The Memefication of Your B(r)and

I’ve tweeted this out a couple times, but in case you’ve missed it, you should head on over to Hipster Runoff and read The Memefication of Your Band. If you’re new to the bro-talk, just keep an open mind and read through the thing. Think about your own experience online and the way some things spread ‘virally’ these days. Think about how what he says really reflects how we consume today. The whole article is well worth the read, and I particular like this list of guidelines:

Your Band Must Keep These In Mind.

• Do not FORCE memes on consumers.
• Make sure your memes are either original, or do a good job of copying pre-existing memes.
• Know your band. Know your memes. Know your audience.
• Don’t feel entitled to anything. Your band’s existence is a journey.
• Do not rebel against the biggest news sources. You must embrace them/manipulate them. There is no other way. Become bros.
• Don’t waste your day friending tweens on myspace/random twitter followers. This is the illusion of progress. You are not entering into the heart of the Music Meme Economy by doing this.
• The tastemaking economy may or may not be more important/fun than bands themselves.
• Making+filtering memes = responsibility.
• Every one, every band, and every website is searching for authenticity on their own terms.
• Every one, every band, and every website is searching for a way to make money on any one’s terms.
• Memes can be simple or complex.  Usually the more ‘organic’ a meme-birth is, the more likely the meme is to help your brand.
• There are downsides to creating a fan base with a high demand for your memes, including lack of personal privacy and album leaks.