The Sunday afternoon MidemNet panel "Serving Artists, Serving Fans. What Is The Best Organization?" looked at different models and methods for developing the strongest artist to fan relationship. A few takeaways:
Bryan Calhoun, VP of New Media & External Affairs at SoundExchange is also part of Kayne West's online team. He suggested that artists need to not just blog about themselves, but also about other things the think are cool. It keeps things more authentic. The site is a revenue stream for West. - Martin Thornkvist manager of the Songs I Wish I Had Written label and indie label cooperative The Sweedish Model suggested smartly, "I'd rather have 1 million listeners and 100 buyers than 100 listeners and 100 fans." Also,' "You can't control the music, but you should control the conversation by driving the traffic to your own web site."
David Schulhof of Evergreen Copyrights advocated that a publisher can help to guide an artist's career. His example is a Nick Drake tribute record via a Jack Johnson's Brushfire records.
Kenny Gates of Belgium label PIAS says labels must step
up and deliver more marketing and promotion to prove value to the
artists. The label just announced the signing of Placebo for Europe.
Also on the panel: Tom Clark (manager Robbie Williams) and Marcel Engh, VP Brand Entertainment, Sony Music Europe. The Moderator is Mark Sutherland, the International Bureau Chief of Billboard.
