I’m fascinated with QR codes and the many ways they can be used in marketing. Like 3D television, it’s difficult to make an impact when the reach and penetration is so low, but my head is spinning with ideas for the time that every hand-held device will have a QR reader or decoder.

I’ve already seen movie posters plastered all over NYC that are simply one huge QR code (wish I could remember which one it was… OK, obviously branding is an issue…).

I use the QR App by Block5 for iphone (not perfect, but free). Download it here and then snap this:

I’d love to hear your thoughts on QR codes and any ideas or success stories using them.

One of our nearest and dearest, Strange Celebrity‘s Joshua Black Wilkins, is taking it to the fans to help him finish his record.  Please join us to support this incredible artist.

PLEDGE HERE:

ENJOY HERE:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrv8ChQyUn4

Yeah I know, it’s a funny little word, not very well known, doesn’t totally roll off the tongue.  So why choose to build my brand around it?

Here’s a quick snapshot from Wikipedia:

An artisan (from Italian: artigiano) is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewelry, household items, and tools. The term can also be used as an adjective to refer to the craft of hand making food products, such as bread, beverages and cheese.

<pay attention – this part is important!> Manufacture by hand and with hand tools imparts unique and individual qualities to artisanal products, in contrast to mass produced goods where every one is nearly identical. Artisans traditionally work in media such as wood, ceramics, glass, common and precious metals, basketry, textiles, esparto grass, and leather.

To be honest, I hadn’t seen this entry until I just looked it up a moment ago, but look how nicely it explains Artisanal Management’s tagline and credo – Unique*Individual*Handcrafted.

You’re an artisan too, aren’t you?  Whether you’re making music, making business, or expressing yourself in a way that’s uniquely you, don’t you strive to put your personal, carefully crafted stamp on things?  I live in a creative world “in contrast to mass produced goods where every one is nearly identical” and my clients do too.

Don’t make the mistake that artisanal also means ‘small’ – ponder Lady GaGa for a moment, or even Taylor Swift.  Those two ladies started small, sure, but handcrafted their careers into the stratosphere.

And lastly, what could be better than being associated with bread, beverages and cheese?

Our friends at Full Throttle Country and Finger Candy Media invited some of the marketing mavens in the entertainment and branding worlds to look into their crystal balls and come up with some predictions for the evolution of social media in 2010.

Not to keep you in suspense any longer, here’s what I said:

“For my clients, video blogging and regular ‘webisodes’ will be a mandatory component of any marketing plan.  Not only does a piece of video content help you go viral exponentially, it gives you a great opportunity to continually shape your image and your story in a way that you can control 100%.  And, when people can see and hear you, it makes the connection to you that much stronger.”

What they didn’t print was my personal mea culpa, saying that I’m unlikely to follow my own advice since I am not a fan of the camera (which is why I’m a marketing gal and not a rock star).  However, if I’ve learned anything along the way, it’s ‘never say never…’ #RomeoVoid #CouldntResist

We’re thrilled to welcome The Fletchers to our roster in support of their upcoming release “Lights Out Loud” in early 2010.

The Fletchers was formed by singer-songwriter Gary Kaplan following successful runs with two other bands Rotator Cuff and Dandelion Fire in the 1990′s. Dandelion Fire, opening for the likes of Blur, The Charlatans and Catherine Wheel and eventually signed to Shimmy Disc/ Koko Pop. Rotator Cuff created a buzz following the release of an EP with the single “Alfa Romeo” on Park N Ride Records out of San Francisco. The video for Alfa Romeo was featured on MTV’s120 Minutes and the music on House of Style, The Real World and Unfiltered.

We love the indie pop rock sound, and love even more that these are Jersey boys straight from the New Brunswick scene – right in our own backyard!  Stay tuned for more news and updates, music and tour dates from The Fletchers.

A big shout out to our friends and partners at the Pro Rodeo Association for hosting the WORLD PREMIERE of Bridgette Tatum’s video for “(I Like My) Cowboys Dirty.”

Bridgette will also be performing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this coming Saturday and Sunday in their Fan Zone at 8pm each night. Las Vegas rodeo fans – come on out for the party and make sure to say hey to us!

VIDEO WORLD PREMIERE! I LIKE MY COWBOYS DIRTY

On the set of "(I Like My) Cowboys Dirty"

What feels like a million years ago, I got tickets for THREE of Bruce’s final shows at Giants Stadium. Originally I got tickets for the alleged ‘last show ever,’ and then Boss man went ahead and added more shows, so then I got tickets for the new ‘last show ever.’ Plus one more for good measure.

Today we find out that Bruce will be doing the new trendy thing and performing complete albums during those shows. I’m pretty sure that’s not the entire show, since that’s an hour-ish and Bruce is still good for 2 plus, even at the ripe old age of 60.

I was trying to get rid of my tickets for this Friday because the seats aren’t great, and I’m going again Saturday anyway, but a little bit of divine intervention stepped in. I could not get rid of those tickets, even for free, but it turns out that Friday will be the ONLY show to feature DARKNESS in all its glory. Thank the divine power of the universe that I didn’t give away those tickets -- I would have never forgiven myself.

And if the news is correct, looks like I’ll be seeing Born in the USA twice -- this Saturday and next Friday. I wish one of them was Born To Run instead, but I know I’ll love both shows just the same.

In celebration of Darkness, we feature Badlands, with lyrics, ’cause I love it so darn much (you gotta live it every day…).

Talk about a dream; try to make it real.
You wake up in the night with a fear so real.
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just dont come.
Well dont waste your time waiting

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAr2AbvvF8

Lights out tonight, trouble in the heartland.
Got a head-on collision, smashin in my guts man.
Im caught in a crossfire that I dont understand.
But theres one thing I know for sure girl:
I dont give a damn for the same old played out scenes
I dont give a damn for just the in-betweens.
Honey I want the heart, I want the soul, I want control right now.
You better listen to me baby:
Talk about a dream; try to make it real.
You wake up in the night with a fear so real.
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just dont come.
Well dont waste your time waiting

Badlands you gotta live it every day
Let the broken hearts stand
As the price youve gotta pay
Well keep pushin till its understood
And these badlands start treating us good

Workin in the field till you get your back burned
Workin `neath the wheels till you get your facts learned.
Baby I got my facts learned real good right now.
You better get it straight darling:
Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings,
And a king aint satisfied till he rules everything.
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got.
Now I believe in the love that you gave me.
I believe in the faith that could save me.
I believe in the hope and I pray that some day it
Will raise me above these

Badlands…

For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
That it aint no sin to be glad youre alive.
I wanna find one face that aint looking through me
I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these

Badlands…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – September 21, 2009 – NASCAR’s Ryan and Krissie Newman and Music Row publisher Carolyn Miller announce the formation of MPR Entertainment Group. The company launches Root 49 Records, an independent record label, with plans to release an album by flagship artist Bridgette Tatum in early 2010. The publishing arm, Root 49 Music, will also fall under MPR Entertainment Group.

Winner of the 50th Anniversary Daytona 500 and 12 additional Sprint Cup races, Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, met Miller in 2006 and the three became fast friends. The Newmans encouraged Miller as she launched Root 49 Music in 2008 and were there to celebrate with her when the publishing company’s first cut “She’s Country,” written by Tatum and Danny Myrick, went #1 for Jason Aldean a year later. Miller’s belief in Tatum and desire to release a full album presented an opportunity for the trio to work together. Both Krissie and Ryan will have an active role in the newly formed company residing as CEOs along side Miller.

“We have watched Bridgette grow over the past few years and she has a natural talent, a strong voice and driven nature,” says Krissie Newman. “Our business experiences, as well as Carolyn’s amazing accomplishments with her company, can only fuel the momentum surrounding Bridgette. We look forward to a long career in country music.” Ryan Newman adds. “Krissie and I are involved in all aspects of my racing career – from marketing and promotion to creative and PR; we can help bring new opportunities to Bridgette’s already skyrocketing career.”

Root 49 Records names Nancy Tunick of Grassroots Promotion and Larry Pareigis of Nine North Records to lead radio promotion; Jules Wortman of Wortman Works Media & Marketing as head of public relations and Michelle Fiddler of Artisanal Management for head of marketing.

“Integrity is first and foremost what I look for in friends, and I can now say that those friends are also my business partners,” says Miller. “To have the marketing sensibilities that come with running a long-standing NASCAR team; whose love of music and winning equal mine, I knew we would make a strong team.”

Bridgette Tatum is currently visiting radio stations across the country promoting her first single, “I Like My Cowboys Dirty.” The rockin’ anthem has been winning critical and fan approval. From Roughstock.com, “With this one song Bridgette Tatum, who co-wrote Jason Aldean’s ‘She’s Country,’ has set herself up as an artist truly worth paying attention to. Hell, with that husky vibrato-filled voice of hers, she may even become country music’s own Pat Benatar or Joan Jett or Nancy Wilson. ‘Cowboys Dirty’ should be but the first of quite a few hits for Bridgette.”

# # #

www.root49music.com
www.bridgettetatum.com
www.ryannewman.org

For all the flack the MTV VMA’s received this year, I thought I’d go against the grain a bit and talk about how the show was actually successful.

I was one of those teens who was glued to MTV when it was a newborn.  I loved the VJ’s, didn’t care that the videos were bad and made no sense.  There was some excellent programming at the time -- Andy Warhol’s 15 Minutes and The Basement Tapes to name a few.  Plus, they had incredible promotions -- anyone remember when Jon Bon Jovi gave away his house? (Full disclosure -- Hey JBJ, I grew up in Sayreville, NJ too!!)

It’s easy to bash MTV over the years, less innovative musical programming, making the world of music small instead of expansive.  But.  I watched this year’s VMA’s.  Not live, mind you, and not on TV, but on their website as I selected which highlights I wanted to see.  Kanye, Taylor -- whatever, no need to beat that dead horse.  Here’s where it all turns around.

Lady Gaga -- Paparazzi performance.  I’ve only heard her on Z100 radio, just the dance-y hits.  Hadn’t heard this song before the VMA’s.

My reaction: “Whoa, what the hell was that??  That song was pretty damn good.  Hey, she can really sing!  Refreshing to see a performance that was theatrical, intriguing and more than a little bizarre.”  I read in one of the descriptions that the performance was based on the same theme of the music video.  Music video??  Well I had to see that right away too!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlBjzXjfMU

Reaction: “Jonas Akerlund directed, awesome, he did amazing videos for Madonna.  Hey -- that’s Vampire Eric!  Hmmm, looks like he’s a good kisser…OK I digress.  Back to Gaga.  Great f’n song, and the video took it to a whole new level -- as videos should.”

Now I want to know more about her.  Bought the album on iTunes.  Would like to see her live.  All because of the VMA’s.  Radio airplay made me familiar with her name, but it was her performance on the VMA’s the brought me into the world of Gaga.  Congrats MTV.

This week we honor Nathan Lee for his 40 Day trek around the country to support his new release ‘Risk Everything.’

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpSsRKttE84

In his own words:

“In the spirit of risking everything… I am stepping in to a journey that even I myself, find to be crazy.

On September 1st, I will travel to 40 cities over 40 days, with my piano, a webcam, and a hope. to love and be loved,… with the broken and the joyful. I will play for whoever will listen.

Each day… I’ll wake up and search for an unknown location that will have me. Each day… I’ll post / twitter the address of where I’ll be playing… as soon as I find out.

Feel free to show up wherever & whenever. Every day will be different… your guess will be as good as mine.

From truckstops to taco stands,… to rehabs and pubs,… from churches to strip clubs,… to backyard parties and everything in between. I’ll have no idea what will happen, or how each day will play out until I get there.

So why am I doing this? well… I recorded a new album this year. The normal thing for an artist to do is go out and promote the new project… but promoting costs money… which I don’t have.

But the one thing I’ve never wanted to see,… is money getting in the way of loving people,… and making art.

So in the process of a million meetings I realized its not all about money. I’ll need money to make it through these 40 days… but should I not go… just because I don’t have money? If it’s truly about making art and loving people… and getting out of bed and doing something about it… Well then… the time has come.

I will be in search of one thing… What does it mean to risk everything… and what does it look like when you allow faith to do what faith does?

I hope to see you out on the road along the journey.

May we never give up! May we never stop risking everything!”

Follow Nathan’s journey on Twitter and YouTube.