ContentSphere - Music & Media in an Online Culture - Technology

MIDEM & Nielsen Confirm the Need for Mobile Apps for Artists

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:46:00 +0100

Just a hint to another article this time. Referring to my last posting on ContentSphere, I wrote an article for Music Think Tank, “Mobile Connect-with-Fans for DIY Artists - Why, and How?”. Please feel free to comment there.

After having posted on some forums, googling around etc., I finally was able to find services of the kind I was in search for - offering artists apps which they can share with their fans to directly connect. Also, one the companies (Songpier) commented on my article. Other ones are listed in my article on Music Think Tank.

Now, if you needed any further confirmation - please immediately go visit Midem’s website. The Midem blog features an article on “Music mobile apps and music streaming services”, including an excellent study compiled by Nielsen for ~~MidemNet Lab~~ MIDEM (link to download form).

Actually, it’s the result of a survey of well beyond 25.000 online consumers in more than 50 markets worldwide. Do yourself a favour, fill-in the form, and download the study. If you had any doubt about my article - read it.

The Missing Link In Connect-with-Fans

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:40:00 +0100

There are some issues about connect-with-fans strategies which are hard to solve. I’ve mentioned it a few times – to find the ones that fit you and your image (authenticity), to find the time for marketing and music (responsibility), and of course how to discover and develop new ideas in marketing (creativity). Plus, there are more like timing, choice of tools, the transition from connect-with-fans to reason-to-buy etc.

But, just recently, I realised that there is another one. It’s not yet another issue. Actually, it is a crucial gap. It is what keeps DIY artists from managing the next step towards future technologies and therefore, towards new business models.

There has been what is referred to as static Web 1.0. Simple websites, with content difficult to maintain.

Then there is Web 2.0. A term that no serious web developer is eager to hear about his brand new design in 2010. Dynamical content, usually presented along a design with light and shaded colours, rounded edges. Web 2.0 is what brought us blogs – a kind of easy to handle web presence for everyone. Almost easy to handle.

The next wave in internet technology – what is it going to look like? What’s the benefit for music business in particular? This was (and still is) a matter I’m very much interested to hear about. That’s why I set up a panel on this matter for all2gethernow 2010. I knew Eliot Van Buskirk would be interested too, but it turned out that a whole phalanx of big names crushed the gates to get on the panel. Apart from Eliot Van Buskirk (formerly with Wired, now The Echo Nest/Evolver.fm), paticipants included Jean Littolff (CEO - The Nielsen Company/Europe), Kevin Arnold (CEO / founder of IODA), Peter Sunde (formerly with The Pirate Bay; now founder of Flattr), Scott Cohen (CEO / founder of The Orchard), and Panos Panay (CEO / founder of SonicBids) taking the role of the moderator.

Whoah. I hit it.

Allegedly, the big thing about Web 3.0 is real-time content. But it’s more than that. And it has launched already. The main enabler is Apple – iPod, iPhone and iPad are the required hardware ingrediences. Go for any platform you like, Android, Windows, iOS. The core of it all is – apps. It’s not about websites but small applications carrying the content.

Bingo. Wherever you are, werever your fans are – the mobile device is at your side. You don’t need to wait for your fans to come to your site. Just send them a new message via an app. It’s kind of a subscription service.

An app is a brilliant platform to feature new content, teasers, lyrics, links to the shop and a hell lot more. Combine that with social media and there you are.

But, erm, wait…

Recently looked at your local app store (sorry, couldn’t resist)? Let’s see, how many artists are there… I swear, I didn’t come across more than 20 apps for artists. I remember some obscure Italian artist, Take That, Britney (I think so). Oh yeah, NIN of course. See, I can’t even remember more than 5.

Unfortunately, to develop an app that runs on any of the usual platforms easily costs you a fortune of $25k bucks plus. Talking about DIY.

You know of any suitable (or less suitable) options to build your own app? Please tell me. I’m really curious to know.

It's A Commercials' World. But Sometimes A Nice One. (thx to AdTaily & Magix)

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:05:42 +0100

Recently I hinted at the addition of the AdTaily widget as a part of ContentSphere. First off, to be honest I was a bit sceptical. Though being able to decide which ads get my “go” I expected the usual suspects to ask for ad space.

But I was wrong. I think two weeks had passed (or less) with the widget showing a blank “advertise here” square. Then, I got a mail a request for posting an ad was pending. Still, I thought… ok, here they are - where’s the “Thanks, but no, thanks” button?

Now I find myself positively surprised that it’s something for real. Even better, Magix (who are running the ad you see since about a week) are a perfect fit to the site. Their products are just all about music & media - just have a look.

What I like even more is their connection with mufin, which is a spin-off of Magix. Once working with metadata and semantics myself, it’s simply awesome to see products like the new mufin player go live.

Anyway, it fits. It’s something I’m willing to endorse. Instantly, via their affiliate zanox.com, Magix purchased a 2-week ad at a price of 15.68 EUR. Whoah. Certainly not much… but compare this amount to the numbers I yielded with flattr (which is rather for acknowledgement) or even with AdSense.

Conclusion: Thanks to Marcel Weiss from neumusik.com where I found AdTaily the first time.

Now, I’d really like to test the advertised Magix Digital DJ software - too bad it’s not available as a trial version like other products. Actually, I’d even more like to check out the new mufin player. Though - PC required. And Android. Sometimes, it simply is no Mac world. That’s bad when you completely switched.

Here’s something I think might be interesting… The software is available at EUR 39.99. Subscribing to the Magix newsletter gets me a EUR 10.00 coupon. If November revenues will result in a minimum of EUR 20.00 (flattr, AdTaily - excluding that very first Magix ad) I am going to shell out the remaining EUR 10.00 and buy the software. After all, you can add your 2 cents to make it happening.

However, maybe the guys from Magix are reading this - send me a trial version, and I’m willing to run a full review. Includes Twitter, Facebook and friendfeed service. But - the review will be a non-biased one. You can buy ad space, but not my opinion.

I think that’s a fair way to express my thanks for the ad. Really, I appreciate it. Big thank you to Magix!

Oops! flattr's deflated...

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:57:47 +0200