Describe how niche markets and economics dominate in the digital world of abundant content and infinite shelf space. In this assignment you will simulate the job of a record company promotional associate, focusing on a specific very specific sub-genre or niche of music and one or two artists from the new Ramix Volume 3 compilation in that genre.
Follow these steps for this project:
1. Listen to the 12 tracks on the new Ramix Music compilation of songs written and produced Ramapo Music students
LINK TO RAMIX VOLUME 3 TRACKS – you must be logged into your Ramapo Google account in order to access them
(Links to an external site.)
2. Find the song that most appeals to you.
3. Locate a musical genre or niche that the song fits into. Choose a small, micro-niche if possible, such as “Soundcloud rap” or “Liquid Drum and Bass” rather than “Hip-hop” or “EDM.”
What specific qualities define the niche musically? Again, think about what differentiates this sound from similar genres.
What strategies do successful artists in this niche use to connect with audiences and achieve their goals?
How would you describe the audience for this niche and what else do they have in common other than an appreciation for this music? (Styles, non-musical ideas, social/political views, etc.) This can be deduced from studying social media feeds, websites, podcasts, interviews, etc.
Create or share a Spotify or YouTube playlist that represents the genre, one that your Ramix artist would fit into well.
4. Using the examples you located in #3, come up with a list of ideas for how the Ramix artist could best promote themselves. Think about the chapters in Baskerville and the other online materials on music marketing as you define your strategies. What kinds of imagery, subject matter, and other content would be useful in attracting more audiences to this artist? Use online and library materials to broaden your search beyond what we have covered in class.
