Bands as Brands
Fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal (hat tip: Tamera H. Bennett) about The Black-Eyed Peas (dubbed "The Most Corporate Band in America"), and the metrics of success in the contemporary music industry. Pull-quotes:
"I consider us a brand. A brand always has stylized decks, from colors to fonts. Here's our demographic. Here's the reach. Here's the potential. Here's how the consumer will benefit from the collaboration."
... Selling records used to be the secret to success. The trajectory of the Black Eyed Peas has been about corporate connections.
