Has the Internet killed MTV's relevance? The video or the leak?

[Minneapolisnewsman]

As video killed the radio star, has the internet killed the importance of getting a video on MTV?  I think that now, in a different way, word of mouth marketing is going to be the preferred marketing method for serious rock artists.  In the 60's, it was the explosion of short-run printing, thus the underground daily phenomena, most predominantly Rolling Stone and the Village Voice.  If a band could get the independent, underground writers reviewing "your" show, or talking about "your" scene, it was the way a band became big--if you were good. Today, it is the internet, with messageboards and blogs generating the buzz!  The independent podcast, the fanantical bloggers, etc.

It seemed to me, that in 2001-2002, GNR did not have a team fully aware of how to market and generate buzz online.  I think, to me anyway's, it is pretty obvious that they are figuring out how to create a feeding frenzy online.  Instead of the late night "video premiere," we get the "online demo leak."  Thoughts?

[Gaymo, the Hobbit]

i think it's not an internet issue , it's more that MTV isn't about music videos anymore, but about stupid shows...

[Dead N' Bloated]

Mtv killed itself. with thier fuckin tv shows


 

[bigcash2002]

Agreed.....they are doing like 15 seasons of the real world instead of videos
The upside: At least 85% of the real world chicks have big tities

[DunkinDave]

MTV hasn't been credible in the music industry for a while now.

[McDuff]

MTV is a fuckin' joke these days

[Minneapolisnewsman]

MTV hasn't been credible in the music industry for a while now.

Agreed, MTV shot itself in the leg.  But, in general, the "video" does not have the relevance it did since the internet, and multiple interactive streams of media have sprung up on the web.  Record companies are under a huge transition, coming to grips with radical changes in the market place, and figuring out how to move product.

[faldor]

If and when Chinese Democracy comes out it'll be interesting to see what GNR does for videos because they're just not seen as prevalently as they were back in the UYI days.  And of course GNR made some epic videos.  Hopefully they will continue that trend.

Unfortunately for artists the internet has killed album sales, or should I say CD's.  I still buy CD's of bands I like but I know plenty of people who will download anything they can get their hands on to save 10 or 15 bucks.

[Minneapolisnewsman]

If and when Chinese Democracy comes out it'll be interesting to see what GNR does for videos because they're just not seen as prevalently as they were back in the UYI days.? And of course GNR made some epic videos.? Hopefully they will continue that trend.

Unfortunately for artists the internet has killed album sales, or should I say CD's.? I still buy CD's of bands I like but I know plenty of people who will download anything they can get their hands on to save 10 or 15 bucks.

Release the album online, with better than mp3 quality, which could not be shared, or only burned once (don't know how that woudl be accomplished) for $.35 to $.50 a song and I think you could cut some of the illegal downloading out. Remember, when album is released, the costs of producing the CD's, artwork, and packaging are enormous.  On the flip side, putting phenomenal artwork into a CD would make it a collector's item.  Also, the CD itself is becoming a irrelevant content carrier, with IPOD's.

There is no doubt, making a big budget video, or having a "world premiere" like they did for YCBM, or November Rain, does not carry the weight it used to.

[Chief]

You're right, the internet has become way more important than MTV these days as a promotional vehicle.  Mostly now "video" channels show all kinds of other crap so why bother right?  They are still somewhat important but i don't think they are nearly as big as they used to be.  I can't remember any big videos lately actually.  Video games are also another big avenue for band promotion.  I wouldn't be surprised if much fewer videos were made , or perhaps mostly live videos. 

Hopefully Guns N' Roses can use the internet as a great promotional tool (and i'm not talking about the camp leaking demos, which doesn't make sense at all to me) and perhaps put videos directly online first.
If I were them i'd put a clip of an official single online as a teaser and then put out a single on itunes or something like that, plus release a DVD single with some bonus stuff.  There are a lot of options out there, its just a matter of getting things together at the right time and taking advantage of them.  It will be very interesting to see....

p.s. it really is too bad so many people pirate albums these days, and that is a whole different debate.  But if they want to get more people to buy it, they should put in bonus content like dvds and packaging and so on to drive more sales....

[NickNasty]

Still operating from the idea gnr themselves are behind the leaks newsman?

not sure if they are or not-but i do agree mtv's relevance as a promotional vehicle for rock artists is dead-and not surprising given bands finance the videos themselves (thats why tom petty quit doing them).

but i still think the video medium can be a good promotional vehicle combined with the net- put your vids on launch or something and they'll be watched, especially if they're creative. and lord knows mr. rose ha smade some creative videos,

[Minneapolisnewsman]

Still operating from the idea gnr themselves are behind the leaks newsman?

not sure if they are or not-but i do agree mtv's relevance as a promotional vehicle for rock artists is dead-and not surprising given bands finance the videos themselves (thats why tom petty quit doing them).

but i still think the video medium can be a good promotional vehicle combined with the net- put your vids on launch or something and they'll be watched, especially if they're creative. and lord knows mr. rose ha smade some creative videos,

Not completely sure about these right now (wheretf did they come from?   ), but "leak's" are a huge promotional tool, done by the label in one form or another, over 75% of the time.

If I were GNR, I would launch a really fuckin rad website all at once, with a song or two for $.99 to download, and a video to go along with the press release.?

[SLCPUNK]

MTV killed MTV's relevance.................

[DoubleTalkingJive]

MTV killed MTV's relevance.................

Agreed...there are other music channels out there that are still devoted to music.   I think the internet ofcourse is a major if not the number one promotional tool out there for bands that are famous to bands that are not signed and trying to make it.

[Buddha_Master]

The real question is how big is MTV today? What are the ratings and standings? I think MTV is still very large, and getting in on that shit opens you up to the generation who is making MTV as large a presence as it still is. This is whether we like it or not. I agree that MTV sucks. But they still are the largest music channel empire out there. Shit what is there, like 6 MTV channels on cable/satellite. You better bet your ass GNR will play nice with MTV.

[Minneapolisnewsman]

The real question is how big is MTV today? What are the ratings and standings? I think MTV is still very large, and getting in on that shit opens you up to the generation who is making MTV as large a presence as it still is. This is whether we like it or not. I agree that MTV sucks. But they still are the largest music channel empire out there. Shit what is there, like 6 MTV channels on cable/satellite. You better bet your ass GNR will play nice with MTV.

I think it's big, but it does not transcend as large of a buying populace as it did twenty years ago.  In fact, I don't know of many 21-40 year olds that even watch MTV; maybe MTV or VH1 occasionally.  The internet, though, touches almost everyone.  I think bands, with name creditibility, can really exploit their own website--with content for sale, etc.  One has to wonder, once the leaks started, if GNR would have just put a link up on their site, to download IRS for $2.00, how many copies they would have pushed.  I bet over a million.  Who knows?

I think GNR could, and may be planning this, capitalize on a huge upcoming website launch--with content, products, and a video and single for sale!!  That would be a grand event!  Also, they could stream a live show on their website, and archive great performances as a tour progresses.  Couldn't do that in 2002 without an album.

[Luigi]

MTV used to be like JACK RAdio is now,( here on the west coast ), less talk more music. 

[brownstonemr]

I cannot stand when they have the request segments where u email or text in.......why? Cause u end up seeing a Jessica Simpson video about 3 times in half and hour.  I wouldn't put that down to fans voting either....MTV just use that as an excuse to heavy rotate the awful videos.

Muchmusic is pretty awful to. The VJ's ask bands the worst questions haha and they have this Top 10 playlist video section. "Top 10 So Wet Video's" Yay more Simpson and boy band vids.

VH1 or MuchMoreMusic is the only music video TV i'll watch cause they always have behind the music playing.

Plus I'll always find my favourite bands video and news on the internet way before I see it on MTV. So why tune in......really.  Thats one reason they came up with so many reality shows that hit it big. People see something they can't already find out or know......even though its usually fake and crap.

[crazyfool]

MTV killed themselves.  case closed. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

   It's a good thing I'm not in Axl's shoes.  If I was, I'd be flooding P2P file-stealing networks with either slightly fucked-up files, or downright virus-ridden files to punish those that want to steal my work. 

   Yeah, it's a shame MTV went to shit.  Maybe a special video release with CD?  That would be cool.