How Does One Reach the BABY BOOMERS (???)

[mark4man]

So...

My band just released our debut CD. It's a pretty eclectic mix...ranging from Jazz & Jazz Rock to West Coast Rock (& there's even a cool retro-British Rock number on the disc.) The band members are all in their early 50's; & the composition, vocal quality & musicianship are all pretty good.

It's the kind of music that (we feel) would be liked by the baby boomer generation...by people (like ourselves) who grew up listening to Steely Dan or James Taylor or The Beatles or Frank Zappa, et al...(or maybe even by Gen Xers who appreciate that musical period...hence the popularity of bands like Phish.)

Thing is...seems like most of the opportunities out there (including those offered by Sonic Bids, Indie-Music.com, Artist Direct, etc.)...are geared toward the younger crowd.

So...where do the baby boomers go for their INDIE fix ??? They're not really hip with the download crowd, right...you don't see many 40 & 50 year olds walkin' 'round with an iPod stuck in their ear, correct?

How does an indie band that would be suited to that market...break into that market?

Thanks,

mark4man

[Slowrider]

That's a good question.I'm 53 and all the Boomers I know are like me; we just like the old original bands and don;t even listen to what's New on the radio because it sucks. New stuff is mostly drum machine hip hop. Not very interesting. Just don't have the soul of old rock and blues. I'm not sure how you could market yourselves without a hit record anymore. Music bus. has changed alot since I quit playing live.

[chadsxe]

Originally Posted by Slowrider

New stuff is mostly drum machine hip hop. Not very interesting. Just don't have the soul of old rock and blues. .

Sorry but this bothers me a lot. I think the problem is in your statment that you don't "listen to whats new on the radio". Last time I checked the radio was no the only place to find music. There is plenty of bands out there today with just as much soul, heart, and creativity as there was in any other time frame of music. It is up to you to find them, not the "radio"?

[mikemorgan]

Your question really is

"what would make a middle-aged guy wanna go into a record store to buy a record?"

or

"why would a middle-aged woman take the time to figure out how to download music from her computer?"

Do you remember when your parents made you watch Lawrence Welk because you only had three channels and one TV? It wasn't your kind of music, but you watched anyway, maybe it grew on you, maybe not. Mr Welk certainly had a captive audience.

How do you capture your audience? Get your music played where they are, restaurants, malls, golf courses, at their place of work. What about giving copies of your CD to MUSAK, INC. Maybe you'll be in my elevator next week. Give copies to your bosses and your friends bosses. Throw a party at a seniors home. Have a record release party at the IHOP.

My point is, gen-x'ers do not purchase music, unless it's from their genre, or someone they identify with from that time. I don't think today's youth are standing in line for the next Bob Dylan or Eric Clapton CD.

Be creative and have fun, it's contagious.