How Georgia Wonder Turned Lack Of Cash To Record Into An Opportunity
from the marketing-smart dept
Earlier this year, we wrote about the UK music act Georgia Wonder, who was thrilled to be listed as one of the "most pirated" musical acts out there -- recognizing the power of good promotion. Since then, we've watched with interest how the group has continued to really interact with fans and use new tools and new marketing ideas to get heard and build a following. Rose M. Welch alerts us to the band's latest smart move. As they wanted to record a new album, they realized (as plenty of others have) that it's expensive to record an album -- buying studio time, equipment and instruments. So they did something different. They teamed up with a local music equipment shop, called Nevada Music and worked out a deal:Both during store hours and after the store closes each night, they'll be recording their next album dubbed "Made In Nevada" using all the gear the store has on sale.This benefits everyone. The band gets access to all the equipment and instruments they need, plus they get added attention for doing something cool and new. The store also gets a nice benefit in additional attention and marketing for itself and its products. What's cool about this is that it's yet another different way of going about things. One of the most frustrating responses we hear whenever we show examples of cool things that musicians are doing -- is people saying "but everyone can't do this." But that's the whole point. Musicians can keep coming up with cool different things to do. Frankly, the idea that they can't come up with cool ideas is insulting. These are some of the most creative people around, and given the ability to express that creativity, it's amazing what they come up with.
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Filed Under: business models, creativity, georgia wonder
Companies: nevada music
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Great idea
Of course, being an alternative record store in a small town at this time in history, they didn't ultimately make enough to stay in business - but they did outlast other all the other music stores in town by continuing CwF+RtB (awesome community with monthly free concerts that also served as networking events for musicians, plus lots of collector vinyl) long after the desire for CDs had disappeared.
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You just don't get it.
I swear the next thing you'll start saying is that individuals can have innovative ideas, or that small timers can disrupt the big boys. It's just crazy.
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It's really just a sponsored record, not much else.
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What's wrong with that? The band gets to walk away without owing its soul to a big record label. Oh, wait. That is exactly what the RIAA thinks is wrong with that.
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Re: costs
These catalogs are then given away, they are entered in the books under :the costs of promotion and marketing.
Things that are by nature one-offs for examples; paintings , performances & so on , are where the profits are. Things that can easily copied are viral advertising at its best somebody else pays for both the copying and distibution.
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Not necessarily, if the album gets noticed, do you really think the store won't turn around and sell them at a profit? "Own the actual instruments used to make "Made in Nevada"".
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If it wasn't new or special, then it wouldn't work.
It wouldn't be a cute story if it were nothing special. But it *is* working. That suggests that despite your wild attempts to try to come up with an angle to attack every post I make, the people this was directed at clearly disagree with you.
And, really, that's all that matters.
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and I can see lobbyists at Hollywood killing this business model with their greed.
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Are they making money?
Did having their music pirated generate any income for them?
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Re: Are they making money?
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Re: Re: Are they making money?
Heh. Again, what an insulting and misleading reading of what's going on. As you well know, musicians can earn plenty of revenue, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have enough cash to pay for a high quality recording. That takes a bit more.
Sometimes I get the feeling you have no interest in actually helping musicians, but you just want to tell everyone there's no possible business model. Are you just upset that there's too much competition out there for the bands you're supposedly advising?
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Re: Are they making money?
Heh. Why don't you ask the band? They claim that it has been a tremendous help in getting the band known worldwide, and they have, in fact, been able to capitalize on that.
I don't understand your continued desire to insult and bash those who are creative with their business models, Suzanne. It's really insulting.
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Re: Re: Are they making money?
Then I saw the title of this thread and the "lack of cash." That told me what I needed to know.
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Re: Re: Re: Are they making money?
They have said that they now make a full time living from their music.
Then I saw the title of this thread and the "lack of cash." That told me what I needed to know.
Only due to a deliberate misreading of the post. The lack of cash was not from revenue, but to record an album. I pointed this out above.
I do not understand why you now repeat such a deliberate misreading.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Are they making money?
Because you were suggesting that somehow I was insulting the band by asking the question. I talk to people all the time about how much money they are making from their various music activities.
And when I first asked the question, I didn't look at the title of the post. Then I saw "lack of cash" and realized you had already told me what I needed to know. I was just clarifying how I happened to post my first two comments.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Are they making money?
No, you were insulting the band not by asking the question, but by implying that they did not make any such money through their creative activities.
And when I first asked the question, I didn't look at the title of the post. Then I saw "lack of cash" and realized you had already told me what I needed to know.
Yikes. That's the third time that you have deliberately misread the statement. It was not "lack of cash." It says "lack of cash to record." I can't see how you fail to see the difference other than that you are being deliberately misleading.
If I wrote about "my lack of cash to buy that Gulfstream jet" would you then assume that I hadn't made any money at all from my job? Then why do you assume the same thing with this band when you say that the "lack of cash to record" in the title implies that they have not made money from embracing piracy?
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You don't need a Gulfstream to do your job. Generally recording is part of a musician's job. That's a major point. If a successful band lacks the cash to record, then it means they may not be making enough money to cover all necessary expenses.
Because musicians often DON'T have a lot of cash, they do look for ways to cut corners. Maybe they buy equipment and record in their garages. Maybe they cut deals like Georgia Wonder. Maybe they sign with a label.
You've touched upon a major part of making a music career work. How do you find the money to do what you need to do?
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But almost every band has *always* lacked the money to record. That's why labels give advances. Why is it meaningful that Georgia Wonder didn't have enough cash to record a new album when that's the status quo?
Because musicians often DON'T have a lot of cash, they do look for ways to cut corners. Maybe they buy equipment and record in their garages. Maybe they cut deals like Georgia Wonder. Maybe they sign with a label.
How is that "cutting corners"? Seriously. Talk to the people in Georgia Wonder. They don't see it as cutting corners. They see it as a smart way to connect with their fans and record a great album.
You've touched upon a major part of making a music career work. How do you find the money to do what you need to do?
Indeed. But you calling it cutting corners and implying that they didn't make enough money from their marketing strategy is flat out wrong.
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Great to hear that. Do you have the numbers?
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Sounds like Mike knows more about this than I do, so I welcome any information about what kind of money they are making. It will be helpful for all aspiring bands to know this.
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Re: Re: Are they making money?
And by the way, I thought making a record didn't cost any money anymore, and could be done in a bedroom using Garageband.
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Yes, it is far cheaper these days to record. It is also far easier and cheaper to distribute. That does not mean that these things are free, easy to pay for, or something that the band WANTS to pay for if it does not have to.
As far as I can tell by their website, the band is doing pretty well. They are making and distributing music. They are making a living - perhaps not millionaires, but not starving. They are not giving all of their cash to a record label.
As far as this particular project - it may be a dismal failure and not make any money for them or the record store. It's not done, so nobody knows. It is, however, creative, interesting, and seems like a pretty good idea for them to cut expenses. How could that be bad? If record labels spent time thinking up creative ways to cut expenses, they might be doing better these day.s
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How many bands actually pay for their own recording?
That's right, almost none. Nearly all of them -- even the biggest names, go into serious debt to record an album, and as a part of that, have to give up their copyrights on the songs.
Georgia Wonder doesn't have to do that.
Seems like a much better deal.
There is a simple way to describe the business model "Made in Nevada" are employing : begging for help.
Heh. Or, controlling their own destiny. I believe my definition is a lot more accurate, but your mileage may vary.
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Yeah, but you will soon find that ridiculous laws will make it implausible for independent artists to succeed like this.
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Cross promotion of Nevada Music and Georgia
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