tumbledry

Steal This Idea

Consider this: one month after only part of a song called “New Soul” by Yael Naim backed the first commercial for Apple’s Macbook Air, the song debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Disregarding its precipitous tumble down the charts after that, it is easy to see that featuring music on TV can have a profound effect on sales. This brings me to my idea: illustrated radio.

I’m not talking music videos — not only has the culture around those been absolutely beat into the corporate cemetery by MTV/VH1, but the idea is tired. We need something simple and fresh. Here’s what you do (the details are very important):

Finally, call the show “Music.” Do not call it anything else. You are promoting music, you are sharing good music. But don’t call the show “Good Music,” because that’s an opinion. The goal here is to take all the strengths and innovations of podcasting and combine them with the strengths of network TV.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. If you do that, this show will. Be. Awesome.

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Comments

Mykala

So what would actually be shown on the screen while the music is playing? I am confused…

Alexander Micek

Oh shoot, I forgot to mention that. There’d be album art, a track listing; I think allowing the artist to choose what they wanted shown could be useful, too. So… no music videos, but actually showing the music being made in the studio (possibly on stage) could be cool. Rather like the “Scotch Mist” production by Radiohead on New Year’s Eve.

Nils

I think your idea is great, Alex. It also sounds somewhat similar to The Current’s style of web promotion. They do in-studio performances for artists who are touring through the Cities and I think they have their own You Tube channel. I love their videos. They include a short interview and then a live performance of a song or two (or three). I think maybe this style of video would work for your imaginary/ideal TV show.

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