The BusinessWeek article on the MySpace generation left out a very important example of how online communities and mp3 downloads are changing the face of music. The band Arctic Monkeys quietly made history when, without an album release, their debut single hit number one on the UK charts.
Downloads and a presence on MySpace helped fuel this rapid success. Mainstream US media has not picked up on this story yet, but this is an accomplishment that even uber groups like the Beatles or U2 cannot claim.
From Artic Thrilling:
The press, radio and television were almost circumvented entirely in the group's audience-building process. MuchMusic recently declined an offer to interview the band. The Arctic Monkeys are the first real breakthrough act of the download era.
All this while Sony pisses off their customer base with their CD rootkit issue. This is a bad time for Sony to pull a Dell (not that there would be a good time).
From How Musicians Have Harnessed the Internet:
As a musician, it is already possible to write, record, and distribute music without signing a record deal at all. Now bands can connect with their potential fans, too. The proliferation of widely available high-speed internet access coupled with the current crop of creative young people in British music has heralded a new era of low-cost, mass-market, musical fandom.
And to think, well before Sean Fanning was in college, it all really started with the Grateful Dead. “What a long, strange trip it's been.”
Hat tip to PSFK.
tags: MySpace, BusinessWeek, Arctic Monkeys, Sony rootkit, word of mouth
*cough* *cough*
http://www.canuckflack.com/archives/001127.html
Toronto's NOW Magazine on the breakthrough by the Arctic Monkeys:
"What makes the Monkeys' feat even more impressive is that their quick rise to the top occurred without the conventional "hookers 'n' blow" promotional strategy or having hordes of street team members buy up mass quantities of their single from chart-reporting shops.
The press, radio and television were almost circumvented entirely in the group's audience-building process. MuchMusic recently declined an offer to interview the band. The Arctic Monkeys are the first real breakthrough act of the download era."
As befits any "breakthrough act," Arctic Monkeys are on MySpace.
Posted by Colin at November 11, 2005 01:47 PM
Posted by: Colin McKay | 12/12/2005 at 03:25 PM
OK, so I'm a month behind. But I attributed my sources correctly. I saw the PSFK post a week prior to yours. I missed yours completely which I blame on the less than straightfoward title.
Posted by: Kevin Dugan | 12/12/2005 at 03:46 PM
BEATLES...ok yes their gods ..changed the world .their music sounds great when your stoned..or not BUT everyone get with it ,,richard hydell and wrecked are making music just as good and they have a lot to say about war ,,,parents their sending your girls to die now ...lets get back to making changg....please get over it and HELP.....richard WWW.WRECKEDBAND.COM
Posted by: RICHARD | 01/10/2006 at 12:10 PM
WWW.WRECKEDBAND.COM ...NEW .....ABOUT CHANGE ....BEATLES BEST OLDIES BAND AROUND
Posted by: richard | 01/10/2006 at 12:13 PM
Excellent coment about high speed internet access because it is the future of internet technology.
Posted by: Lawrence | 02/16/2008 at 03:58 PM
Today I think youtube is a bit more successful in making new stars compared to myspace
Posted by: Web Developement Sheffield | 06/11/2011 at 11:07 AM