This is an interview series in preparation for my SXSW Panel: The State of Music Blogs in 2010. I reached out to a number of influencers, musicans, labels, marketers and music fans to get their perspectives on the topic and will be posting these in a series leading up to the conference.
Today we hear from Dan Vogel, drummer for Minneapolis-based band Paragraphs, who says, “Music blogs have helped Paragraphs exceed its expectations and take its role as a Minneapolis post-rock band much more seriously. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their help.”
Why do you think music blogs are so popular?
I believe music blogs have become popular over the years due to today’s age of people looking instant updates about a latest track from an upcoming album or an interview with one of their favorite artists. Blogs are becoming much more inclusive with musicians, writers, record labels, marketers, and fans to provide the most accurate information available. This keeps everyone updated and hopefully happy with the direction the industry seems to be headed. They have definitely become a big part of my life now that I’m part of a rock band who’s looking for a bigger audience in the Twin Cities and beyond.
How do you think music blogs/aggregators/social networks have impacted the industry?
The way technology has incorporated almost anything related to everyone’s life is just plain insane. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Google, and so many other networks out there seem to be completely connected to one another. The main time we send a specific message to a blog is when we write up an official press release to market an upcoming album or show we’re playing. When that happens, several other outlets that blog’s connected to picks up the information and spreads it across the web even more. The industry’s been impacted in a positive way by these sites because it lets unknown artists receive exposure they might not otherwise get from a large, national publication or from the marketing department of a large label. It’s made the industry a much more intimate place to stay updated on music you’re interested in.
How have they changed your music consumption and/or marketing efforts?
These sites and networks have completely changed my personal music consumption. I remember listening to my dad’s Rush, Neil Young, and Genesis vinyl records back in elementary school; Green Day, Silverchair, and Toad The Wet Sprocket cassette tapes in middle school; and REM, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead CD’s in high school and college.
Since then, I’ve put most of my music on my computer and shared with friends online. Everything is done online these days. It’s quick, easy and convenient. As far as Paragraphs’ marketing efforts goes, utilizing blogs and social networks is a must-do for us to reach our established and untapped audience. We’re based in Minneapolis, but even in the short year we’ve been a band, we’re being followed by people all over the world. We cater to what they want to hear and publicize our efforts with blogs to announce our latest news and upcoming gigs or maybe get an album review. I wouldn’t have been asked to answer these questions if we weren’t already friends with Perfect Porridge. I feel the band wouldn’t be where it is today without the existence of these sites.
What’s the best thing to happen to the music industry in the last year or so?
Shows like Conan and Letterman more frequently showcasing indie music on their late night talk shows.
What’s the worst?
Jerry Fuchs’ death [drummer for Maserati].
What is the single biggest strategy/technology/innovation/societal shift you think will impact music in 2010?
The continued onslaught of social networking will continue to prevail the music interwebs throughout 2010. I wonder what will happen when that goes bust. It’ll probably involve people knowing and publicizing what I’m about to say before I’ve even completed my thought process.
Other reading:
Read other State of Music Blogs in 2010 interviews.
RSVP for the State of Music Blogs in 2010 SXSW panel.
