Category Archives: Music

Why We Buy Vinyl

Posted on November 28, 2019 by ddeal

My name is David. And I’m a vinyl addict.  At a time when I should be de-cluttering my life, I’m accumulating vinyl records. I own four copies of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It’s not enough for me to … Continue reading →

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Three Lessons for Brands from Ellie Goulding’s Thanksgiving Day Stand Against the Salvation Army

Posted on November 17, 2019 by ddeal

The Ellie Goulding/Salvation Army controversy is the latest high-profile example of a brand/artist collaboration taking a left turn into the realm of political/social consciousness. Continue reading →

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How the Intersect Music Festival Demonstrates the Risks of the Band/Brand Relationship

Posted on October 27, 2019 by ddeal

Many brands try to create enduring emotional ties with people by being culturally relevant. Cultural relevance is about connecting with an audience through their beliefs, interests, and behaviors. Forming marketing relatinships with musicians is a way for businesses to achieve … Continue reading →

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The Myth of Fat Elvis

Posted on October 20, 2019 by ddeal

History has been cruel to Elvis Presley. Last impressions are usually the enduring ones, and our last impression of Elvis is the “Fat Elvis” of the 1970s: a sweaty, blubbery shell of his former self, spaced out on drugs in … Continue reading →

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How the University of Kansas Made Snoop Dogg Dangerous

Posted on October 7, 2019 by ddeal

God bless Snoop Dogg for proving that music still has the power to provoke. On October 4, the famous hip-hop artist lit up the University of Kansas Allen Fieldhouse basketball court by performing some of his profanity-laden hits, while dancers … Continue reading →

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“Absolutely Live”: A Portrait of Jim Morrison’s Creative Rebirth

Posted on September 24, 2019 by ddeal

Absolutely Live is the only official live album the Doors released in Jim Morrison’s lifetime. It’s also a misunderstood album. Rock historians remember Absolutely Live, released in 1970, as a document of an artist in decline. In fact, Absolutely Live captures a time when Jim … Continue reading →

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Vinyl Vibe: Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible”

Posted on September 20, 2019 by ddeal

Don’t let an algorithm define your tastes. Get out there and discover art with reckless abandon. Last weekend, I visited a vinyl record store, Plaza Records, in Carbondale, Illinois. I had not been there in three years. All record stores are … Continue reading →

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Al Green: The Spirit Is Willing . . .

Posted on June 6, 2019 by ddeal

When I told my sister Karen I was going to see Al Green perform at the Chicago Theater May 7, she replied, “You mean Reverend Green.” Yes. Reverend Al Green. The Al Green who sold millions of records singing about love and … Continue reading →

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Unsigned and on Fire: Alexis Saski of Tennessee Muscle Candy Writes Her Future

Posted on May 27, 2019 by ddeal

What would you do if you were a young musician with a record label interested in you — but you realized that your future with the label meant singing songs you didn’t believe in? Would you somehow make it work? Now let’s … Continue reading →

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What Comes Next After K-Pop’s Big Week?

Posted on April 19, 2019 by ddeal

K-pop is having a moment in America, and for once, BTS is not the only reason. But is K-pop truly achieving mainstream popularity Stateside beyond its fan base?  The genre of pop music born in South Korea is a global phenomenon, … Continue reading →

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