Marketing Riffs: Lessons from Legendary Albums

There’s great commonalities with marketing and music.

Think about us marketers crafting a great story. There’s a few elements in there:

• A progression

• A thesis

• A hero

• A pitch

• A tone

• And a bliss at the end.

All that is very musical.

Plus, marketers and rockstars have another thing in common: they just LOVE being on stage. 

In this short article, I’ll shine a spotlight on a few albums - and the lessons we can all learn from them.

Let’s jam 🤘

Resilience in Improvisation: The Legendary Concert of Keith Jarrett

Did you know?

One of the most influential pieces of music of the last 50 years was improvised live.

Not only that, but also the conditions leading up to the performance were terrible.

Despite feeling unwell and encountering a poorly maintained piano, jazz pianist Keith Jarrett proceeded with his solo concert in Cologne, Germany, in 1975. Despite the instrument's limitations, Jarrett improvised for over an hour, turning the challenges into opportunities for artistic expression. His performance became a landmark event in music history. To this day, it is one of the best-selling jazz albums.

What does that teach us?

• Constraints boost creativity.

• Beauty comes from randomness.

• And resilience is everything.

Embracing Kobaïan: Crafting Identity and Eliciting Emotions through Unique Language

Did you know?

Magma is a 70s prog jazz/ rock French band who invented a proper language, the “Kobaïan”.

Kobaïan is the primary language used in their lyrics and their elaborate mythology. Get this. Their first concept albums are called: “Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh” (1973), “Köhntarkösz” (1974), or “Üdü Ẁüdü” (1976). Music with lyrics no one can truly understand, yet it transcends the use of words to express something strong. Even 50 years after the first couple of albums, they still have a pretty big following of diehard fans. Respect. 💪

What does that teach us?

• Kobaïan, or any unique language, creates a unique identity.

• It fosters connection with fans.

• You don’t always need intelligible words to evoke emotions

Electric Revolution: Miles Davis and the Legacy of 'Bitches Brew'

Did you know?

Before this album, jazz was mostly acoustic and pretty separated from the world of rock music. Miles changed all that. He wanted to explore a different sound — plugging in his instruments. “Bitches Brew” (1970) changed the world of music.

In the late 1960s, Miles Davis broke conventions by exploring a fully electric sound, influenced by artists like James Brown and Jimi Hendrix, and collaborating with a remarkable ensemble of young musicians in recording sessions marked by experimentation and spontaneity at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City. The resulting album, "Bitches Brew," challenged traditional jazz structures, pioneering jazz fusion by blending elements of rock, funk, and electronic music, and profoundly influencing generations of musicians across diverse genres.

The story of "Bitches Brew" is not just about the music itself but also about the creative process behind it and Miles' spirit of innovation.

What does that teach us?

• Disruption of the status quo is memorable and often leads to innovation.

• Adaptability and innovation are essential in various fields, including music.

• Collaborative work, even in a free-form manner, can lead to the creation of masterpieces.

Wrap: Amplify, Listen and Equalize

Marketing is the sound system of your company.

We, marketers, amplify 🔊, listen 🎙️, and equalize 🎛️.

To reach a bigger audience. And make them wanna stage dive for us.

Keep jammin’ 🎸