The Importance of Who You Are as an Artist

[ 0 ] September 22, 2011 | NewRockstarPhilosophy

I posted recently about the power of music documentaries when it comes to tightening the bond with fans and attracting new fans. I touched on it lightly in that post, but fans knowing who and what you’re about really matters.

Besides being exposed to the music, a very important piece of the doc which made me a super fan is finding out how fuckin’ cool Tom Petty is. He’s just a straight up bad-ass who went for what he wanted. I was drawn to who he is as a person just as much the music.

Even seeing Pearl Jam the other night, it was clear why they filled the arena with everyone singing along. Yes, the songs are great, but Vedder and crew stand for something more than just the music. They fought Rolling Stone over Vedder being on the cover cause these guys are a band (just look at the album cover for “Ten”). They fought ticket master because they didn’t want their fans to be spending a ton of money to see there shows. They don’t do video screens at shows because they don’t want their show to be a DVD (I was told this by the friends I went with to the show-who are super fans). They are the people’s band and the people dig that.

What you’re about matters just as much as the music.

Ever notice how people find out something negative about the artist as a person and then stop being a fan?? (i.e John lennon making the bigger than Jesus comment and then all the church-heads started burning the records) People first dig your music and then want to dig who you are as a person.