The Master Griot Project Reveals Ways that Music Artists Are Using HBCUConnect.com, Blackbusinessspace.com, UrbanPhilly.com, And MySpace.com To Market Their Art

We have all heard stories about the artists who have been taken advantage of because they have no business or marketing prowess. Well, recently artists have come to understand there is power in numbers ... and in using internet site like Using HBCUConnect.com, Blackbusinessspace.com, UrbanPhilly.com, And MySpace.com to market their art. Whether you work in music, dance, poetry or spoken word, you will find that if your are not using the internet as part of your marketing strategy, you are living in the stone ages. An internet presence is a must in marketing. It is also important to use internet marketing techniques in your marketing mix.

One such group has taken this understanding of art, marketing and the internet to a whole new level is The Master Griot Project™ (MGP). The Master Griot Projectis a strategic marketing campaign that mobilizes the Spoken Word industry to create new markets while building branding, business, and communities through the artistry of eleven master level lesser-known performance poets:

Quiet Rage, Shyster aka Mrs. Betty's Son, Tommy Bottoms, Queen, Brother's Keepa, Lyrispect, Amun, Bernard Collins, Infinite Life, Infinite Life and Just Greg.

MGP uses technology and the power of the internet to market the image, sound, and works of the Master Griot artists as well as the industry of spoken word/performance poetry. The goal is to develop a fan base for the artists and their poetry. To develop the fan base MGP must first create a value for poetry, spoken word, and performance poetry.

Everything is relationship driven and the internet is a vast and wonderful opportunity for developing global relationships without having to leave your home. MGP identifies problems and then shows the world how the Master Griot artists' spoken word/performance poetry can solve them.

"I would love to say this is an easy and simple formula, but it is not. It is layered and your online marketing must be mixed with offline marketing. Technology is more than the internet. Right now there is a big movement in marketing through mobile phones and consumer driven video content. MGP is capitalizing from all of these arenas," says Jacqueline Taylor-Adams, Chief Marketing Officer of The Master Griot Project™, "currently, MGP has ringtones for a few of our artists and will have them for all of our artists very soon. Also, MGP is partnering with a consultant with Vibe On-Demand, to help ensure that this new channel will have quality purposed entertainment that will uplift the community and, of course, ensure some slots for the performance poetry of the Master Griot artists."

Here's an example of where this technology culminates at an offline activity...

MGP doesn't just have a website, but has pages on at least ten different online social communities from MySpace to Black Business Space. The internet allows MGP to connect with specialty communities to market the individual artists, their music, and help in obtaining gigs, i.e. Garage Band, Sonic Bids, Eventful, etc.

Some communities, MGP supports soley based on existing relationships and a real desire to create forward movement economically for the Black community. This spirit of support amongst entities with like goals helps in building a fan base, thus MGP's participation and presence on HBCUConnect.com, Black Business Space, and UrbanPhilly.com's MySpace contest.

Now here's the case scenario:

Master Griot Project has a website, an internet radio station, and is currently in negotiations to build an unprecedented online community exclusively for the spoken word industry and its fans. This online community along with a Top 40 for Spoken Word, on-site video shoots and an international webcast will all be revealed and experienced at MGP's debut event, Poetry Steps OUT-THE-BOX, coming October 6, 2007 at the Arts Garage in Philadelphia, PA.

MGP will use its technology tools in promoting the event, we are now 7-8 weeks out before the event...

MGP's Purpose Driven Words MySpace page has been a part of Urban Philly.com's MySpace contest for at least four months, on Black Business Space for two months, and on HBCUConnect.com for at least six months.

On August 6, 2007, Vibe On-Demand Consultant, Chris Pettiway was interviewed on MGP's internet radio show, Marketing Mondays, where he explained On-Demand technology the groundfloor opportunities available with it, especially those available with Vibe On-Demand. The show opens with one of the Master Griot artists spoken word pieces. The link to this podcast has been sent through MySpace Bulletins, Blog on Black Business Space, sent directly to filmmakers, and to entertainment groups. Chris Pettiway has placed a link on his MySpace page.

On August 10, 2007 a group email was sent to friends on Black Business Space as well as an email blast to half of my email list asking everyone for their support via a vote for MGP's Purpose Driven Words on UrbanPhilly . By Monday, August 13, 2007, MGP moved from 5th place to 3rd place with they have an offer for two articles, and closing a deal to do an interview for the next Marketing Monday.

This activity has allowed for early promotion and anticipation of our debut event. The cost of using this technology has been time. Also, the e-blast asked people to visit the MySpace page to hear the artists works. Once they are there, there is a link to each artists and a link to MGP's Griot Pledge, which allows them to use words spoken to uplift our community.

There are so many ways in which The Master Griot Project™ uses internet and technology to market the project and create revenue opportunities for the project and participating artists.

Please, remember in everything you do its relationship building. Be thoughtful, listen, and make sure you present your work as something that supports your target audience wants, needs, and/or desires. Whether online line or offline, whether manual or technological, never forget the human factor. That's what connects us all and it the human that made the technology.

NOTE: MGP is looking for volunteers and interns who would be interested:
•
in being part of developing this unprecedented online community working in partnership with some of pioneers of online community programming. AND
•
working as A&R reps for phenomenal spoken word performance poets

For more information, contact Jacqueline Taylor-Adams at 1.888.846.9811.

Source
Email from Jacqueline Taylor-Adams, Chief Marketing Officer of The Master Griot Project™