Local Music Scene

[drumandbass]

Hey guys!

I'm looking into starting a new business/project.

It'll be great if I could get some input from you guys! Please help me by doing this short survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSBL7WK

Thanks in advance!


Do let me know if any of you are interested in the company!


Cheers,
Keith

 

[optisailor2002]

hahaha quite a few questions there werent an option for my ans, perhaps i should just list them down:

1. MySpace and forums
2. I'll buy it depending on whether they are appealing to me or not. Popular =/= good. And pricey =/= good as well.
3. 27 albums by 16 bands.
4. Depends whether its a demo, EP or full length. Typically will pay around 5-7 for a demo or EP and around 15 for a full length.

 

[drumandbass]

hahaha quite a few questions there werent an option for my ans, perhaps i should just list them down:

1. MySpace and forums
2. I'll buy it depending on whether they are appealing to me or not. Popular =/= good. And pricey =/= good as well.
3. 27 albums by 16 bands.
4. Depends whether its a demo, EP or full length. Typically will pay around 5-7 for a demo or EP and around 15 for a full length.

Hey! Thanks!

actually I'm wondering whether bands would pay for marketing?
cause as my team is looking at it, and with the insight of the industry players, we realise bands are not marketing themselves properly and effectively.
So we want to provide that service to any bands out there just need to gather some info!

It'll be great if other bands could chime to give their insight as well.

Cheers,
Keith

 

[someone]

Dude.. i tried to help out with your survey, but your options are kinda limiting....

e.g. your question on how many local CD's do you own...
<(x) would mean less than (x) so your options don't leave much choice for folks who want own more than 6 and its quite hard to gauge someone who owns a much larger number than 6... Some local bands have put out more than 6 CD titles so to have that as your biggest number is quite uniformed....

I think your idea of marketing for bands has some merit, but the short of it is that 95% of bands simple wont be able to afford to pay for such luxuries...

That said i have engaged a PR firm to help promote the album of some of the artistes i work with.. But its gotta be someone with track record and contacts.

 

[Valentinoz]

i think you should just let people write out their answer instead of having multiple choices to choose from.

cheers.

 

[shinobi]

2cents; i don't think bands would want to 'pay' a company per se to be marketed. bearing in mind that bands usually play for the purpose of enjoyment and exposure, rather than remuneration, they would probably be willing to contribute time and effort. as it is many bands use free media to get their music heard. in return i think it would be fair that the company gets whatever money that is generated as a result of marketing the band.

 

[kimura]

2cents; i don't think bands would want to 'pay' a company per se to be marketed. bearing in mind that bands usually play for the purpose of enjoyment and exposure, rather than remuneration, they would probably be willing to contribute time and effort. as it is many bands use free media to get their music heard. in return i think it would be fair that the company gets whatever money that is generated as a result of marketing the band.

Very goods point/s.

If one provides marketing opportunities/strategies in this case for a band,I think it helps if the company has proven results& the percentage at which 'success' is guaranteed.

If the company trully believes in a talent then they should foot the initial costs& yea, take a cut ( agreed by both parties ) after.

With the advent of the internet etc, there are free marketing tools abound, it's about getting noticed.

Very very good points shinobi. There are a lot of bands who would jump in blindly.

 

[drumandbass]

Hi guys!

Thanks for all the input. I'm just doing all the research at this point. And about the local CD's, it was a rough number. If you have more, just put it under the <6 option.

Well, if the marketing was attached to the Record Label I guess it would be much better?

Anyway, what key ideas do you think would make bands shine in S'pore. I mean the scene is pretty big, but I don't recall any bands making it international yet. Correct me if I'm wrong. In terms of promotion and marketing I still think it's small in S'pore. And of course the radio and TV airtime is not playing many local songs yet. Hopefully in time to come, they'll be more airtime for local songs.

 

[someone]

well channel 5 had a prime time local music show that noone watched so i really don't think TV is the answer.

I think the key is making sure the correct ppl get to know about what you are doing. journalists, bloggers etc. will get word of mouth hype and ppl will start to wonder what all the hype is about.

Well there are already some folks doing exactly what you are talking about. Namely all of the bands with some kind of management arrangement.

 

[kimura]

You wanna make it 'big' in Singapore, you gotta make yourself known to the world first.

Of course this does not apply to all.

There are plenty of bands with potential but staying power is what most lack. The usual obstacles are obvious : You have to make a living to sustain your musical escapade/interest& most times there is a conflict or the band gets jaded after repeated unsuccessful attempts.

Being attached to a Recording label, at least for me, does not necessarily give props to the 'marketing'. There are PR agencies etc that could provide better tools/experience. Big agencies like IMG for example has an impressive stable of talents& proven success.

When it comes to selling, sometimes a record label might not be able to execute a marketing campaign well, that is when& why a PR agency ( for example ) is engaged.

As for airplay, compared to the early 90s, it has come leaps& bounds but we've reached a kind of plateau. It could be the lack of radio stations playing other genres of music instead of the mainstream sounding ones. We do not have college radio stations or an exclusive rock/metal etc stations because we're small, interms of market& audience.

You should start as a PR agency& get the music to stations in the States,UK anywhere out of Singapore. With the States, you could potentially cover the north american market, UK offers coverage for european ( english speaking ) market& so on.

TV can be a double-edged sword. It's good for visual exposure but aurally, it sucks.

It's about timing.

I give you an example ( my opinion of course ): EIC ( Jack&Rai ) is a tight band, entertaining at the same time. They get gigs on regular basis based on their popularity both with the audeince& radio stations, they probably put in a lot of hours ( not to mention sacrifices ) to get to where they are now.

Now if back then, we had places like Timbre, Wala Wala, Balaclava..the band that would've been in EIC's shoes would've been AWOL. These guys entertained, are pretty good musicians& have a repertoire that's marketable.

So in essence, EIC came at the right time& place with their talent etc.

As a marketing agent, you have to think ahead using the past has lessons.