Sunday, June 8, 2014

Tips for using Social Media in the Hip Hop Industry

Tips for using Social Media in the Hip Hop Industry


Start before you begin writing or recording songs for any projects since it takes about 9 months to get a strong campaign going. You want to make sure you start your social networking marketing as soon or before you are developing the product.

Know which social networks serve which purposes. Facebook is about people, Instagram is about pictures, Twitter is about perspectives, Google Plus is about passions, and Linked In is about business networking. Use all the social networks for the different purposes. Twitter by design is for concise speech while Facebook allows for elaboration. Facebook is losing popularity to Twitter and Instagram, thus artists should focus more energy in those areas.

Of course rule #1 have the hottest profile pic possible made of mostly a close up on face that shows you are liable, trustworthy, and competent.

Look at what’s trending and post your perspective on it because it shows people that you are in the know about your industry sector.

Earn the right to promote yourself by posting 1 out 20 posts is advertisement for your business. Before you promote post 20 other posts relevant to your industry.

Definitely, every post should have an exciting youtube video or picture.

Respond to comments on your posts to win hearts and not look like your just pushing. If you don’t have anything positive to say don’t say it. Don’t argue because it only looks bad to onlookers.


Repeat your posts because not everyone who your post is relevant to will be on the computer when you post it.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Using Seth Godin Ted Talks to Analyze Hip Hop

http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_godin_this_is_broken_1

This blog seeks to use the Seth Godin Ted Talks "This is Broken" to analyze Hip Hop music and industry.

 The first point made in the clip is " If I think it's broken it's broken." Understand that Hip Hop is broken because it fits this rule in the eyes of so many - for example the older Hip Hop generation think it has strayed far from the roots of a tool for societal empowerment.

1. Who in the Hip Hop industry says "It's Not My Job"? I've heard many times radio djs saying that they hate the music that is played on the radio. It's not their job to decide what songs are played based on chart stats. Artists have a false perception that djs get to freely choose the music played especially on major radio. Who's job is it to ensure that women have a fair representation and deal negotiations in the industry?

2. Selfish jerks? hmmm...enough said.

3. The world changed would relate to how the music industry has changed with the digital age and the failure of many to adapt. It is broken when artists  seek major labels with ideas of the old model of signing a deal, being discovered and then getting fans. The new model is more towards building independent music labels and building a fan base before big label partnerships in distribution and so forth.

4. I didn't know - I'm sure all the time people in Hip Hop - which is a male dominated industry - don't know the needs of women. I'm sure people who work in artist development have ran into problems not knowing the needs of the artists.

5. This goes into to the "I'm not a fish" concept - People work with or critique artists having never been an artist. How can an orange tell an apple how to be a good apple?

6. Contradictions - The contradictions are rampant. Women are expected to be over-sexualized in Hip Hop industry whether emcee or model in a video. The business decisions that a video model or an emcee makes can bring short-term success but ill long-term consequences on the person.  The contradictions are apparent in the fact that these policies are the anti-thesis of the "business work ethics" and what would be viewed as sexual harassment at the workplace.  Another contradiction is the branding of rappers rapping about living lives of luxury, or living a "street life" yet may be broke and live in the suburbs.

7. Broken on Purpose - how many artists who have won Grammys and countless awards, and sold millions of records only to be broke and/or owing millions of unpaid taxes. This is evident of a music industry as a whole that is broken on purpose in order to serve those who stand to gain the most money from the fruits of other's talents. However this brokenness has led to ingenuity in the new generation to create their own businesses within the industry.