Every once in a while you come across an older post that starts sparking new thoughts.  Kyle Bylin’s September 2008 post for Hypebot recently came across my screen.

He states: We now form communities around our favorite bands, we want to establish a connection or relationship, and we have a strong desire for music that is real, authentic, and meaningful.

This is consistent with Seth Godin’s now well known Tribes approach: what people really want is the ability to connect to each other, not to companies [or musicians, as the case may be].

Bylin continues:  The permeability of the walls we put up around ourselves now only lets certain messages through. You now have to be smarter about what you do, because it’s no longer as easy to buy your way into our headphones.

So he asks musicians:  What relationships are you building, where is your community, what connections are being made, how authentic is your message?

Those are four points:

(1) Relationships

(2) Community

(3) Connections

(4) Authenticity

I think we have all at this point read enough about building relationships, community and connections by using the web and all its ever-changing fun new tools (more on that later).  So we are left with Authenticity.

David McAllester’s Enemy Way 1954 ethnomusicology study “demonstrated that for many Navajo, the musically ‘good’ or ‘beautiful’ was defined according to its effectiveness for healing, that is, a performance was judged importantly in terms of how well it fulfilled its function;” or its deeper purpose.

Seth Godin in his 2009 Tribe speech states:  “find groups that are yearning for something and lead them; give them what they are asking for.”

What does music exist for?  To remind us of our connection to life and to inspire us.

Therefore, what are music fans asking for?  Authenticity that strengthens that connection and inspiration.

I submit that what people are yearning for is Authenticity.  For musicians, Authenticity comes in the form of raw talent, passion, lyrics people relate to, and the like.  You don’t need all these skills; being extremely strong in one certainly can make all the difference.

And how does this apply to musicians using technology? (After all, I do need to keep to the V11 mantra!)

I know many musicians that are still hesitant to embrace the tools available to them in today’s world such as streaming rehearsals and/or shows, tweeting their music thoughts and endeavors, or posting pictures and summaries of their shows.  Many hold back because it takes too much time away from music or other life matters (an understandable personal choice).  But many others hold back because they see it as cheesy.   Maybe it is; maybe it isn’t.  I think the real test is Authenticity.

With Authenticity, it all just works.  With Authenticity, fans will embrace it.