Country Music Headlines
Here is the video for RASCAL FLATTS new song’ “Payback”…Payback was co-written by The Cadillac Three’s drummer Neil Mason and JAY DEMARCUS says the sound is a different direction for Rascal Flatts…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfz6d6-VbxI]
BLAKE SHELTON is hoping his wife MIRANDA LAMBERT gets some love from the CMA when the nominees for the 48th annual event are revealed this morning. Last year, the power couple made history as the first married couple to win Male and Female Vocalists of the Year for four years in a row.
GARTH BROOKS delivers his new single "People Loving People" today. The song is the first single off his upcoming album, and the world tour kicks off tomorrow in Chicago
JASON ALDEAN has words for those who think his song "Burnin' It Down" is not country enough: Quote, "If somebody can put a definition on what country music is, please tell me. I've never seen where it says, 'Country music doesn't have a drum loop.' 'Burnin' It Down' is not HANK WILLIAMS SR. or GEORGE JONES, but this also isn't the '60s and the '70s."
JAKE OWEN managed to plug his song "Beachin'" while sharing a pic about some special time with his daughter Pearl. He Tweeted, "Daddy and Pearly just 'Beachin'."
In case you haven't seen this . . . LUKE BRYAN fell of the stage for the third time this year. It happened Saturday in Noblesville, Indiana.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXQeePSTiiY]
BACK IN THE DAY
2009 – Ten weeks after his death, Michael Jackson is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California at a cost reportedly in excess of a million dollars.
1994 – China and Russia proclaim an end to any lingering hostilities, pledging they will no longer target nuclear missiles or use force against each other.
1992 – PRINCE became the highest paid rock star after signing a $100 MILLION deal with Warner Brothers Records . . . $10 million per album.
1970 – Legendary football coach VINCE LOMBARDI died in Washington, D.C.
1954 – after 2,956 episodes, "The Lone Ranger" was heard on radio for the last time.
Seven Kickstarter Tips from the Guy Who Raised Over $13 Million
RYAN GREPPER is the guy in Portland, Oregon who just set a record on Kickstarter by raising $13.3 MILLION for the 'Coolest' . . . a cooler for $200 that comes with Bluetooth speakers, a USB charger, and a built-in blender. Here are his seven tips for crowdfunding an invention online . . .
1. Have a FULLY working prototype. Which means you might have to spend some of your OWN money first. But it's worth it so you can really show it off in your video.
Ryan's first prototype back in November only had SOME of the features he wanted. And he DIDN'T make his fundraising goal that time, which was only $125,000.
2. Make your video SHORT. And focus on the customer. Don't spend too much time talking about how you came up with the idea, or why it's important to YOU. Show people why THEY would want it. And as far as time goes, anywhere from two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half minutes is perfect. His was just UNDER three-and-a-half.
3. Time your launch. Ryan launched his first Kickstarter campaign in November, which wasn't a great idea for a product you use during the SUMMER.
4. Get the word out BEFORE you launch. There's a much better chance you'll go viral if a bunch of people donate right off the bat. Friends and family are a great start, but you usually need MORE than that.
5. Focus on the social media site that gets the most traction. For Ryan, it was Facebook. And that's probably the case for most people. But if it starts taking off on Twitter, don't be afraid to put more energy into your Twitter posts instead.
6. A good idea isn't enough. There are LOTS of good ideas on Kickstarter, but they also have to be MARKETED well. Meaning you have to focus, do ALL of the stuff on this list, and do it WELL.
7. If your campaign fails, don't give up. If you do everything on this list and STILL no one likes it . . . then yeah, maybe try to come up with another product. But sometimes a failed Kickstarter campaign is just a jumping off point. With Ryan's cooler idea, his first campaign failed. But then some of the same people who DID like it were early backers the SECOND time, and they helped it go viral.
