open letter he wrote to Ian then head of EMI Music, Guy Hands, why make the mark on a giant filter of trust based on existing affinity groups around famous artists (for example, the construction of a mini-tag around ... The Beatles, the music of Beatles fans want and then build the brand as a mark of confidence). Maybe. It's just difficult.