Comments on: The great music blogging swindle

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:26:11 +0000

Wow Dan great post (the discussion it generated is testimony to that). I think the problem is that this promotion for bloggers is it’s early stages. For many of us the idea of getting things for free is actually quite exciting. So when we don’t return the favour we feel a little guilty. But I think as time goes on and the practise becomes more common, the lure of freebies won’t be so great. Also, as someone mentioned earlier, us Aussie bloggers have a great community thing going which will lead to a certain level of accountability. Especially since promoters will often send material to all of us, so we will know when one blog is selling out. And if this ever happened I think it should be brought to peoples’ attention as we have a responsility to our readers and bias just aint cool….

By: Dom

Dom — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 01:53:29 +0000

Great post Dan, it’s interesting in two ways – one, through your take on the matter and two, on the responses that have been generated.
Coming from the music media perspective, the type of treatment that is now being given to bloggers is no different to what’s been happening in mainstream media for too many years to count. I can review a gig or a theatre performance and not have to pay for my ticket – it’s just the done thing. But that doesn’t cloud my judgment when it comes to reviewing that show – then all reviews you would read would be positive. It’s now that “the blog” is becoming a regular source of information for the mainstream that bloggers are getting the same type of treatment as other types of media because it’s being viewed in it’s own right as a important media outlet.
It comes as no surprise that the Zune got a high amount of coverage on blogs – after all, blogs originated as an online diary for users, so if Microsoft are going to pay for a free trip, I’m sure as hell going to want to write about it, that’s a big deal. It’s clever marketing on Microsoft’s behalf because it’s getting the brand name out. There’s nothing seedy or underhanded about it, it’s plain and simple psychology.
With the Young & Restless gig, it was helped by the fact that Y+R and Paper Scissors are two of the best up and coming indie bands in the Sydney music scene. If it was a gig of a lesser calibre, no doubt it would receive less coverage, or perhaps it would receive poorer reviews.
Alternatively, I got the chance to meet some fellow bloggers. Aussie blogging is a relatively new medium and we’re all in it for the same goal – to promote great music – so the chance to meet and network is only going to make the community stronger and, in the end, be of benefit to all those who regularly source blogs for new information and music.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:16:20 +0000

I come from the other perspective, the nasty PR/Spin doctor side. We include quite a few blogs on our media list because lots of influential journos have their own blog and blogs are now recieving enough attention for our clients to want to be on.
Us hacks put our client’s best foot forward and it’s up the the journo to do some digging around themselves. Same with bloggers, except if you’ve been doing this thing for free for ages and this is the first time you’ve gotten anything for free you might be a little postitive about it. I’m sometimes very surprised about the amount of work a writer will delegate to a pr person.
On another note: carrying a camera into a gig early is one of the tricks i’ve used to get on the door list, and the bands aren’t too worried about where the pics end up as long as you’re spreading the word. It’s good to see bloggers getting something 4 free, and it looks like a certain band’s management’s been hard at work scoping the music blogs. Good on them and great post Dan.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:56:51 +0000

Well said Sean.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:29:43 +0000

Thanks for joining the discussion Sean, it’s great to hear about the Zune/blogger arrangement from the horses mouth, so to speak.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:16:51 +0000

I thought I’d jump in here as one of the “co-opted” parties in the Zune junket. First, props to Dan for the well-thought, well-written post. I’ve encountered other blogs who weren’t as polite (making their envy obvious) while questioning our coverage.
I agreed to participate because a) the Zune would interest my readers immensely, b) I’d get a chance to meet other bloggers and c) my site (and the bands we review) would hopefully get some extra exposure.
As a point of full disclosure, here’s what the trip consisted of: airline tickets to Seattle, one night at Hotel Max, transportation to and from Microsoft, taxi vouchers, a Microsoft visitors badge (sticker), Microsoft branded soft drinks, light refreshments, and drinks and dinner. Oh, and a Zune t-shirt and baseball cap. That’s it. No Zune. No software. We couldn’t even take pictures of the Zune.
What did they ask us to do?
They asked us NOT to mention anything about any of this until 12pm (EST, USA) September 14, 2006.
That’s it.
In fact, two of the bloggers in attendance (scenestars & tiny mixtapes) STILL haven’t posted word one about the trip. How’s that for sticking it to the man?
I don’t think the Zune coverage changed the personal nature of the blogging space. I actually think it reinforced it. Most of the music blogs who were there made references to the others in attendance and offered their personal takes on the Zune. As for the traditional press outlets, like the Los Angeles Times (who were in attendance at the same junket) they didn’t mention their trip at all. They kept their reviews full of “journalistic integrity.”
Don’t be fooled. A vast majority of product reviews you read about in newspapers and magazines, or see/hear on TV/radio, were somehow supported by the company behind the product. Writers of such reviews often received the product they’re reviewing free of charge. That’s not all. Nabisco pays the grocery store to put that box of Chip Ahoy’s right in front of your nose. Sony pays Best Buy to put Beyoncé on its endcaps (and $100K for front page placement in their weekly flyers). And in the U.S. tobacco companies contribute to BOTH the Republican and Democratic parties. Ladies and gentlemen: Capitalism.
And yes, it’s true, your favorite bloggers probably regularly receive books, gadgets, CDs, concert tickets, backstage passes, meals and more from corporations. It’s those bloggers that can continue to keep such exchanges transparent, honest, personal and immediate. Hopefully, those traits will continue to effect and influence the culture at large.

By: BayTaper.com

BayTaper.com — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:47:38 +0000

As a fellow music blogger (SF, USA), I just wanted wanted to say “good job” on this post. Very insightful, presents some serious things to think about…

By: Tom&Duds

Tom&Duds — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:54:38 +0000

Did you all know that at Subway you can enjoy a footlong Turkey Breast Sub, with your choice of a variety of vegetables and condiments served on bread baked right in the restaurant in Jamaica, then travel to New Zealand and get the same footlong Turkey Breast Sub!
cha ching.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 05:50:23 +0000

Yeah, the only stuff I EVER put on my site is stuff I actually really like/love. And I’m lucky that my blog has NOTHING to do with my career so I don’t have to worry about offending any potential job opportunities like some of you guys.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 05:37:08 +0000

I’m glad to see this has provoked some good discussion.
Jerry – i agree that it’s not neccesarily a bad thing for Microsoft (or any company) to be courting bloggers. Better they recognise them and bloggers get some of the exclusives usually reserved for mainstream media.
I think i just lament the passing of blogging from being a purely personal writing/publishing space, to one that’s been co-opted for commercial means. But that’s just the idealist in me. I’ve got nothing against people making money from blogging.
Pike – totally agree that the Candy’s gig wasn’t a calculated guerilla marketing campaign. But it is indicative of the way blog buzz can be generated.
Hutch – great input. I reckon we all do this out of a love for music, and telling people about cool stuff we like.
Sean – that’s an interesting predicament. I reckon you’d find that happening across all the music blogs, PR folks seeding mp3′s to the bloggers. I certainly don’t see any other mp3 blogs disclosing every time they’ve been given an mp3, so i wouldn’t feel too bad about it. I’ve been sent the odd mp3, but so far haven’t posted any. It’d make me feel like i was getting used. That said if it was from a band i loved already i wouldn’t have any hesitation, but i would probably disclose where it came from.