JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum IAIRA - Who are they and what does this mean ????

Hello all. I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Mike Alden and I am the director of media and marketing for IAIRA. I was recently brought on board to accomplish several objectives. Along with the normal marketing duties that I have preformed for most of my career I am tasked with finding new and innovative ways for independent artists to promote their careers in a cost effective if not free manner. Frankly this objective was my main reason for taking the job. It is what makes this job new and exciting.

Out of all the senior personnel at the company I have the least music industry exposure. What I bring to the table is a lengthy resume of marketing experience in various industries. Per our charter I hope to give the independent artists a way to level the playing field. There are some exciting things coming over the next few months. Keep an eye on the IAIRA website.

So that’s my intro now I want to talk about some of the things brought up in this thread and keep in mind my thoughts come from the marketing side as I have the artistic creativity of a slide rule.

It was brought up that the IAIRA might have made a poor choice in relocating from Nashville to Virginia Beach for its U.S. operations. If our business was focused on the established music industry I would agree that a Music Row address would be the ticket. However our clients (you) are independents from all over the world representing all forms of music in an electronic age. True centralization of the music industry is quickly becoming a thing of the past. The business truly is in the midst of a revolution.

So why Virginia Beach? Why not. As was said before it is a great place to live and for me an even better place to visit when business requires me to come to the home office. I look forward to a little beach time.

Nightshift made the wallpaper comment. From an artist point of view I would agree that a number 14 ranking on what may or may not be a relevant chart hardly seems worth bothering with. After all if that sites charts don’t get enough traffic to be relevant they my not even be part of IAIRA’s tabulations in the future.

Now as a marketing guy I see things a whole different way. I see an opportunity to promote my song. I can now release multiple press releases letting the world know that my song is out there and on the way up. I can literally drive traffic to my song raising my music’s relevance along with the chart where it was posted. And if all the stars align I might even sell some of my songs but even more important than all of that I am establishing myself with media presence. The IAIRA website has all the tools to do it and it costs nothing to utilize it.

To do what you guys do you have to be an artist. To do it and be successful you have to know how to promote your self at every opportunity unless you have the bucks to hire the people that do. IAIRA is there mostly for the ones who’s pockets may not be so deep.

A bit lengthy but hey, that’s what I do.

Thanks