Recently I was reading a blog that someone wrote about bands being brands, and how that wasn't a good use of the term.  They went on about how bands and brands are very different, don't do the same things, etc.  He then went on to explain that bands need to be building relationships with their fans, getting them involved, etc etc...

...hello any successful BRAND in late 2009!!!  I'm not going to get into how/why I disagree with that blog post (on the band vs brand part).  But he stated some things that, yes, all bands should be doing in order to grow their brand - whether you want to call them a brand or not.  They are an entity that is in the business of trying to make money.  To me that spells brand, but to each his own.  I digress.  There are many brands today that are doing a great job connecting with their consumers and creating loyalty.  That is a huge key to success for many brands out there in the 2009 marketplace.  With the huge growth that word of mouth has had (mainly how far and how fast it reaches, courtesy of the internet, Twitter, Facebook), it is more important than ever to really connect with your consumers.  Brands should be getting these consumers involved, having conversations with them, and growing their relationships with them.  This will in turn allow them to tailor their business and make a better product, which is going to lead to more sales and bigger returns for their brand.  The exact same can be said for bands, so both should be taking notes from each other. 

I know I'm not the first to say this is what brands needs to be doing.  It has become increasingly difficult for both brands and bands to stand out in the crowd - the ones that do the things above best will be the ones that are able the most success.  Yes, I am talking about brands...er, bands...okay, both!  Keep having a conversation and put forth the effort to connect with your consumers, and the future will be much brighter for everyone involved.