A Marketing Complex

Last night I watched multiple videos of bands that I used to love as a young teenager.  It was a fun night.  Made me laugh, dance, sing, and think the occasional “Wow, that’s a really good song.”  Then I started thinking a little bit more.  Where are these people now?  Are they happy?  Did marketing ruin their careers?  Could it have been done differently?

Ultimately, I think it was the fact that there was only an occasional good song that ruined their careers.  A quality product can stand the test of time and marketing.  Unfortunately, not every quality product gets the proper chance to make it out there.  Sometimes the marketing team screws it up.  Sometimes it’s just not the right time.  It’s so tricky.  Sometimes you wonder why you start marketing at all.  But then again, people would never know about great things it there wasn’t some sort of push to get them out there.  It’s not all bad, but marketing often seems like such a dirty word.

When I was a teen, I was a part of the market that everyone wanted.  However, it was also the market that everyone hated at the same time.  I hope that being a fan of certain genres of music didn’t ruin people’s careers and futures.  The music made me happy, and that’s ultimately what is supposed to happen…right?  The teens needed that music…probably more so than the educated college students and adults.  I hope that means something.  I think that I was a good fan.  The Beatles were marketed to teen girls at one point, and now EVERYONE loves them.  That’s something that I think about a lot.  Not necessarily because it’s comforting, but because it’s interesting.  I’m still trying to wrap my hands around it.

Some of music that I liked when I was younger is still here.  Now I have the knowledge to see that it’s the people that are truly talented and passionate that stick around.  Kudos to you all.