VOA标准英语2014--Band Builds Fan Base Through Technology, Live Experience

 

Band Builds Fan Base Through Technology, Live Experience

LOS ANGELES — Nick Sherwin of California-based Suburban¹ Skies says his band promotes itself and controls its own destiny thanks to 21st Century technology.

“Social media is a wonderful thing, and being able to control your own art and not be signed by a record label — to be your own record label — is liberating².”

The Internet and social media, he says, have created more opportunities for musicians, and the key to success is giving fans a multifaceted experience.

While having content — songs, videos — is critical, "I think it is extremely important to do shows to build your brand, to build your reputation,” he said.

At the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles this past April, music industry executives discussed the future of the business. With the decline in U.S. CD sales, they said, musicians are hitting the stage.

“The majority of the income for artists now is coming from the live marketplace,” said Rob Light, head of music at Creative Artists Agency, a Hollywood-based talent agency.

Along with the popularity of live music there has been an explosion of music festivals, including events that feature electronic dance music — again, all with the help of social media.

“Someone could make it in their bedroom and put it out there," said Pasquale Rotella of Insomniac³, a company that produces electronic dance music festivals in several countries.

"People can gain fans that way, online without anyone’s help, and that has absolutely helped the growth of dance music.”

But according to Bob Pittman, the head of Clear Channel Communications, while fans get music through digital downloads and online streaming services, they are still tuning⁴ in to the radio.

“In this era of streaming services, radio listeners have increased," he said. "And if you look at the research, 70 percent of Americans, 'where did you discover the music you buy in your music collection?' 70 percent say FM radio.”

But Rob Light of Creative Artists Agency says radio will become obsolete⁵.

“I do not believe that terrestrial radio is going to be as relevant to a 12-year-old today in five or six years, and if you are going to look forward, I think they are going to get information from other places and other sources," he said.

But with what seem like limitless places for people to discover new music, Nick Sherwin of Suburban Skies isn't worried. He just wants to reach those who like his style of music with the help of the Internet.

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 liberating   

解放，释放( liberate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Revolution means liberating the productive forces. 革命就是为了解放生产力。
• They had already taken on their shoulders the burden of reforming society and liberating mankind. 甚至在这些集会聚谈中，他们就已经夸大地把改革社会、解放人群的责任放在自己的肩头了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

3 insomniac   

n.失眠症患者

参考例句：

• She's an insomniac ; she only sleeps for two or three hours a night. 她患失眠症，每晚只睡两三个小时。 来自辞典例句
• The insomniac is habitually afflicted with wakefulness at times when he wishes to sleep. 失眠症患者，这种病人在他想睡觉时经常特别清醒。 来自互联网

4 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。