The Six Sigma Music Business: Keep your audiences coming back for more!
This article discusses the concept of six sigma quality as
it relates to the music industry and more specifically as it applies to the
musicians of today. The article outlines the significance of the quality
program and provides incite on the possible benefits that such a program would
have on a musicians career.
Six Sigma? What could a statistical math term possibly have to do
with music? Well I could bore you with a long answer on the statistical
benefits, or I could explain it in one simple sentence.
Six Sigma is about quality, service, and making sure that your
customers or “audiences? keep coming back for more! Would you like your
audiences to come back for more?
The more your
audiences come back to see you;
- The
more of your music they purchase. - The
more concert tickets you sell. - The
more promotional items you sell. - The
more venue’s you fill. - The
more publicity you get. - The
more money you earn!
Of course you want your audiences to come back for more!
Every musician wants to have his or her music appreciated. Every musician wants
to sell more albums and more concert tickets.
So what does six sigma have to do with that? Using six sigma
techniques provides you with a clear understanding of what your customers
expect. It helps you identify who your customers or audiences are and ensures
you reach them.
Does six sigma mean you change your music to accommodate the
masses? Well of course not! Your music is your creative essence. The key to
success is not to change your music to fit the wrong audience, the key is to reach
the right audience and make sure they always know where, when, and how to find
you.
Do you actually know who your customers are? Can you tell me
where they come from? How they found you? Or even what it is that they like
about you, your music, or your work?
Most musicians and bands that I come across always say the
same thing! “Of course we do!? Yet when I ask them how their audience found
them they would always answer “At the bar!? When I asked for specifics I always
got the same answer! “I don’t know?.
The key to music success is knowing who your audience is and
how to reach them. If you where a Gospel Singer, where would you most likely
find an audience that appreciates your music, in a church or a Jazz bar? I
know, I made it a bit obvious but rest assured it is not always that clear.
Ok, so I said that six sigma means quality! What does that
imply? Well in general terms six sigma means that out of 1,000,000 occurrences
no more then 3.4 have defects. Looking at it from the music industry point of
view it could mean that:
- For
every 1,000,000 people that hear you sing all but 3 want more! - For
every 1,000,000 concerts that you perform all but 3 sell out completely! - For
every 1,000,000 albums you sell all but 3 customers want to buy more of
your albums.
Do I need to go on? I think you pretty much have the idea!
Think of the possibilities. A large audience full of very happy people or
“customers?. How much money is that worth? Its mind boggling!
Ok, I know, the next question is always, “Why just 3, why
not 4, 5, or even 100 out of 1,000,000, it is still a very small percentage of
the total??
Yes that is true and it is often the most common mistake
that anyone in the industry can make. The key to understand this is in
recognizing that it is impossible to actually measure lost opportunities. The
one person that left your concert in disgust could have represented the record
label that would have sold the largest quantity of your albums.
Many years ago companies where targeting the three sigma level
of quality. This translates to about 2,700 defects per million. Consider what
this would mean if it was applied to other processes used today.
- No
modern computer would function - 270
million wrong credit card transactions - Don’t
even think about getting on an airplane!
I think by now you have probably gotten the point. The thing
to consider is this. How much money would you be making if every 999 ,997 people
that listened to your music wanted to hear more!
About the author
Lionel Wayne is an Industrial Engineer and is certified as a
Master Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He has interests in: computers, music,
writing, and travel and operates these sites:
http://www.musicmediaentertainmentgroup.com - Music
Protection & Promotion
http://www.lastminutefamilyvacationrentalnetwork.com ?
Vacation Rentals (MLM)
http://www.discountshippingstorageandlogisticsnetwork.com -
Dispatch Systems
http://www.reciprocallinksource.com - Internet Marketing and
reciprocal linking
Tags: audience, audiences, concert tickets, creative essence, math, money, music industry, musician, musicians, promotional items, publicity, quality program, quality service, sigma quality, sigma techniques, simple sentence, six sigma
