Music is life!
I remember exactly when I fell in love with The Beatles. I mean really fell in love. It was the fall of 1995 with the premier of The Beatles Anthology documentary and subsequent release of the Anthology box set. Remember box sets?!!
I had liked The Beatles before but as you know, even the four boys from Liverpool were “devil music” in my moms eyes. That’s what made this so pronounced in my memory. I was able to introduce “rock” music into my house with the documentary.
The story everybody knows of young kids just like me, that grabbed guitars and went to work at playing their favorite songs from the radio. The struggles through Hamburg and losing key members early on was so familiar My drive to play in a band was even stronger.
I feel this was my first complete obsession of a band. I wanted to own EVERY SINGLE NOTE they ever recorded and started buying all the albums on the list. Up till that point, I was more about whatever albums I could get my hands on.
I could become what I considered at true fan. The flood gates opened, I needed to own entire catalogs of every band that I fell in love with. Tool, Motley Crew and G N R, to name a few. For me its about the relationship I have built in my mind with the band. Do you ever feel that way? That you have a special connection with your favorite bands?
For me the discovery of a new artist is special. All the elements have to be in the right place but most important, am I ready to hear music? My mood and how the music is presented to me are factors too. I have hated a band I now love simply because the wrong person, place or thing was present when I first discovered the band. Maybe it’s the hipster in me but I like being the first to know about a band. So I might like a band but if I don’t value the other persons musical taste I can’t accept it.
Later down the line, all by myself, I will “stumble upon” the band/song and become a super fan. And Super Fans buy merch bundles and LTD LP’s. Hoodies and tickets to virtual “live” shows. See my point?
David, tell us some examples! Ok, Ok I hear you. Some examples are below.
Ok, I’ll finish with this. It takes time for people to like music, especially new music. However stories are liked instantly. Shorten the timeline by creating and then feeding a “personal” narrative or brand story and build a family of fans around the story. Once they get it, they will become obsessed and love you forever.
Next time:
You’re more than just your music…
Examples:
Band:
Oasis-issue:
I loathed the stupid fighting brit brothers. I would go out of my way to make fun and turn off when ever they played.
What changed- I saw a behind the scenes documentary on MTV and I was mesmerized.
Come on! “That’s an easy one! A lot of people hate Oasis.” Ok I got you.
Afghan Whigs-issue
My homie Ian would play them 24/7. Along with bands, Tori Amos, Ani Defranco, Our Lady Peace, and Stabbing Westward. All bands I love today.
What changed-Years later something clicked and Greg Dulli’s winy, slowly timed, bitchy voice was now brilliant and I had to gobble up!
Too underground?
Tool-issue
My first fore in the prog rock genre. It was too complicated and had no flow.
What changed-Sean forced me to sit in my room with headphones and listen to Undertow all the way through. Nuff said