You really missed it. We just had a presentation from the CEO of Major League Baseball. I’d tell you what he had to say, but when his speech was over, and he was hipped to the fact that I’m a "reporter", he insisted the whole affair be off the record. My understanding is people usually say something is off the record BEFORE they speak, but hey, the only person I’ve got to write about is myself, so I’m abiding by his wishes.<\/p>\n
It’s just that we had THE guy just after the Mitchell Report was released! That’s what Jim Lewi specializes in, getting the heavy hitters just before they blow up. Most famously Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Moore and Seth Godin. I know you’ve read the "Tipping Point", but be sure to catch up with Seth Godin every day on his blog, sethgodin.com. Click his head to read his musings. This is the guy who came up with "permission marketing", he’s the guru, you should know what he has to say.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, on the bus to Snowmass this morning, and it was a great powder day, we rode with the manager and agent of Corey Smith.<\/p>\n
Do you know who Corey Smith is?<\/p>\n
That’s just the point. Either you’re a fan or you’re out of the loop. Corey isn’t playing for the masses, he’s growing his business organically. He’s playing 260 dates a year, forty percent are selling out, and the tickets are CHEAP! They say he’s James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett combined. Alcohol and good times. His most famous numbers have never been released commercially, you’ve got to STEAL THEM! But at the gig, everybody knows every word.<\/p>\n
Have you seen Buffett? I don’t care what you think about the guy’s music, and other than that stunting Nashville album, he hasn’t had a hit in years, but live he delivers. He sells out, everybody has a good time, they buy a ton of merch. As Letterman says about Oprah, Jimmy’s got ALL the money!<\/p>\n
So, should you focus on a hit, or a career?<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, they’re LOWERING the prices of Corey Smith tickets. If you buy them in advance, through MusicToday, they’re TWELVE BUCKS! They do their best not to play TicketMaster buildings. You’re usually paying fifteen bucks. No service charge. Going isn’t buying a Springsteen ticket in December for a gig in July. It can be a last minute thing. You can bring your friends along. You can even PAY FOR THEM!<\/p>\n
This is the new music business.<\/p>\n
All those acts that grew organically in the late sixties and seventies, the ones with the different kind of music, like Jethro Tull? They can grow again. You don’t have to sound like everybody else. Don’t play to the gatekeepers, play to your FANS!<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, had dinner with Michael McDonald last night. Not only does he manage John Mayer and others, he’s a partner in ATO. They’re releasing the Radiohead album. Do you want to make a deal with a major, for their theoretical infrastructure, or sell to your core and make eight bucks a record? That’s the new game. Instead of selling your soul to reach everybody, concentrate on your base, growing your base, organically. There’s plenty of money in the music business today. Just stop swinging for the fences. A bunt gets you on first too.<\/p>\n
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