Chapter: Awesome Marketing
In 2008, New York City street performers gathered at a loft in Brooklyn to rehearse unreleased songs from Oasis’ upcoming record – Dig Out Your Soul. The main idea behind the project was, would it not be cool if street musicians played the songs first and not last for a change?
Many of the invited performers were part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Music Under New York program, dedicated to presenting quality music to the public throughout New York City’s transit system. The street musicians were taught the music and lyrics of four songs, led by Oasis themselves, and then ordered to spread out around the streets and subways. They all performed the songs while playing different instruments, taking the music of Oasis to new levels. The selected street musicians came from all parts of the city, and had a broad variety of different ethnic, musical and creative backgrounds.
They performed the previously unheard new songs at different locations throughout the city including MTA approved subway station platforms at Grand Central, Times Square, Penn Station and Astor Place, subtly premiering the album before it came out. The musicians all had signs with them saying: “You are the first to hear this new Oasis song”. New York City Tourism’s website offered a page where you could use Google Maps and Google Earth to find live performances. Fans were encouraged to upload their own videos of the performances to a dedicated YouTube channel.
Possible Moral
Together with music video and film directors The Malloys and advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Oasis did something very inspirable. They also tried something completely different, marketing their music in a whole new way. It was also a good way for the street musicians to gain publicity – if they performed well, people would notice them as well which would help them boost their own careers.
Story from We All Need Heroes: Stories of the Brave and Foolish.
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We All Need Heroes
Short StoryHey there! Here you'll find a collection of mixed stories from my debut book 'We All Need Heroes', which celebrates people with brave and innovative ideas. The finished book is filled with a huge mix of inspirational and fun short-stories of people...
