LISTEN ANEW
"Forget MTV, Apple's iPod ads are the new music makers", proclaims this article in today's San Francisco Chronicle. It elaborates:
"Since 2001, small, independent bands appearing in iPod commercials have sold thousands of records, been placed on numerous Billboard charts, and drawn the respect and admiration of music fans around the world.
Apple's promotional influence has grown so great that music industry insiders now compare it with Oprah Winfrey's ability to create best-sellers through her book club."
It certainly true in my case. I've been buying iPod ad music for several years now, going even so far as to have a play-list on my iPod titled "iPod Ad Tunes".
Others have similar ideas. If you search for "iPod commercials" in the iMix section of iTunes, where other users can put together "mix" play-lists of their favorite tracks from the service, you'll find dozens of iPod ad music there.
It's not just Apple commercials. In general, TV shows and commercials for a wide range of products and services are now breaking new music for some time now.
They've become a primary source of new music discovery for both myself and for presumably many other viewers.
Starbucks has even turned this phenomenon into a boutique music label for itself.
Much of this trend has been ad hoc and organic.
It seems to be driven by early adopters and/or music geeks. It'll be interesting to see if we see either existing or new companies start to compile and better organize this music so that it becomes even more accessible to mainstream listeners. This seems just to be the beginning.
Comments