Socially Adept

Damn It Feels Good to be a Sellout!

My, oh my, how music has changed!

It wasn't too long ago when any musician that allowed their music to be featured in a commercial was branded as a sell out.  For many, the idea of including a single in a commercial meant certain death.  However, over the past 5 years or so, that thought process has completely evaporated.

With the rise of music downloads, the iPod, and satellite radio, bands aren't just facing a battle on Friday nights in the High School Gym anymore.  Everyday is a battle to get your music heard and garner enough popularity that warrants main stream radio play.  What better way to get your name out there than hitching your bands new single to a hot consumer item... like an iPod.

The release of the next gen iPod's has unearthed a new artist that is getting some major attention online.  Fiest's "1-2-3-4" is the song featured in the commercial.  Here are some stats for Feist's, a solo artist from Ontario, Canada:

• 749,335 plays of "1234" on her MySpace Page
• 171,384 friends on MySpace
• Appeared on Letterman 8/28/08
• Appeared on VH1 "Behind The Music"
• 2,316,947 YouTube views of the "1234" video

Although this is her second US release, I (for one) had never heard of her prior to the iPod commercial.  After finding the song a bit catchy, I searched for it online and found multiple sites dedicated to informing consumers of songs featured in commercials.  I found it here (love the name of this blog), but a simple search can lead you to any song featured in a commercial... like the Old Navy commercial or the Target Commercials.

After speaking with a few musician friends of mine, the change in perception is incredible.  Now, they are constantly asking if there is an online video shoot we are doing that could potentially feature their music.  If the video hits it big, so too will their song. 

What do you carry meme? (Apple Sells 100 Millionth iPod)

Apple announced today that it has sold it's 100 millionth iPod.  OK... so now what?  As a Nano owner, I may be one of the few who barely uses the thing; mainly because I can't hook it up to anything I have or want to buy (I probably could, but I've invested enough).  I also had an MP3 phone from LG and never listened to one song on it (I used it for something unusual... phone calls!)

As a social media advocate, one might think that I was all about this stuff, but I prefer other tactics for getting the media, music, video, etc. I need.  The last thing I need is something else to carry around with me.  Here is a list of the 10 things I would carry with me on a daily basis in regard to necessities and media if I had more pockets.

10) Wallet (Although, now that Coke will let me "pay at the pump" with my Mastercard, I may not need that anymore)

9) Keys (Have to get to work somehow)

8) Motorola Q (I love this thing! Easy to use and it looks so pretty)

7) Cigarettes and Lighter (yes... I am one of the "bad people" banished outside, puffing away)

6) Watch (Sure... everything else tells time, but fashion is fashion)

5) iPod (The nano is small so you think it would be fine... but it always falls out of my pocket - I hear Nike has a new clothing line to fix this, but I am not sure it is office approved)

4) Sirius Sportster (This thing pisses me off... it barely works when it's cold so I have to carry it in and out of the car.  With a 15 minute commute... it's no longer worth it and has been officially written off as a waste of money)

3) Laptop

2) Carmex (The winter killed me this year - They have a good site by the way...check it out and become a jar head)

1) Camcorder (There's a YouTube video out there waiting to happen)

So... you may have 10, you may have 5, but I am at the point where my pockets are over flowing and decisions have to be made.  As a result, the iPod, Sirius, and Camcorder get left behind.  It's all a shame. 

"Box in a Box for You" - Brilliant

Timely, Hysterical, talented, etc.  I just finished watching "Box in a Box for You" on YouTube, a spoof of Justin Timberlakes "Dick in a Box" skit on SNL.  Apparently, this video has been circulating since December 28th and has already received 1 million views and air play on New York and Houston radio stations.  Not bad for a 19 year old who created a blog and myspace page with the launch of the video.  She's even selling the song online for 79 cents (if your interested).

Well, I won't draw on my musical background to critique this girls vocal ability (which is unbelievable hard for me) but she's definitely got enough chops for a song like this.  This girl clearly understands the power of social media as she launched the video, created a blog with the boxinabox name, created a myspace profile and posted the video on Revver and YouTube.  All in a matter of a few days.  Probably over her Christmas vacation.

This is not the last we will see of "bunny," but many people could learn a lesson from her success.  There is more than one road on the path of success and no one says you can only take one.  Use all of the tools at your disposal and relevent, timely content will find its way.