If you haven’t heard, Beyonce silently released her new album early this morning at midnight!! YES! You read right. And if you haven’t heard, I need for you to crawl out from under the rock, ASAP!
As many were still recuperating from the damages that Scandal’s winter finale had done, Twitter started buzzing with iTunes’ link to her album, simply titled BEYONCE.
I have to admit, I’ve NEVER downloaded a full Beyonce album, until now. I couldn’t resist myself this time because she pulled a huge Virgo move by not talking about what she was going to do (no marketing or promo), she just did it. What I also love is that her thought process behind the silent drop was not for awards or record sales (which I’m sure she’s going to get), it was all for her fans.
I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it. I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.
Beyonce has definitely joined her hubby with establishing #NewRules and pushing the envelope on industry practices. While many spend millions of dollars on promotion, she discreetly releases 14 tracks WITH 17 videos via Instagram & Facebook, and the internet goes crazy. She is a prime example of the power of a strong brand and social media.
Before you go out and silently release your product and expect it to take off like her new album, please keep the following in mind:
Brand consistency
Beyonce is known for consistently putting out great music that we all could relate to, for being sexy, and for being an extremely hardworking entertainer who knows how to leave a crowd begging for more. In addition, she actually lives up to the image that she wants us all to perceive, professionally and personally. Keep in mind that you are your brand and it is imperative that you protect it 24-7. From what you enjoy doing in your spare time all the way to who you choose to associate with or date. Remember, people are more prone to do business with people they like and who they can relate to.
Engage with your fans
Beyonce was always a bit secretive with her personal life and simply released music and performed. Lately, she has been letting her fans into her world via social media and it has certainly paid off. She reminds her fans that she is human and have regular struggles like we all do. Her transparency made people fall in love with her all over again because now, she is a wife, a mother, and all while handling her business. That right there alone sounds like the life of many women today. Whatever she does, she keeps her fans in mind because she knows that without them, there would be no “Beyonce”. Too many people focus on a sales goal to where they lose sight of what’s really important. When you focus on satisfying and building a relationship with your audience and consistently producing great bodies of work, the sales will come.
Be patient
Beyonce was NOT an overnight success. We’ve all seen the videos. And if you haven’t, there’s YouTube. She’s been singing and performing since she was a child and consistently evolved as she grew older and matured. If she would have silently dropped an album in the early stages of her career, many would not have cared too much about it. She has spent DECADES perfecting her craft, listening to her fans, and constantly putting out great music that was relevant. She didn’t give up. Any setbacks, doubts, or anxiety she had didn’t stop her not one bit. She was patient and continued doing what she loved. She is a perfect example of someone who is working in her passion. When you work in your passion, you practice patience regularly because you’re doing something you absolutely love doing. Your passion feeds your purpose. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Success takes time.
I’d hate to see people get excited and think they can follow in her footsteps without the realization of the time she spent developing her gift and the team of people that assisted her along the way. Her work ethic alone is something to admire, considering all of the roles she plays in her personal life and was able to record and shoot videos WHILE on tour. I’m sure her success without the traditional marketing tactics will spark change in 2014. Those tactics will still be important, as her every move is well thought-out and calculated (marketing strategy). The key is to not lose sight of what’s important…the fans/audience, which she ALWAYS stay connected with, via social media.
So the next time someone questions why they should invest in social media or what’s the ROI, I can just simply say “So you can eventually pull a ‘Beyonce’ “. LOL