This Week’s Lesson: Know Your Audience
Wednesday I was scheduled to present an oral overview of my business plan. I wasn’t very worked up about the presentation because by that point I’d already shared the pitch with at least 40+ music business-type folk. In a nutshell, the proposal is an independent record company’s approach to marketing and digital distribution of music. Nothing I say is totally new. It is just a unique combination and very timely presentation of ideas, given the current state of the music business. I was prepared for the fact that my audience might not understand music business jargon, (A&R, recoup, digital goods, developing artist, etc.) but I was not prepared for the fact that they wouldn’t know what a mp3 was. Obviously, they didn’t quite get what I was talking about. They didn’t understand the concept of “a paid digital download” or “an mp3 player.” Luckily the presentation was for feedback purposes and there were no eliminations during this round. Unfortunately, now I wonder if I need to rework my entire presentation and gear it towards someone with no prior knowledge of music in the last 3-5 years.
Does the mainstream really not know what an iPod is?











December 11th, 2004 at 12:42 pm
Sam, honestly, I wasn’t familiar with exactly what an ipod is. I had heard of one, but didn’t really know what it was. I haven’t seen any around here. I’m sure they are around, but just haven’t become popular enough in this area of Florida. Maybe it all just depends on your region in the US…??