Does Your Brand and Business Really Stand Out? | M4B Marketing | Small business news; tips; networking

Posted by m4bmarketing under Marketing
From http://www.m4bmarketing.com 4588 days ago

A song started and without watching I knew who was singing. This was the first English speaking album released in 8 years but all the core elements were still there that makes her and her music stand out. Here are a couple of lessons we can learn to ensure our brand is distinctive.

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Written by businessavante
4588 days ago

Fascinating discussion going on here, David & Susan!

It seems to me there are some artists that are destined to follow their muse wherever it takes them - which may be to many different places (including away from bigger money sometimes, for the sake of their art - I've seen it many times), and others who naturally keep on an even keel. Others have a strategy they stick to or change as they see fit.

Duncan

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Written by businessavante
4587 days ago

The cases I know of - 3 famous ones being John McLaughlin, the English pioneer fusion guitarist (not the American politico), Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young, basically had little choice.

The latter 2 had to either follow their muse - be true to their artistic vision as it constantly evolved, or "sell out" - just "crank out sausage" to make easy money using proven formulae that practically guaranteed it.

In McLaughlin's case, he was always multi-faceted - at the very least divided between electric & acoustic music, between jazz and ethnic music. At the height of his career, opening stadiums for YES, he dumped the electric guitar, and played a few years in an all-acoustic group where all the other members were Indian, called Shakti - true fusion of East & West. It was a bad choice money-wise, but a great opportunity artistically. Ya never know what he's going to do next (in his career, and when he improvises - he's a master of improvisation, and "crazy", musically, in a good way).

The obvious temptation, and usual business advice from managers & record labels back when they held a stranglehold, is always for them to try to repeat their successes. For some artists, it comes naturally - they naturally have one central voice they create through - to alter this, even in hard times, would be wrong for them (like Tony Bennett, from your recent post on sticking to what got him there through thick & thin - it would've been as wrong for him to change to the current fad of the moment as it is wrong for the others not to follow their muse as they evolve). When they have built-in divergent avenues of creation - then they have to decide which way to go: art, or money.

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Written by m4bmarketing
4587 days ago

From your experience Duncan what are the reasons that some are destined to follow their muse? Are there any common characteristics among these artists?

Susan

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Written by amabaie
4588 days ago

You are right about Gloria Estefan and her unique style. Many singers are like that. Some are not - I was listening to Linda Ronstadt earlier today. She is my all-time favourite singer, and she is a restless spirit, frequently changing styles completely.

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Written by m4bmarketing
4588 days ago

David, I haven't heard a Linda Ronstadt song for ages and you are right that some singers change their styles. I could be wrong but it seems they build they fan base first before doing this, whereas I have have seen brands and businesses without a base just change direction which causes problems.

Susan

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