Mark Masters’ Post

I only wanna be with YOU! Let's travel back down #MusicalMemoryLane to 1994 for this week's #SaturdaySounds... "Only Wanna Be With You" is probably the most recognisable and enduring song from the album "Cracked Rear View", the debut from Hootie & the Blowfish, which has sold over 22 million copies (I bought one of 'em – you're welcome, Hootie!). ❤️ While the lead singer, Darius Rucker, has gone on to lead a very successful career in Country music, he'll always be known and loved for this and other "Hootie" songs. Some trivia: people thought that "Hootie" was Darius' nickname, and the rest of the band were "the Blowfish". Actually, the band took their name from two of Darius Rucker and Mark Bryan's (guitarist) college friends. The "Hootie" part of the band's name came from a friend with "large, owl-like eyes", and the "Blowfish" part from another friend with "puffy cheeks." I only report the facts, people! 🤷♂️😉 Have a lovely day, and please feel free to submit your requests in the comments! 👇 --- 🔔 Follow, connect and ring my bell for regular tips to help you grow your personal brand (with some music along the way). 🤜💥😴 Banish Boring™️... stop the snoring... 💡 and Reinvent Your Content™️. 👉 Start with a free video call via the link in my profile. --- #ContentStrategy #PersonalBranding #BanishBoring

I love it when someone hates the same thing I do. The bond over the disdain for a song or band can be as strong a feeling as finding someone who loves the same music or band as you. You should consider applying the same thought process to finding your audience if you're an artist. You don't need everyone in the world to love your music. In fact, I think youdon'tt want everyone in the world to love your music. You want to make a strong enough statement with your music, lyrics, photos, concerts, marketing, and more that you make people love you or hate you. Why? Because that is what makes you fit out. It is what draws in the die-hard audience you want. It is what makes people spread the word about why you are unique. So, make music with an edge. Find fans that like your edge, and f*cK the rest. Who is the rest? The middle. The ones in the world that passively like things and passively dislike things. F*cK the middle. Make your club exclusive. Not everyone gets through the door. Why? Because youdon'tt need everyone or want everyone to get in. There are almost 8 billion people on planet earth. You need less than 1% of the world's population to be a fan of your work, and you can have a fantastic career where you only do what you like. Find your little corner, make a loud noise, and f*cK the middle.

I recently watched a short video of Amachree Ikijana discussing the secrets behind songs that "blow," and I couldn't agree more with his insights. Just like good products don’t automatically become great products, good music doesn’t instantly turn into hit music. It’s the power of strategic promotion that turns a good song into a hit. Whenever you see a song topping the charts, know that there’s been a lot of strategic effort and planning behind the scenes. We’ve all seen songs with mediocre lyrics become national anthems, while lyrically rich ones barely make it out of the bathroom. As much as talent and quality matter, it’s not pride to make noise about your music or product. If you don't, someone with lesser quality will, and their brand will outshine yours. Should you focus on creating good music and products? Absolutely. But more importantly, ensure you have a solid promotional campaign. It doesn’t have to be massive, but it should be strategic and measurable.

I love it when someone hates the same thing I do. The bond over the disdain for a song or band can be as strong a feeling as finding someone who loves the same music or band as you. You should consider applying the same thought process to finding your audience if you're an artist. You don't need everyone in the world to love your music. In fact, I think you don't want everyone in the world to love your music. You want to make a strong enough statement with your music, lyrics, photos, concerts, marketing, and more that you make people love you or hate you. Why? Because that is what makes you fit out. It is what draws in the die-hard audience you want. It is what makes people spread the word about why you are unique. So, make music with an edge. Find fans that like your edge, and f*cK the rest. Who is the rest? The middle. The ones in the world that passively like things and passively dislike things. F*cK the middle. Make your club exclusive. Not everyone gets through the door. Why? Because you don't need everyone or want everyone to get in. There are almost 8 billion people on planet earth. You need less than 1% of the world's population to be a fan of your work, and you can have a fantastic career where you only do what you like. Find your little corner, make a loud noise, and f*cK the middle.

Mos Def ~ “My presence speaks volumes, before I say a word!” ~ can you say that? If anyone knows me, they know I love both hip-hop and EDM music. I’m actually a music fanatic … concerts, festivals - heck, I’m practically walking around every restaurant with my Shazam App open & arms stretched high, trying to figure out the track playing on the speakers. One artist I respect deeply is Mos Def! He’s not a large man by modern standards. As a matter of fact, most of the women he hangs out with are taller than him. He’s not really good-looking, nor does he exude dominance of any sort. But what he has is:  ⚡️presence ⚡️style ⚡️charisma ⚡️quiet confidence He never needs to be the loudest in the room, nor does he need to be the smartest - but when he’s there, everyone knows it! Can you say that for yourself? How have you shaped how you show up to make the biggest impact on your team, your family, your colleagues, and your peers?!? What is your PRESENCE!! (FYI: being the loudest, the source for rumors, wearing weird clothes on purpose vs style, or making provocative statements on social media to get attention doesn’t count. Apologies. )

Hey musicians! Wanna shake things up and get your fans super involved? Try this out: a Songwriting Contest. It's all about tapping into the awesome pool of creativity your followers have got bubbling away. Here's the lowdown: Call for Entries: Hit up your fans to send over their coolest lyrics or song ideas. It's like opening a treasure chest of what vibes with them. The Prize: Offer to bring the winning idea to life by producing it or doing a collab feature. It can be fun for you & and make someone else's musical dream come true. Why Do It: At the end of the day, it's about building a killer community around your tunes and finding inspiration in unexpected places. Imagine finding a gem of a lyric or a melody that just clicks - all from a fan who's been there from the start. Dive in, set it up, and let's see what magic you and your fans can create together! Ready to get this party started? If you want some extra help with it, reach out to V13 Promotions for a free consultation call.

A great many experts in these here parts... *cue Clint Eastwood spaghetti western music* Settle those spurs and listen in for a moment: Being an EXPERT requires that you ACTUALLY be an expert. It is not defined by the stage your picture is taken on. It is not made true by the logos you hang under your name. Nothing wrong with those things (at all); but, too many folks are chasing after the LOOK of expertise instead of dirtying their hands in becoming an expert. Keep that up and we'll need to meet in town center around high noon... better have your expertise loaded. The glitz and the glam is for shallow show - if the desire to truly impact others is the desire, be prepared for discomfort and a lot of growth for yourself. Remember, to be an expert requires that you have comprehensive and thorough knowledge on the subject matter... not just a certificate of completion. When I became a medic and was handed my patch, I was suddenly required to take on a lot of responsibility. But I wasn't an "expert" at it... and no one I worked with considered me to be one - yet. I had to earn it. I had to get in the trenches - and ditches - rub up against blood and dirt and despair. I became an expert - but it took time. And even then - if I'm being honest - I never "felt" like an expert because there was always something knew to learn. So, I didn't flaunt it. I'm no longer in that arena; so, if I were to jump back in I'd have to immediately realize I am no longer an expert... yet. (I'd become one - but humility would be the key to unlock that door.) One walk across the stage does not an expert make. So set the goal ahead of you and be honest along the way - you'll get there when you get there. ✌

There are stories we tell over and over again, and songs we sing again and again. Both storytelling and singing are fundamental parts of what it means to be human, and we do both of them, in part, to help us make sense of and connect with the world. But telling the same stories and singing the same songs is also a wonderful way to practice being creative, because you will never tell a story or sing a song the same way twice. Each time, there will be a little bit more of you in there, too. So here goes with my version of Hallelujah, a song that has been sung so many times already, and which tells a story that will always continue to be told. __________________________________________________________________ 🎵I’m Dr Kate Paine. I bring the world of music to you, with a special focus on creativity, body/brain, storytelling, and innovation. 🎵You can follow me, send me a message, and sign up for my Discovering Music newsletter (link up top) __________________________________________________________________ #discoveringmusic #creativity #creativeprocess #creativefirststeps

1. Write the songs you want to hear. 2. Play the shows you want to see. These sound basic, but the truth is they are more challenging than they seem for most of us to accomplish. Sit and think about the songs you wish existed in the world, then take the time to write the hell out of them. Write the best song that no one’s ever heard before. Then, do it again and again until you have an album. There is a glut of average in the world. Make meaningful music, and you will give yourself the best chance to find a meaningful audience. The same goes for your live show. What escape do you want to create for your crowd? People want to leave your concert in awe. You want them to exit the venue and WANT to tell their friends about what they missed. So, write the songs you want to hear and play the shows you want to see. If you do, you’ll find the audience you want to find.

VIPs expect special treatment. So what are you offering the VIPs on your mailing list? If you join a VIP programme, paid community, or some kind of club you expect perks that people on the outside don't get. You expect to get in early, or first entry, or you get to sit at the front. You get to feel seen, and treated special. In the music business we offer VIP status to people who join an artists mailing list. But if all you give them is the same announcement about your album or tour that they can see on your socials they will stop opening your stuff. If they get the same pre-sale access that everyone else does why should they look out for your email? An email address remains one of the only pieces of first party data that the artist can get. It's a direct line to the fan that you want to deepen your engagement with. Are your VIPs getting anything special?