Hi Forum,

Quick question(s):

1: How do you feel about having your own Mobile App?

2: Do you believe Mobile Apps could play a good role for marketing? If so, how?

I'm really intrigued to hear some of your answers.

What is Mobile Apps?

Shouldn't this go in the food forum? If I'm not mistaken Mobile Apps is restaurant lingo for "mobile appetizers" i.e.; food on a stick like corn dogs!

Just kidding! Actually, it is referring to small programs and features used on portable devices such as the i-phone.

Exactly!

My question is: How do music artists feel about them? Would they like to have their own phone app on mobile devices? Would it help their marketing potential?

I don't see what it offers that is of any interest to songwriters. Songwriters need to get their product out, not have something else to act as an impediment to what they do. Another technical wormhole to go down? None for me, thanks.

MAB

Very good response Marc.

Now the thing is though that if you're a songwriter, wouldn't you want to engage your fans more interactively?

Possibly.

But you haven't answered how having a mobile app. benefits songwriters. As I understand it, an "app" is something you put on your own phone, games, news, etc. that is for your personal enjoyment or to make doing your business easier. But we already have our songs. It is doubtful that having a personal app. is going to be of much use.

The other thing is that many songwriters are not that technically active. I know I am not. I am more in the creative side and have other people who do that sort of thing. The learning curve of technology is where I would spend doing music.The same reason I don't indulge in home studios. Doesn't work for me. As it is I am already involved with technology mostly through the Internet much more than I would already want to be. So adding yet another layer has no interest to me.

But I am sure there are others here that might be interested in your explination of what you are talking about. I am not one of those customers but there are plenty of them out there.

MAB

Songwriters are not necessarily performing artists, and therefore may not be looking to create a fan base.

Bingo.

Actually a very small percentage of songwriters are performers. So interacting with fan base is irrelavant. Good one Vickki.

MAB

Mobile apps are only "good" if they help the user be awesome, not just the artist. Most artists apps are junk, just a bunch of MP3s and images thrown together like a press kit. Bor-ing. No one cares.

But the right app can get some traction. For example, T-Pain released that iPhone app last year that let *anyone* Autotune their own voice. It was a hit, and got him good press coverage. It was a plaything, sure, but the key is that it allowed users to do something cool. (And trust me, autotune is *magic* to some people.)

You have to think about the user, not yourself. Would I buy a John Mayer app? No. Would I buy a John Mayer "Learn How to Solo Like John Mayer" app? Now THAT'S interesting...