At first glance, digital media seems to be its own promotion, and on many levels this is true. In fact, MGN uses the propogation power of an artist's digital creation to promote the artist, and only secondarily to promote the creation itself and its sale (see Distribution).

What, then, remains is the promotion via media outlets of the artist's digital creations themselves. MGN gets the word out first to its own members using the MGN Member music recommendation surveys (see below), the artist's own email list, relevant tag-driven MGN contacts across all databases, including online and offline media outlets, venues, festivals, schools, social networking sites, blogspheres, and industry news sites. Again, all of this is tag-driven, meaning that each database entry is tagged with keywords that filter what communications they receive from MGN.

For example, a net radio stream that is tagged with Reggae, Blues, Ska, is not going to be getting notices about a new song release from a Metal band. Venues tagged with Chicago, Alt Rock, Acoustic, won't get that notice, either, nor is JazzScene magazine. But, the San Diego local cable show, "MetalHead," featuring local and touring bands would get the notification. The tagging is done within the Profile of each database entry (see Profile)

Once a DAC (Digital Artist Creation) is ready for public consumption, it enters the Promo Wizard. The first action is to tag the creation. This is done by the artist providing keywords about it such as the mood, lyrics, and similarities with other known and/or famous artists. Once this is done, tags about the artist and any itineraries are included by the wizard. The artist then chooses options in a template from which promo messages are generated. The template can include various types of information along with an artist quote. The artist chooses which options to use in the promo, and writes a statement about the DAC.

The wizard then sends out the communication matching up tags of the recipients with tags about the DAC. Real non-spam responses to the messages are then forwarded to the artist's profile office. MGN tracks all email bounces and spam, correcting or blocking, and revising the databases. Bounces received by MGN on MGN-generated mail are immediately followed up on by a live person as a priority.

Within the messages sent out is included an invitation to visit the artist's public Profile. Responders visiting the public Profile can indicate the type of interest they have in the DAC in several ways:

• CD/DVD retail/wholesale
• Radio/TV appearance
• Print media inquiries
• Blog coverage
• Venue show booking
• TV/Movie rights inquiry
• Other licensing inquiries
• Itinerary request
• Fan club feedback
• Collaborations
• Academic/Tutorial requests
• Music industry conferences
• General feedback
• Other, etc.

...and the artist is alerted. (Note that each of these types of responses potentially lead to a transaction fee for MGN).

MUSIC RECOMMENDATION STRATEGIES

(Stand by...)

SUGGEST RESOURCE FOR THIS PAGE