Summer music series: How music fans support nonprofits and causes

Music fans are incredibly passionate about the bands that they love. Smart marketers tap into that passion as a way to engage audiences.

Today, in the third installment in my Summer Music Series, we'll take a look at how a nonprofit cause related organization, HeadCount, engages with music fans. Later in the week, I'll post about what companies can do within the world of live music.

In my interview with Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount we talk about how HeadCount taps artists such as Dave Matthews, Phish, Death Cab for Cutie, and Bob Weir to drive interest in political action.

It's an active online community where more than half of music fans tweet or like something political every week, and a large number engage every single day.

What's most interesting is that HeadCount is using the tools of the real-time Web to engage. They use Facebook and Twitter extensively and encourage sharing.

You don't have to be a nonprofit to take away ideas from Andy!

Direct link to How music fans support nonprofits and causes on YouTube

Summer Music Series

• Monday: What YOU can learn from the music business. People are passionate about music. How can you tap into that passion?
• Tuesday: Do what you love. I interview Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart to learn what has kept him pushing his work forward for more than 50 years.
• Wednesday: How music fans support nonprofits and causes. Draws on an interview with Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount.
• Thursday: Always move forward. I write about the Gathering of the Vibes music festival and how it moves music forward. Includes an article I wrote for Huffington Post and a video with quotes from Perry Farrel, Elvis Costello, Wavy Gravy, and Ken Hays.
• Friday: How brands engage with live music fans. I interview rock photographer Jay Blakesberg and we explore how to tap into music fans and the bands themselves to promote your work.

Disclosure: I'm on the (all volunteer) Digital Advisory Board of HeadCount.

Comments

[Raúl]

This is a great example to follow for organizations with a limited budget and wanting to really make change. Thanks for sharing?

[Anne Sorensen]

Great! Such smart marketing. Loved Andy's comment about talking to people on their own terms ... marketing's essence perhaps? Thanks David. Lovin' the series.

[David Meerman Scott]

Raul and Anne -- Absolutely! We can all learn from Andy. Thanks for paying attention to my summer music series. I've enjoyed putting these together!

[Shayna]

Best day, best festival, best experience volunteering with HeadCount!