This month we pick up the Digital Media Deconstructed series, an interview series focused on digital media makers and their own experience with creating a consistent compelling content strategy, establishing their own signature story and developing a stronger online brand, with Tim Board (@frontrangescrib) of Front Range Scribbles blog.
Not only does Tim run the Front Range Scribbles blog, a music blog focused primarily on music in the Colorado area, but he also runs Front Range Radio, a Blog Talk Radio show that continues to showcase the musicians he spotlights on his blog.
Is Front Range Scribbles your first foray into digital media? If so, what was the inspiration? If not, give us your history.
Yes it was. The blog really started out as a test for myself to see if I could just maintain it on a regular basis. The blog in the beginning had no direction it was a hodgepodge of writings, or photos. I would write basically whatever was on my mind that particular day. I then started a show on blogtalkradio featuring music and interviews with local independent artists. It was at that time I decided to change the focus of the blog to just writing about music. Writing about independent artist and their music, combining my blog with my radio show was an easy decision for me.
Besides your blog, what other forms of digital media do you explore?
My weekly radio show that can be heard on www.party934.com . The show is “aired” live each week and then listeners can download or listen the show via podcast after it has aired. My weekly radio show I feature music from a lot of the artist I write about on my blog.
How important do you feel Internet Radio is for independent musicians? Why?
I think Internet Radio should be very important to any independent artist. Internet Radio station’s formats are usually not as restrictive as traditional radio stations. Many Internet radio stations want to be different, want to play music that you may not hear on traditional radio stations. They are willing to take chances with an independent artist. I think the independent artist should really give consideration to Internet radio stations and realize the support an Internet radio station will give them is probably greater than what a traditional radio station may give. Internet radio stations can devote more time per show on one artist than traditional radio stations may.
Are you concerned that on-demand music streaming such as Rdio and Spotify are a threat to iRadio stations and iRadio Djs?
I am not. I think streaming services have their place in just as much as traditional radio has a place. Not every independent artist is on those services so I think the iRadio stations will still have a place especially for iRadio stations that cater more to a local scene. That is something I think Rdio and Spotify will not be able to do. The other issue is how long will many of the streaming services last considering not many are reporting profits.
Front Range Scribbles has a focus on Colorado based independent artists. What are the benefits of focusing on the promotion of local artists?
The biggest benefit is being able to see the local artist perform live and talk with them one on one. A live show give me a chance to hear more from the artist then what they have published on the internet or on a CD. Sometimes the artist will perform songs they are working on that is not available anywhere. An artist from another state or country I can’t see them live or talk with face to face. A phone interview is not the same as a face to face interview.
Which social media platform (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) do you feel most effectively helps you to connect you with your blog readers? To bloggers? To Artists?
Twitter seems the most effective platform to connect to artists, but I find that the blog itself connects me to the readers and other bloggers. The readers will leave comments about a particular article or they will email about an article. The artists I write about will tweet link out to their followers or they will post a link on their facebook page. It really seems like I have two different set of followers, the ones who read the blog and then the ones on twitter.
What do you suggest to an independent artist looking for blogs to connect with for the first time?
The internet is full of bloggers writing about music. Look at websites or social media sites of other artist you perform with or know and see if any articles have been written about them and by who. Look at sites such as ‘Indie Bus” once again see who is writing articles about various artists. Once you find some bloggers, get a feel for what the blogger writes about, genre, geographical artists etc. If you do contact a blogger, try starting a relationship first, don’t just email the blogger and say hey write about me or about my single/CD. If a blogger does write an article than watch for comments and respond. The readers will enjoy seeing comments from the artist.
How do you prefer artists approach you who are interested in blog promotion or partnering with you in any way?
The easiest way is to send an email to tim [AT] frontrangeradio DOT net
Where can people find you online?
My website is www.frontrangeradio.net, my blog site is www.frontrangescribbles.com, and my weekly radio show can be heard Sunday nights 9pm Eastern on www.party934.com
Source: CyberPRMusic