RoadCrew

Hey guys, I'm currently writing a thesis on "The impact of Web 2.0 on music marketing. How does the Internet affect the way artists promote themselves in an ever changing industry?" and I'd love to get some of your insights on this topic.

I'd be very happy to get some of you to answer a list of 8 questions (here below).

If you agree on helping me, could you answer here or send the answers to my email address laurent.colson@student.ulg.ac.be

I'd be happy to send you a copy of my finished project once it's done!

Thanks in advance!



1. Could you describe yourself a little bit? Where are you from? How old are you? What do you do for a living? What kind of music do you mostly listen to?

2. As a music lover, do you still buy CDs or vinyl records? Why or why not?

3. What would encourage you to pay for music if it is currently not the case? Is customized content relevant to you (special editions, bonus tracks, one-on-one with artist, etc)? Would you pay extra for this? why?

4. Do you feel that file sharing software are cannibalizing music sales or on the contrary, promoting them?

5. Until the end of the 90's, the music industry had been based on a business model that didn't include the Internet. Nowadays, things are a lot more different. How do you feel about the new ways of providing and selling music, such as ITunes, Rhapsody or Spotify? Do you use them?

6. How do you mainly discover new music and artists today? What kind of channels do you mainly use (Radio, Shows, Spotify, Youtube, etc.)? Could you describe the different processes you adopt to discover new artists?

7. Do you follow artists that you like through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Do you try to connect with them, by commenting or "liking" their posts? If so, why?

8. Are you a member of an online community about music? If so, what do you get from being part of this community?

Urban Hat€monger ?

You know we get people joining up asking those same questions every month. I wish you people would think of new questions.

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RoadCrew

Sorry about that... I agree that questions on the "piracy" issue have been asked over and over again... but I need those answers as a basis for the following questions regarding the Web 2.0

I guess that many of us regard that topic as really interesting, then!

Necromancer

Not everyone cares to participate in what is basically just another census requiring personal data.

RoadCrew

I'm not trying to get any personal data... just to understand the new ways of consuming music and how fans interact with artists.... (this is totally anonymous).

This is just university research, nothing to do with corporations or whatever!

I was just trying to get a little help from you guys... that's it...

Plankton

1. Could you describe yourself a little bit? Where are you from? How old are you? What do you do for a living? What kind of music do you mostly listen to?

Chicago, 46, Structural Designer, Guitar oriented.

2. As a music lover, do you still buy CDs or vinyl records? Why or why not?

Yes, I promote artists I like.

3. What would encourage you to pay for music if it is currently not the case? Is customized content relevant to you (special editions, bonus tracks, one-on-one with artist, etc)? Would you pay extra for this? why?

No on all counts. Only the music matters to me.

4. Do you feel that file sharing software are cannibalizing music sales or on the contrary, promoting them?

It really depends on the situation of the artist. All my music is free, so file sharing is beneficial to someone like myself.

5. Until the end of the 90's, the music industry had been based on a business model that didn't include the Internet. Nowadays, things are a lot more different. How do you feel about the new ways of providing and selling music, such as ITunes, Rhapsody or Spotify? Do you use them?

I can't stand iCrap, and I don't use any of those.

6. How do you mainly discover new music and artists today? What kind of channels do you mainly use (Radio, Shows, Spotify, Youtube, etc.)? Could you describe the different processes you adopt to discover new artists?

I come here and read.

7. Do you follow artists that you like through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Do you try to connect with them, by commenting or "liking" their posts? If so, why?

No, I generally leave them alone. Even the ones I know personally. Again, it's about the music they make.

8. Are you a member of an online community about music? If so, what do you get from being part of this community?

I'm a member of quite a few community's, such as this one. It may not happen everyday, but sometimes I walk away with more knowledge of a band, or have found a new one that I like.

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See location...

Justthefacts

1. Could you describe yourself a little bit? Where are you from? How old are you? What do you do for a living? What kind of music do you mostly listen to?

My name is Vince (I take great pride in that name). I'm from Corpus Christi, Texas but I hardly remember it cause I moved when I was four. I work at a restaurant. Currently I'm listening to Amy Winehouse, Rhye, Deafheaven, and Death Grips, so a lot of different genres.

2. As a music lover, do you still buy CDs or vinyl records? Why or why not?

I try to buy CD's as much as I can, cause you can't really call yourself a true music fan if you don't support some of your favorite bands.

3. What would encourage you to pay for music if it is currently not the case? Is customized content relevant to you (special editions, bonus tracks, one-on-one with artist, etc)? Would you pay extra for this? why?

Seeing more concerts, I've missed out on so many. I bought a Gaslight Anthem record that was a "Special edition", but I typically just buy the standard. I certainly would pay extra if it meant being front row or meeting them face to face. Who wouldn't pay extra to meet The Flaming Lips or Arcade Fire?

4. Do you feel that file sharing software are cannibalizing music sales or on the contrary, promoting them?

The only thing it's promoting are more fans. As far as money goes, bands or artists don't hardly make shit unless their album goes platinum and sales are off the charts. Other than that, making money is through playing live shows. That's where the breads made. So basically, no, it doesn't hurt the artists too much. I'm sure some bands love their fans more.

5. Until the end of the 90's, the music industry had been based on a business model that didn't include the Internet. Nowadays, things are a lot more different. How do you feel about the new ways of providing and selling music, such as ITunes, Rhapsody or Spotify? Do you use them?

I used Spotify for a bit but I typically don't use my home Internet anymore and my trial for spotify on my IPad ended so I don't bother anymore. iTunes I think is great for selling music. Steve Jobs in one of his older presentation conferences blatantly said that pirating music is illegal, no one at that time really thought about it that way. iTunes not only makes money for Apple, but clearly makes copious amounts of money for the artists and record labels which is a really selfless thing Steve Jobs could've done.

6. How do you mainly discover new artists today? What kind of channels do you mainly use (Radio, show, spotify, etc)? could you describe the different processes you adopt to discover new artists?

My main sources of discovering new music is through a plethora of things actually. I discuss and follow other people's tastes and try music they recommend. I can't tell you how many bands I've discovered from people here. I also use Wikipedia and metacritic to see some reviews and read about the band. I also use an Internet magazine called NME, all the latest news in artists and updates on what different bands are doing and what they're working on. Sometimes gossip but it's very helpful.

7. Do you follow artists that you like through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Do you try to connect with them, by commenting or "liking" their posts? If so, why?

Well, I hate social media. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. I was never really good at those things and I enjoy human interaction above all. Musicbanter is different, I get to talk about music with people on the same level. I find it very difficult to find a music lover in person, they normally just listen to Top 100 music charts and I for one can't stand that music. Am I right, Am I right?

8. Are you a member of an online community about music? If so, what do you get from being part of this community?

This is the only site I come too to discuss music, I tried a couple others but their whole setup is confusing and the layouts are un-appealing. Just wasn't my thing. What MusicBanter gives me is a better knowledge of more music cause believe me, their is more music out there than all of our knowledge of music put together. It's incredible. Also, actual intelligent conversations with people who understand. I couldn't get that over Facebook, that's for sure.

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The Best Collection You'll See Today

Arya Stark

1. Could you describe yourself a little bit? Where are you from? How old are you? What do you do for a living? What kind of music do you mostly listen to?

22, I work in Publishing, I mostly listen to Hip Hop, Rap, and R&B.

2. As a music lover, do you still buy CDs or vinyl records? Why or why not?

I buy CDs if I really love the album as a whole, otherwise, I listen on Youtube, or download single tracks.

3. What would encourage you to pay for music if it is currently not the case? Is customized content relevant to you (special editions, bonus tracks, one-on-one with artist, etc)? Would you pay extra for this? why?

If an album is good as a whole, I will buy it. If I only like some songs on it, I'll only buy or download the ones I like, I don't want to waste my money.

4. Do you feel that file sharing software are cannibalizing music sales or on the contrary, promoting them?

I don't think my opinion on this really matters, as I'm not personally affected by the sales.

5. Until the end of the 90's, the music industry had been based on a business model that didn't include the Internet. Nowadays, things are a lot more different. How do you feel about the new ways of providing and selling music, such as ITunes, Rhapsody or Spotify? Do you use them?

I use Spotify sometimes, because they have a lot of older music that I love and i can often listen to albums whole without having to download them or search each song on Youtube.

6. How do you mainly discover new music and artists today? What kind of channels do you mainly use (Radio, Shows, Spotify, Youtube, etc.)? Could you describe the different processes you adopt to discover new artists?

I listen to the Radio to discover new music. Hot .97 and Power 105.1 are my favorite channels to listen to, listening to a great interview with an artist always makes me excited to hear their music.

7. Do you follow artists that you like through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Do you try to connect with them, by commenting or "liking" their posts? If so, why?

I follow a lot of my favorite artists on Twitter as long as they post stuff other than promotions. I don't like that much. I don't always try so hard to connect with them but if I'm tweeting about them, I'll tag them once in a while. I think I do it because it would be cool if they did see what I wrote, but not because I need them to.

8. Are you a member of an online community about music? If so, what do you get from being part of this community?

Well isn't everyone here a member of Music Banter?
I used to get a lot of my new music from here. I had friends who would always recommend new music for me to listen to, and I would review it on my journal. I still kind of do it, when I swap albums with DJ Chameleon, but that's about it. Now I just like any general music discussion, although it always seems to spark some kind of weird argument on these boards lately.

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MB Journal.
Azucar y Especia. My blog.

RoadCrew

Thank's a lot Plankton! This is very helpful!

RoadCrew

Thanks a million Vince! That's some great answers right there! You rock!