Author: Kelli Richards

Google and YouTube: Making Beautiful Music Together (for You to Buy)

Kelli Richards November 4, 2013

pressplayGoogle has its eye on the music industry, and as we all know, Google usually gets what it wants. This time, Google wants to conquer the music industry completely, using YouTube as its foot soldier.YouTube is already owned by Googleand attracts more viewers in that all-important 18-34 age demographic than MTV, as ArtisanTalent.com points out. It’s the perfect vehicle for a music industry takeover, and Google is already setting the pieces in place to make its move. Here are Google’s plans for becoming a major music industry player through the power of YouTube.

 

The YouTube Music Awards

This is a major part of Google’s strategy to achieve music industry domination. This is a brand new awards show that will debut November 3, 2013 and is expected to rival the 30-year success of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) on its first outing according to Mashable,. Once MTV’s VMA is conquered, Google will amp up its promotional efforts to achieve bigger ratings for the YouTube Music Awards in future years than industry award show staples like the Grammys.

Attracting the Interest of Advertisers as Well as Music Industry Executives

The YouTube Music Awards is expected to attract the attention of advertisers and music industry executives alike. It’s been heavily promoted for months, and it is backed by Google’s endless ocean of money. Add to that the fact that YouTube is already creating legitimate music stars of its own who don’t have record company contracts, and it’s easy to see Google’s strategy for changing the music industry’s hierarchy to put itself at the top as a leading producer, as Business Week explains.

Advertisers are already expressing interest in being a part of the YouTube Music Awards. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to put themselves in front of young adults with disposable income. Kia has already signed on as the show’s title sponsor and Google is courting other big-name advertisers to the show. No word has come out as to what Google will be charging advertisers who sign on for the YouTube Music Awards, but according to Div8.net, it’s expected to be up to 25 percent higher than regular advertising rates for a web-broadcast program.

Taking a Leadership Position in Music Production

Google has been putting a lot of time, effort, and money into making the YouTube Music Awards a show to remember. It will be a 90-minute live show with plenty of star power. Lady Gaga, Eminem, and other big name acts have already signed on to perform. The fact that these big music stars are willing to perform and their labels have given their permission for it are both indicators that the awards show is expected to be a big deal. Industry executives are going to watch how Google handles the show to know what kind of competition the company may give them going forward.

The show will be live streaming from YouTube. Cable companies like Direct TV offer HD DVR receivers to customers that allow YouTube to be shown on TV screens for more comfortable viewing. Because it will be launching Google as a respected music producer, it promises to be must-see viewing.

Google has seen the potential to discover and promote new music artists just like Netflix grabbed a piece of the television industry by creating and airing original programming. Now that solid plans are in place and a big kick-off event is scheduled, there’s no stopping Google’s forward momentum in this area. The YouTube Music Awards is Google’s way of telling competitors it’s serious.

William Martin

William Martin knows a thing or two about video marketing.

Chances are, you’ve seen the work he’s done for his clients on YouTube ads.

 

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NASA’s Stunningly Beautiful Space Now on Instagram!

Kelli Richards October 28, 2013

InstagramEarly last month NASA announced its decision to enter the social media game, creating and maintaining a presence on Instagram. While such a decision may not have monumental significance to either NASA’s space programs or the every day lives of the majority of people, it is definitely an awesome decision with various benefits that may brighten all of our days.

Instagram created a pretty ingenious niche in the social media industry, by basically combining key features of its two largest predecessors: Twitter and Facebook. By taking the best of both worlds, Instagram is an incredible social media magnet (and entertaining time waster.) Twitter thrives on the idea of short, to the point, messages, almost trains of thought, being shared across the web, while Facebook focuses more on longevity, providing easy to scroll timelines of the “social life” of users, for the most part documented through images and pictures.

Well Instagram does both. Bringing quick, thought “process-esque,” sharing to photographs (of course with pretty cool, retro picture effects.) And while Facebook focuses on connecting “friends,” we can probably generalize that statement to “acquaintances,” and Twitter connects friends but most importantly celebrities and athletes to the average Joe, Instagram once again does both, which  brings us back to NASA.

Beyond seeing what your friend’s eating in the “Valencia” color effect, or a squirrel searching for a nut, you can see the New York Knicks pre game workouts, Snoop Dogg, or Lion, smoking, and now beautiful images of space, courtesy of NASA.  NASA’s public visibility has shrunken over the years as the Space Shuttle program is no more. So, what better way to keep the public informed about the amazing space exploration that is still going on than to share amazingly stunning photos from space? “We’re constantly looking to expand our social media portfolio to include tools that will best tell NASA’s story of exploration and discovery,” NASA Press Secretary Lauren Worley said in the statement announcing the new initiative.

So next time you’re waiting for a train or standing in line for coffee, check out NASA’s Instagram, stare at some star formations, some nebulas, comets, cool stuff; and it may spark your interest. This may be a genius way to increase interest in space exploration, especially amongst the younger crowd who’s on social media 24/7.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

An Inspiring Leader & Mentor: Alan Cohen

Kelli Richards October 21, 2013

about-alan-cohen

As a coach and a mentor myself, I think it is very important to have your own coaches and mentors in life and in business. I’ve been privileged to have a mentor whom I don’t know if I could grow my business or career without. Alan Cohen has written about 24 bestselling self-help and personal development books, and he is my mentor in my coaching practice.

Working with this powerhouse has allowed me to stand on the shoulders of giants and accelerate the success of my own business in ways that are too numerable to mention. I work with Alan every day, and I learn new things from him every day. I have been trained and coached in his coaching methodology and he just brings so much vibrancy to my life and so much substance to my work. In fact, I am one of only a handful of coaches invited to be part of Alan’s Foundation for Holistic Life Coaching.

Alan is best known for being a contributing author to the New York Times #1 bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul. He has also authored the bestselling books The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and the classic Are You as Happy as Your Dog.

His newest book, Enough Already, gives readers the tools to gain a new perspective about what is present in life and see the many opportunities in somewhat mundane situations. This book gave me a refreshing look at all of the possibilities in my life, and I would recommend it to anyone who is still searching for ways to be present in their daily lives.

Alan has a wisdom and vision of personal and professional growth that I find truly inspiring. He brings lessons of encouragement and empowerment to each of the people he works with.

“Do not wait until all the conditions are perfect for you to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

It’s ideas like this that have formed much of my own coaching practice and formed the trajectory of growth in both my personal and professional life.

My clients directly benefit from my having worked with Alan on a daily basis. I encourage everyone to seek out a powerful mentor to coach your own success and your own progress. I feel privileged to know and work with Alan Cohen and I want to bring that success to you as well.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

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PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)

 

Hooked on TV or Apple TV or Maybe Both?

Kelli Richards October 14, 2013

I have been hooked on my Apple TV ever since I set it a few months ago.  The small sleek black box lounging comfortably next to my cable box has become a symbol of home and comfort. My Apple TV is my friend. It carries all of my music, movies, and TV shows around for me. I access iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, HBO Go, ESPN, etc.

It seems that a lot of people have also thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment possibilities Apple TV provides. Since January 1, 2013, 6 million 3rd generation Apple TV units were sold. According to Nielson, 98 percent of homes own a TV. Most people have some kind of device hooked up to their television whether it be the Apple TV or some other DVR entertainment device.

step1-appletv-heroThe updated software, which integrated iTunes Radio and various other applications included several Disney channels, the Smithsonian Channel, the MLS, Vevo, and the Weather Channel. While I continue to find new and fun ways to use Apple TV, the honeymoon period of owning such a fantastic device has not subsided. Being able to access an entire iTunes library on a TV seems like an incredibly exhilarating experience. Apple even manufactured an incredibly sleek controller that screams Cupertino!

Not to undermine the obvious success that Apple TV has accumulated, Keith Loria, a writer for CMO.com, has written an extensive article documenting the short falls of “television complimenting devices,” and points to societal norms as a possible reason for a plateau effect on sales and uses. He writes, the TV is still very relevant, “because of the family and group dynamic of watching TV together in households.” (1) He goes on to quote Jay Miletsky, CEO of Sequel Media Group, stating, “The TV experience is a completely different experience that the experience of watching video content on a PC or mobile device. For one thing, TV is more communal- you watch with your friends or family, while PCs and mobile devices are more isolating… TV is a more of a ‘lean-back’ vs. ‘lean-on’ experience, where people watch TV with more of a relaxed attitude that they do strictly Web content.” (1)

While such societal tendencies to communally watch television –or entertainment in general –may for the time being put a ceiling on auxiliary entertainment devices. Erik Dochtermann, CEO of KD+E, a media research agency, believes that in “the long term, the spread of TV viewing to other mobile devices will be more rapid as the younger generation gets older, as their viewing habits are significantly different than the previous generation.”(1) Which may lead to way more impressive and integrated entertainment devices, but for now Apple is the King of such a genre of entertainment, and I would put my money on them continuing its superiority in the future.

1. Loria, Keith. “Insight/ Traditional Media.” New Life For Old Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2013.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter

PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)

 

iTunes Radio: Have They Hit It Out of The Park?

Kelli Richards October 7, 2013

radio_1xCustomizable, user integrated, radio stations have become the norm on music playing services, from Pandora to Spotify to fm.Radio; so it was just a matter of time before Apple’s iTunes developed and released a radio application of its own. And in classic Apple style, the iTunes Radio (accessible directly through iTunes, after downloading the new software) hits it out of the park.

Similar to its competitors, iTunes Radio, allows the user to create personal radio stations based on a specific artist, song, or genre. But where iTunes Radio differs from other learn-on-the-fly radio stations is the option to listen to 250, DJ created and genre organized stations. Featured stations range from The Beatles Radio, to the Voice, to “Miley Cyrus Bangerz,” Diplo tracks, and of course iTunes Top 100. In this way iTunes Radio reminded me of Sirius Satellite and other satellite car stations, offering unique, specific music.

But in exploring iTunes Radio, I picked several categories to study in comparing it with its competitors; the categories being: price, and music recommendations. In terms of price you can listen to iTunes Radio for free if you’re okay with listening to advertisements. However if you own an iTunes Match account, $25 a year, which allows you to store all your music in the iCloud and access it on any device, you can listen to iTunes Radio ad-free. Such a deal. Pay for music accessibility and the absence of ads is offered through Spotify as well; Spotify offers free use, with ads, uninterrupted music on a laptop or desktop for $4.99 a month, or uninterrupted music anywhere on all devices for $9.99 a month.

Pandora also offers a free service with advertisements, or an upgrade with similar deals to iTunes Radio and Spotify for either $36 a year, or $3.99 a month. Another great feature of iTunes Radio that can’t really be matched by its competitors is the ability to purchase a song you have recently discovered, again through iTunes Radio, and have it available in your music library. And you own this song, its not just saved in a queue!

Now on to what I think is obviously the most important aspect of iTunes Radio: the music. In this field, at least at the moment, I don’t quite see iTunes Radio competing with Pandora, in that Pandora offers more than 500 genre-based stations, and more than a million songs from more than 100,000 artists. (iTunes claims they have the most, but haven’t put a number on the “most”). It may be this extensive music catalog that Pandora has acquired that makes its music recommendations not only more accurate but more fun.

I can’t tell you how many new songs and artists I have discovered listening to Pandora radio, and in the few hours that I experimented with iTunes Radio I didn’t come across one “new” artist that I hadn’t heard of. This may just be a result of Pandora being in business longer and perfecting the art of recommending music, but to me they clearly had the advantage in this area. In addition, Pandora’s option to learn more about the playing artist and song lyrics is just a nice touch, aiding in your ability to “discover” new musicians.

That being said, iTunes Radio claims the more you use it, the better the recommendations. (Would you expect them to say anything different?). But for now it reminds me of iTunes “Genius recommendations on steroids.” But they have room to grow and most likely will.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

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