Tastemakers and filters
From PepperAlley Wiki
Within each broad category are potentially many different segments catering to a specific niche audience. If given the proper set of tools, each tastemaker can essentially build their own community and be their own niche aggregator. It's the communities themselves who are being empowered to determine what is the news and become collective owners of these sites.
Multiple tastemakers
Each of the following are good sources to build a diverse community:
- Artists - Although it's difficult sometimes for an artist to actually find the time to appreciate other music (especially outside of their scene), there are others that excel at surrounding themselves with some great artists and thus building their own community.
- Fans - Don't forget about those who you're trying to cater to in the first place. There are countless people spending time on artist discussion groups, becoming friends of artists on myspace. Back on earth, there are people requesting songs on local radio and packing the local clubs. Give these people access to the same set of tools and you'll be creating a whole new breed of tastemakers.
- Radio Stations/Podcasters - While most commercial radio stations are tightly formatted (and play the same old crap anyways), non-commercial, college, internet, and even music podcasters will usually represent many genres and subgeneras within their broad format. Once again, many may create a separate show/timeslot to a specific genre or theme.
- Record Stores - There are still a good amount of small and large stores with a knowledgeable staff, serve up a wide range of music, and serve the local community. Although online stores may not be limited by shelf space, they still need to found on the www.
- Venues/Concerts/Booking Agents - In any given market, you'll have a set of venues that cater to the rock crowd, some may be more of a sit-down, singer/songwriter mix, yet others may cater to jazz or blues. But if you dig deeper, you'll find that any given club will then devote certain nights or even certain time-slots to a specific style or sub-genre. Sometimes a slot or entire night will be programmed by an outside promoter or an artist whose doing a residency.
- Zines/Music Blogs/Other Online Music Communities - In any given market, you'll have a set of venues that cater to the rock crowd, some may be more of a sit-down, singer/songwriter mix, yet others may cater to jazz or blues. But if you dig deeper, you'll find that any given club will then devote certain nights or even certain time-slots to a specific style or sub-genre. Sometimes a slot or entire night will be programmed by an outside promoter or an artist whose doing a residency.
Customers and resellers
Each tastemaker has influence/personal relationships with their own niche market of labels/artists
- they may want their own web solution and potentially could be a reseller
- those that form their own music community site could aggregate many of the same tastemaker channels found on another site
