Cyber PR is Expanding: Authors & Filmmakers!

From: Ariel Publicity [bandletter_at_arielpublicity_dot_com]
Sent: 03 February 2010 18:01
Subject: Pre-Cleared & Podsafe: Happy February!

February 03, 2010

Newsletter #130

Hello from Ariel!

In This Week's Issue:

Where’s Ariel?
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED CLIENT - Osaru
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED VIDEO - "The Ballad of Joey And The Bottle of Booze" By Gabe Hizer
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RESOURCES: A BLOG, A PODCAST, & A STATION
FEATURE INTERVIEW: The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

Where's Ariel?

March 4-7 – ECMAs – Cape Breton Canada
www.ecma.ca/

March 10 – 14 – Canadian Music Week

www.cmw.net/cmw2010/index.asp

March 14- 20 – SXSW

sxsw.com/

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED CLIENT

Osaru – Winston-Salem , NC

Genres: R&B, Adult Contemporary, Instrumental, Smooth Jazz

www.arielpublicity.net/clients/2683

Osaru is a multi-talented musician, composer and vocalist who lives and works in the heart of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, USA. He also works full time as a Physician.

His debut CD, ‘home’ released in September 2008 was a work of art. It took you on a journey through his early adult years to the present day. It celebrated life, love and long term commitment. He used powerful vocals filled with soulful melodies to complement punchy bass lines, hip hop chants, jazzy undertones and ‘head bobbing’ percussive rhythms. The result was his amazing musical story.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED VIDEO

"The Ballad of Joey And The Bottle of Booze" By Gabe Hizer

Genre: SingerSongwriter, Pop, Rock, Folk, Contemporary Folk

http://arielpublicity.net/clients/2695

Gabe Hizer is a Nashville, TN-based singer-songwriter, originally from Long Island, NY. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, played in various rock and pop cover bands in the 70s, and more recently led a blues band for a couple of years. He is now performing as a solo artist, featuring his complex guitar arrangements, well-crafted songs, and wide vocal range.

He is clearly influenced by the singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s, such as James Taylor (especially in his guitar parts), Joni Mitchell (especially his use of high falsetto notes), Jackson Browne, etc.

http://www.blip.tv/file/3164091

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RESOURCES: A BLOG, A PODCAST, & A STATION

Featured Blog:

Baxojayz-Centricity

http://www.baxojayz.com/

Find out about anything in the universe worth mentioning in this weblog. The infinite knowledge of the BAXOJAYZ will guide you to happiness previously known only by those of my inner circle. Feel free to comment. Sit back, read, let go of your stresses and enjoy.

Featured Podcast:

Suffolk and Cool

http://www.suffolkandcool.com/

An eclectic global mix of the very best independent music. Hosted by Peter Clitheroe, himself a veteran of the music business, the show aims to promote some of the finest new music to listeners and to make connections between listeners and musicians. Sessions at the Barn are featured from time to time (live sessions recorded in the barn/studio in Suffolk, UK.)

Featured Station:

New Music Radio

http://newmusicradio.net/

An online rock radio station playing the best in independent music. New Music Radio also is streaming in Second Life. Check out the New Music Radio Pub in Second Life.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast

Q) Tell us a little bit about your podcast. What initially inspired you to start it?

A) The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is a twice monthly podcast featuring mostly independent Celtic music from around the globe. It began with a fascination of the podcast as a promotional tool for my band and for Celtic music at large. It started out as an extension of my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Eventually it surpassed the magazine in popularity. I started it with my own desire to promote my own unique stylings of Celtic and folk music. Yet it is ultimately about helping independent Celtic musicians gain a greater voice in a noisy world.

Artists signed to major or even smaller labels usually have a promotional team out there spreading the word for them. I get a ton of CDs from such labels as Compass Records, which does a great service for the Celtic music world. But bands like Poitin, The Tea Merchants, Ed Miller, Maidens IV, Athas, Bedlam Bards, and The Rogues don't have the money or resources to notify all the Celtic media about their music. I see my role as a facilitator to get their music in front of people who want to hear it. And I'm happy to say that I do just that.

Q) Why do you believe new media resources (i.e. blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations) have become so popular? How have they been beneficial to artists? How have they been detrimental?

A) I've been riding the new media resource wave since my MP3.com days when I was able to push the Brobdingnagian Bards to the top of the charts. I remember when MP3.com was closing down, I had a choice: should I continue to give away free MP3s even though we were not paid for the downloads, or should I stop? I took, what felt like, a big risk by continuing to give away all our music. I was blown away to find people still seeking out and BUYING our music BECAUSE we were giving it away. It was then that I finally understood that old marketer saying that whatever you give away for free, people WILL pay for. It's true. Give away your entire album. And you will get it back because of your generosity.

Generosity is one of those misunderstood and under-appreciated character traits that will propel your musical career. Give first. And you will receive. Put it in whatever terms you wish: what you sow, so such shall you reap; what goes around comes around; or whatever. If you give, you will get something back.

As a promotional tool, I have found that podcasts, blogs, and Internet radio are great for the indie artist.

Of course, for listener, it's wonderful too. With RSS, blogs and podcasts are at your convenience. Our growing computer-based world makes Internet radio better due to the ability to cater something to Your needs. And it's all about you after all. (Which again is why generosity is so much more important.)

Now for the musician, it has its problems. I spend much more time connecting with fans, podcasting, and managing my blogs and websites than I do playing, writing or recording music. In fact, I'm supposed to be in the studio right now. But I was checking my facebook and saw an email I missed. Thus our networked world requires greater discipline if we want to adequately promote ourselves as well as build our craft. It's not easy.

Q) Media 2.0 has changed the way artists communicate with fans. Where do you envision online communication going next? Any thoughts on what Media “3.0�� will look like?

A) Well, I definitely see more people connecting on phones. I have dinner with friends, and it's humorous to see five people pull out their iPhones and posting the latest silly thing that happened on their Facebook pages.

As for 4.0, I'm hoping for brain implants... LOL.

However, I also feel that the more we connect, the more we will need to disconnect. So look for it. Never give up the crafting of your art. Because it will always come back to that, even if you can contact your fans easier. Development of the music should always be first.

Whether phones or brain implants, you're gonna get like me, sick of staring at a bloody computer most of the day promoting yourself. That's when you'll find yourself stepping off the internet and seeking a physical connection with your networking world. Expect it and plan for it. It's easy to be introverted and use the internet to promote yourself, but sometimes a face-to-face connection will do a ton more for you than anything else.

Q) What does an artist have to do to get your attention? Are there specific characteristics that you look for?

A) I love that question. Being a media mogul (hehe) and a musician, I know the answer... and I too don't listen to the answer. The answer for me is follow up. Yup. Nothing fancy. But that's it. I get CDs and bios all the time. The bios go straight to the trash. The music gets ripped to MP3 and with any luck (the other answer), I will listen and enjoy their music enough to play them on the podcast or mention them in one of my many music promotion formats. But ultimately, it's about follow up. You follow up enough and luck is no longer necessary.

The problem really boils is that artists are contacting dozens or scores of radio stations, podcasts, blogs, and we don't follow up. I know because I don't usually either. We hope our music will speak for itself. But it doesn't. We need to put it in front of the DJ or writer, ask them to focus on it for a moment or two. Otherwise, they won't give it the time of day.

In fact, just the other day, I put a CD in my car from an artist I received. I vaguely remember sort of liking some track I heard of his. So I put the CD in my car and listened. There was only ONE follow up. I got the CD three years ago. I LOVED the CD. Sadly, I was disappointed to find that the artist had passed away.

It's a great point. If you're not following up, and I mean More than Once, you too might pass away or your blossoming career may end before a DJ will take the time to recognize your greatness.

Yes. I have my own musical bias as does anyone. But ultimately, I'm most likely to listen to your music if I've heard of you or from you several times over. Then you follow up after your initial contact. Create a dialogue and you'll create a bond that will bring you closer to your favorite media mogul. Just make it sincere. You can't shotgun your work if you want to achieve success. Take your time. Build a network and follow up.

Q) What do you ultimately hope to accomplish with your podcast?

A) My podcast is already the most-popular Celtic podcast online. That makes me happy because as I said, my goal is to give independent Celtic musicians a voice. That's what it's all about to me. I want to help artists find their fans, and vice versa. I feel like I'm doing that right now. So here's hoping I have many, many more years of helping Celtic musicians.

--
MARC GUNN, Award-Winning Celtic American Musician and Podcaster
Thank You for Listening to My Music --> http://www.marcgunn.com
and the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast --> http://celticmusicpodcast.com

About the Podcast

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is a free, bi-monthly, downloadable radio show of independent Irish & Celtic music.

Irish drinking songs, Scottish folk songs, bagpipes, music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Nova Scotia, Galacia, Australia, the United States, and around the world.

ABOUT US

Ariel Hyatt is the founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR, a digital public relations firm that connects clients to the new media including blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations and social networking sites. Over the past 13 years she has represented over 1,435 musicians and bands.

Educating musicians is her passion and several times a year, she leads workshops teaching her strategy of combining social networking with Internet marketing to help clients grow larger fanbases and earn more money.

The Second Edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks is now available and has helped hundreds of musicians navigate the new music marketing landscape. "Sound Advice," her bi-weekly ezine and Internet TV series currently reaches an audience of over 20,000 music professionals. She is a contributing blogger for Music Think Tank, and Know The Music Biz.

CONTACT & INFO

Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR
389 12th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
http://www.arielpublicity.com
http://www.bandletter.com
http://www.myspace.com/ArielPublicityNY
http://www.twitter.com/cyberpr

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