Whether text messaging or Twitter, its important to keep up to date with the latest tools for maintaining the all important artist - fan relationship. The newest tool for communication - so new it won't even be in beta for months - is Google's Wave. The open source app combines email, IM, chat, Twitter and more in a single stream or wave. Here's how Google describes Wave:
A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
- A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.
- A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.
Wave sounds a bit confusing. But since Google created it; it's certainly worth paying attention to. There's an hour long video of a Google developer explaining Wave after the jump below and here are links to shorter Lifehacker and TechCrunch explanations.
How Wave Could Change Artist To Fan Communications
Increasingly artist and fan communication is less about make announcements (i.e.OUR NEW CD!) and more about having a conversation or ongoing...
dialog (i.e. Which mix do you prefer?). Wave appears to be able to handle and even encourage those kind of communications with ease. Think of it as chat on steroids with various band members and fans jumping into or out of the wave. Or imagine a group wave of fans sharing concert photos,videos and experiences.
The possibilities seem endless and confusing. But as Twitter has shown us, early, active and creative adopters can gain traction using new methods of communication; and its important to do it before the mainstream world of advertising and media gets there. So, while there's no reason to jump into the surf yet; its important that you see the wave coming.
