Hip-Hop Production & Gorilla Web Marketing

The music industry, especially hip-hop production, has currently been leaning towards new marketing & promotional strategies that involve social network blog sites. Twitter is helping artists, labels, or any other industry businesses, reach new target audiences while receiving feedback about their products. Twitter has a very useful search engine that can help you see what the rest of the twitter world is saying about you, or your product. You can also make your product easier to trace, by making it a topic trend. For example, if XXL magazine was promoting is March issue, they could simply tweet “#XXLMar.’10” in stands now!! Now, if anyone else tweets about the XXL, they might us the same trending topic, and that will help get your message across to fellow bloggers.

Atlantic Records Artist, Gucci Mane, is one example of how the industry uses SEO’s and social networks to raise awareness. Gucci Mane is currently serving a 6-12 month jail sentence, but is still releasing pre-recorded material while incarcerated. From his twitter page (which is followed by over 100,000 people), They promoted the new release of his highly anticipated mixtape/street album. http://twitter.com/gucci1017

Bad Boy records also uses Twitter and other SEO’s to find new talent. An A&R for the company uses twitter to make the world aware that he is now accepting demo submissions. He even uses Twitter to state all the rules and regulations of the submissions. http://twitter.com/senatorSkid Under his lists, he provides fellow A&R’s and sites where you can upload your demos.

I think that twitter and other social networks can be used as a “gorilla” marketing strategy. I say “gorilla” in the same tense that video directors use it, meaning cheap. I believe that hip-hop production companies and producers can network and get a closer feel to their fans and potential clients this way. I am already using it that why currently. It is a much easier way to approach clients or providers, and gives you a chance to get in contact with that person directly, rather than going through his or hers secretary first. There is also applications within these sites can also help showcase your product. This way of marketing seems much more effective, because you are reaching your target audience directly. These people choose to follow you, or become a fan, so that indicates they are already interested in what you have to offer. I know that these sites will adapt as they go along, and provide better and faster ways to reach our clients. It is crucial that hip-hop production companies start using this early, so that they can keep up with the new innovations as they occur.