WEBISODE WONDERS

posted in: Country

You may not know this BUT I hang out with Lady Antebellum every Wednesday. It’s true. Also, I can beat Gloriana in an arm wrestle. I swear. And I happen to know that Miranda Lambert loves Napoleon Dynamite. HOW do I know this? It’s simple. These country stars, and countless others, are posting webisodes for their fans to enjoy. Sound like voyeurism to you? Maybe. But the truth is these webisodes help artists connect with their fans.  The great thing about these small peeks into the lives of our favorite stars is the not-so-creepy stuff we learn. Plus, we no longer need to tune into Perez for the 411. How awesome is that?

These webisodes aren’t your run-of-the-mill interviews between inquiring minds and band members. Most of the time, they seem completely random and pointless, but THAT IS the point. Country stars have always had an uncanny way of making themselves real in the eyes of their fans, and webisodes are contributing to that cause in a big way. Some artists are particularly talented at not only roping in more fans through their wild antics, but also making their existing fans love them even more.

For new bands, like Gloriana, these webisodes are a crucial element in connecting with fans. Since they are not big enough to headline their own tours, and haven’t been in the game long enough to rest their laurels on a bevy of hit songs, starters in the business are using helpful social marketing tools to reach out to their markets. G-TV, the name for Gloriana’s webisodes features about 30 two-minute segments about all things awesome. Along with posting webisodes to their own Web site, YouTube has a G-TV channel so you can catch Tom, Mike, Rachel and Cheyenne there as well. Through watching enjoyable little quips about the band, fans get a real taste of their sense of humor and see them as friends, not just unapproachable celebrities from afar.

For a relatively new group, Lady Antebellum has quite the collection of webisodes. Webisode Wednesdays offer rare glimpses into the band on the road. Lady A’s clips are more business savvy, showing fans and curious viewers trials, triumphs, and glimpses into the band’s future. They’ve filmed moments like finding out they had their first Number 1 hit for their song, I Run to You, as well as  live rehearsals of their newest single, I Need You Now. In a world where talent is often second fiddle to public persona and artificial acapella, Lady A’s webisodes really showcase the bands inante gifts by capturing the band at rehearsal, live performances and acoustic sets, filmed and shown exclusively for Webisode Wednesdays.

In what might be the most interesting, comical and lighthearted display of webisode wonder, we have Miranda Lambert. Back when ˜Ran was a video-blogging novice, she mainly stuck to small conversations, aimed directly at her fans, whether it was preparing for an awards show or simply thanking her fans for her plethora of awards. Most recently, Miranda stepped out of her shell right into Logan, Utah, home of the movie Napoleon Dynamite. Throughout a hilarious sketch, Miranda and her crew travel to some of the most noteworthy spots in the movie, and recite lines like they were the characters themselves. It’s impossible not to appreciate this kind of wide-open view into Miranda’s personality, as her Twitter and Blogs offer only tiny, typed pieces of insight. Check out her Dynamite vid here.

For new artists hoping to expand their fanbase, webisodes and other social networking tools are clearly the way to go. With so many people connected to their computer, BlackBerry or iPhone 24 hours a day, this is an ingenius way of building a repore with the modern day fan. Not only are stars helping us put a face to their growing name, but they are also letting us know that they are just as real a person as we are (except that they are making millions of dollars). So, next time you want to see your favorite artists in action, check out their Web sites and see if they have a couple of webisodes of their own.