So, it's been more than a week. I have no internet. And, embarrassingly, I forgot my login email. I tried to get in some days ago and couldn't. Haha. I've started to take classes for music business and the interesting books for my Self-Promotion and Networking in the Music Business class are taking over a lot of my questions right now. In light of that, this week's blog asks:
What are your thoughts of artists getting their songs on television shows? Is it "selling out"? Do you think it is a good move? Why? This comes out of having read a Billboard interview article with Isaac Slade of The Fray talking about the use of "How to Save A Life" on "Grey's Anatomy" and the more recent sychronization of "You Found Me" with the show "Lost." Thoughts?
Getting a song on a TV show will get a musician exposure as wide as the audience of that show. But it's only shotgun exposure. Meaning, it's like firing a shotgun -- it's not targeted to precision hit, it's hitting lots of potential fans simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Gray's Anatomy, Scrubs, OC or any show like that, you've already pre-targeted an audience who will LIKE that sort of music AND built up a dramatic/emotional rapport with the viewers. This is going to be INCREDIBLY effective; like snipers shooting with a high power scope.
Whenever a person responds EMOTIONALLY to something, they form a memory -- the more intense the emotion, the more intense the memory. The human brain doesn't form memories without the emotional component. When you have a scene with an intense emotional response, with characters you already are inclined to care about, the viewer is going to automatically and immediately remember the song. The song will be included in the memory and the reaction. Hearing the song again will evoke the same firing synapses of the intense emotions -- just as replaying the scene OR thinking about the characters the emotions are associated with, will reinforce the song.
BUT, that's only true for music played in scenes where that rapport is established. When the viewer is already invested in the relationships of the characters and the music helps add to the depth of the emotive response, it can help the artist sell. Playing the music in any other scenario on a television show will increase the shotgun exposure effect BUT it will not sniper launch into stardom.
If it's just playing in the background with no real connection to the characters, you're better off getting it in an Apple commercial. Apple ads are innovative and thus memorable. The songs become memorable because of it.
Apple sells. Though not so well since Steve Jobs' extended leave of absence was announced.