This kind of feels like a strategy used by the first wave of dotcoms: Build critical mass quickly and the rest will take care of itself. I admit to not being familiar with The Frays music, I’ve heard of the band and probably even know one or two of their songs, but don’t associate the band directly with a tune.

I wonder who they appeal to (Jimmy Kimmel, football, GMA, AMA Awards, Lost). Are they hoping their sound will connect with one of these groups? This sort of top down approach seems very short-term, but then again they probably signed a monster deal, so what do they care if they are irrelevant in 2 years?

I love your notes on the oprah delicious link! Keep it up!

Hmm… I think there’s a big difference between music and any other ‘product’ on the market. A great song will get in your head and pull all sorts of emotional levers in a way that no soft drink, automobile or burger can. Bands like The Shins and Youth Group would be nowhere without the exposure they got on film and TV. It’s more than product placement – it’s emotional attachment!

Wait. I read that Billboard article to say they were debuting the song on a trailer for another ABC show (Lost), not on the show Grey’s Anatomy. Didn’t I?

It seems that allot of music artists are marketing themselves by having their music played on TV networks. I know the CW, after every episode show the artists that played during the episode and their album cover. All the viewers who watch these shows are exposed to music they might not hear otherwise. I know myself from watching one of these shows I have become a fan of “One Republic” that I might have never been exposed to. This led me to purchasing their album which makes me agree that TV still has an impact on selling products.

This is something they tend to do often with movies more than music. They always debut movie trailers “exclusively” during a TV show broadcast and promote it beforehand. It usually ends up on youtube before anyway. Music in commercials seems to be effective though, all those iPod commercial songs usually become popular after.

I feel like this is actually a great idea. While bands are different ‘products’ then most, in many ways they can be marketed using the same tactics. TV exposure can be great for bands. It can expose their music to a larger audience, including many viewers who would not normally listen to the specific genre. This is also good for branding. Viewers may start associating the Fray with tv series Lost. “Hey isn’t that the song/band you hear during lost?” This can lead to it being viral marketed, through daily conversations. Also having ABC help them out can only be a positive thing. ABC has also given them a slot to perform on some big shows which are watched by millions of viewers.

Television exposure of the band’s music is a great way to expand the band’s fan base and appeal to a larger group. By signing the deal and getting exposure from ABC, the Fray also will be getting to air their music on ESPN during the football season. This will allow the Fray to expose their music to many new groups of people and expand their fan base

In perception wise, there is a huge difference between music and product, like Matt mentioned above. I think the use of television has long been a great form of advertisement. It reaches numerous consumers and appeals to their senses.