Time and change are unstoppable. We try to predict how slow and fast and to what degree things will revolutionize, but sometimes adjustments are too fast and fads are quickly put into history books. According to economist.com, in 2006 the CD accounted for over 80% of total global music sales, but the CD is quickly becoming extinct as the digital world takes over. So now that music’s physical products are disappearing does this mean the music industry is going down with it? Of course not.
With the rise of illegal downloading through programs like Kazaa and LimeWire, the industry has quickly learned that selling online through paid-for download services, such as iTunes and Rhapsody, are the best ways to sell albums. But even working alongside paid-for download services the industry still struggles to accumulate significant revenue similar to the once-hip CDs, so they are constantly searching for other promotional options.
FREE FREE FREE! is the new bite. Because consumers obviously thrive on free music, one of the industry’s new changes is to find ways for consumers to receive free music while still receiving a profit. One way the industry is experimenting is through social networks. For instance, Imeem is a social network that produces advertising-supported streamed music. Imeem buys the music for their ads from the music companies, such as Universal, Warner Music Group, and EMI, and provides it to their consumers while still receiving profit through their ads. Similarly the industry is working alongside phone companies. According to economist.com, Universal worked out a deal with Nokia, the worlds-largest phone manufacturer, to supply all the music for the music-phone consumers to download. In return, Universal receives a piece of the price for each phone.
The way the industry deals with their celebrities is changing significantly as well. According to usnews.com, instead of the industry merely selling the artist’s albums, they are buying all rights to the artist. In return, they are not only selling their albums, but taking over their merchandising and touring organization. Furthermore, they are working with different product companies to display the celebs with a variety of products (such as Shakira on Pepsi cans or Beyonce doing Covergirl commercials). Despite the dissatisfying “branded” connation that is perceived by some, this tactic is quickly becoming popular. Managers are obviously finding this new idea outrageous, but record executives suggest that pushing artists to this new rising improvement is most beneficial to them, and, of course, the music industry.
Kayla Peek
Live OC
www.LIVEOCMAG.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Don’t Cut Out Advertising
While in a recession, advertising is the first thing businesses think to cut to reduce costs. Ironically, cutting back on marketing could potentially hurt your business more than anything else. The thought is that advertising can be costly, so businesses hope people will remember them merely through memory or word-of-mouth. This may work for the exceptionally large corporations, but can be detrimental to the smaller companies.
Consistent advertising generates sales. Businesses will lose ground gained in promoting their company by not marketing, so staying consistent is important. The struggle to get back on track after cutting the marketing can be even more harmful than the cost of steady advertising. So instead of cutting marketing advertising look for better ways to advertise without scrambling through your deteriorating wallet.
Here are a few great ways to save costs in advertising:
- Advertise both in print and online.
o Look for bundled packages that include both online and offline buys. Advertising through print-ad can get your name out to potential customers in mass quantity. Depending on the distribution, ads can reach consumers locally, regionally, and possibly nationally. That way your exposure-thriving business can reach a vast amount of people for a smaller price than, say, posting one large ad on a billboard that never moves.
- Promote on your personal and business checks.
o Put your business’s URL and phone number on all of your checks – this costs you nothing.
- You have a designed business logo? Wear it.
o Create apparel for your employees to wear outside the office for the general public to see.
- Hand stamp it.
o According to Entrepenuer.com, an unusual, but effective way to advertise is through hand stamps. If you are sponsoring a local event of any sort, have the ticket collector’s use stamps with your ad on it to grant admission. Having your name on every persons hand just sounds like a good idea.
Overall, a good rule-of-thumb is to make sure to shop and compare multiple marketing prospects – taking time to find the best way to advertise is important.
If done right, businesses can continue to consistently market without worrying about the rapidly dwindling economy. For suggestions on where to advertise try LIVE Publishing, they have an advertising package that includes print ads and online banner ads.
Kayla Peek
LIVE OC
www.LIVEOCMAG.com
While in a recession, advertising is the first thing businesses think to cut to reduce costs. Ironically, cutting back on marketing could potentially hurt your business more than anything else. The thought is that advertising can be costly, so businesses hope people will remember them merely through memory or word-of-mouth. This may work for the exceptionally large corporations, but can be detrimental to the smaller companies.
Consistent advertising generates sales. Businesses will lose ground gained in promoting their company by not marketing, so staying consistent is important. The struggle to get back on track after cutting the marketing can be even more harmful than the cost of steady advertising. So instead of cutting marketing advertising look for better ways to advertise without scrambling through your deteriorating wallet.
Here are a few great ways to save costs in advertising:
- Advertise both in print and online.
o Look for bundled packages that include both online and offline buys. Advertising through print-ad can get your name out to potential customers in mass quantity. Depending on the distribution, ads can reach consumers locally, regionally, and possibly nationally. That way your exposure-thriving business can reach a vast amount of people for a smaller price than, say, posting one large ad on a billboard that never moves.
- Promote on your personal and business checks.
o Put your business’s URL and phone number on all of your checks – this costs you nothing.
- You have a designed business logo? Wear it.
o Create apparel for your employees to wear outside the office for the general public to see.
- Hand stamp it.
o According to Entrepenuer.com, an unusual, but effective way to advertise is through hand stamps. If you are sponsoring a local event of any sort, have the ticket collector’s use stamps with your ad on it to grant admission. Having your name on every persons hand just sounds like a good idea.
Overall, a good rule-of-thumb is to make sure to shop and compare multiple marketing prospects – taking time to find the best way to advertise is important.
If done right, businesses can continue to consistently market without worrying about the rapidly dwindling economy. For suggestions on where to advertise try LIVE Publishing, they have an advertising package that includes print ads and online banner ads.
Kayla Peek
LIVE OC
www.LIVEOCMAG.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Get Clicked into the Social Networks
It doesn’t take a scientist to realize that online social networking is the new “it.” From individuals that enjoy catching up with old high school friends to multi-million dollar companies globally networking with company branches, popular sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace are being used daily. Each network differs and attracts individuals depending on specific interests.
Statistically Twitter demographically attracts individuals ages 45-54 (with ages 25-34 a close second) interested in the business and media realms. For instance, being a part of the American Red Cross Twitter network, individuals can receive updates regarding local or global natural disasters in seconds – meaning locations, damage status, and ways to help the cause are available in seconds. News stations, such as ABC and NBC, have found Twitter as a successful tool to receive first-hand information from on-scene reporters. The NBC station and individual NBC Twitter followers are able to receive a 140 character mobile text or instant message update within seconds of the reporter’s eye-witnessing incident. Twitter also offers individuals to receive notices of their favorite celebrities directly from the celebrity. So if it intrigues you to know that Ashton Kutcher (statistically the most “tweeted” celeb) is eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you are a finger-click or a text message away from the desired information. Similar to Twitter, Facebook is a popular network to relay information to a diverse audience; however, Facebook is known as a more personal network.
Founded by Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard dorm room six years ago, Facebook was initially created as a more sophisticated version of MySpace for college students to communicate to fellow college students across the nation. The network is still vastly used for individuals to convey personal information and communicate with family and friends; however, according to Facebook’s Press Room statistics, more than 950,000 developers and entrepreneurs from more than 180 countries are getting connected and finding the network as a successful marketing tool, hence the recently rapid demographic change from 18-24 to age 35 years and older. Now with more than 200 million active users, Facebook continues to be one of the most-used social networks.
Also popular with over 185 million users, MySpace has a 14-34 demographic, distinguishing it from other networks. MySpace allows users to personalize their “pages” more than Facebook and Twitter and has consistently captivated teens and young adults more than global corporations. Not to say that companies are not connecting with MySpace; however, the overall attraction relates more towards the entertainment industry with access to constant updates on rising bands and popular celebrity events. Each network has its own personal attractive touch, it truly depends on a specific individual interests
Waking up, the first thing I do is turn on my computer and check my various social network accounts. The ability to stay connected with my friends in the Netherlands, indulge in the latest celebrity gossip, and read about President Obama’s latest actions as our leader through easy to access social sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace is convenient and, quite frankly, pure fun. Society is quickly becoming accustomed and dependent on the Web and for good reasons. To successfully grow, companies must adapt to what works and what works now is social networking. As social networks continue to progress so will we. Here at LIVE OC Magazine we feel it is important to stay connected to our readers not only through print, but Web based sites. Connected through a variety of social networks we are constantly giving our readers the opportunity to stay conversant in what we do best, Southern California entertainment. So stay connected with us through your preferred social network, we’ll be here.
Kayla Peek
LIVE OC
www.LIVEOCMAG.com
It doesn’t take a scientist to realize that online social networking is the new “it.” From individuals that enjoy catching up with old high school friends to multi-million dollar companies globally networking with company branches, popular sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace are being used daily. Each network differs and attracts individuals depending on specific interests.
Statistically Twitter demographically attracts individuals ages 45-54 (with ages 25-34 a close second) interested in the business and media realms. For instance, being a part of the American Red Cross Twitter network, individuals can receive updates regarding local or global natural disasters in seconds – meaning locations, damage status, and ways to help the cause are available in seconds. News stations, such as ABC and NBC, have found Twitter as a successful tool to receive first-hand information from on-scene reporters. The NBC station and individual NBC Twitter followers are able to receive a 140 character mobile text or instant message update within seconds of the reporter’s eye-witnessing incident. Twitter also offers individuals to receive notices of their favorite celebrities directly from the celebrity. So if it intrigues you to know that Ashton Kutcher (statistically the most “tweeted” celeb) is eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you are a finger-click or a text message away from the desired information. Similar to Twitter, Facebook is a popular network to relay information to a diverse audience; however, Facebook is known as a more personal network.
Founded by Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard dorm room six years ago, Facebook was initially created as a more sophisticated version of MySpace for college students to communicate to fellow college students across the nation. The network is still vastly used for individuals to convey personal information and communicate with family and friends; however, according to Facebook’s Press Room statistics, more than 950,000 developers and entrepreneurs from more than 180 countries are getting connected and finding the network as a successful marketing tool, hence the recently rapid demographic change from 18-24 to age 35 years and older. Now with more than 200 million active users, Facebook continues to be one of the most-used social networks.
Also popular with over 185 million users, MySpace has a 14-34 demographic, distinguishing it from other networks. MySpace allows users to personalize their “pages” more than Facebook and Twitter and has consistently captivated teens and young adults more than global corporations. Not to say that companies are not connecting with MySpace; however, the overall attraction relates more towards the entertainment industry with access to constant updates on rising bands and popular celebrity events. Each network has its own personal attractive touch, it truly depends on a specific individual interests
Waking up, the first thing I do is turn on my computer and check my various social network accounts. The ability to stay connected with my friends in the Netherlands, indulge in the latest celebrity gossip, and read about President Obama’s latest actions as our leader through easy to access social sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace is convenient and, quite frankly, pure fun. Society is quickly becoming accustomed and dependent on the Web and for good reasons. To successfully grow, companies must adapt to what works and what works now is social networking. As social networks continue to progress so will we. Here at LIVE OC Magazine we feel it is important to stay connected to our readers not only through print, but Web based sites. Connected through a variety of social networks we are constantly giving our readers the opportunity to stay conversant in what we do best, Southern California entertainment. So stay connected with us through your preferred social network, we’ll be here.
Kayla Peek
LIVE OC
www.LIVEOCMAG.com
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