Web 2.0 gets a lot of hype, but if anyone really gets it, it is Jonathan Coulton. Jonathan Coulton, if you have never heard of him is a singer songwriter from New York City. He writes genial, usually humorous tunes. Some I like are Ikea, Re: Your Brains, The Presidents, and, of course, every geek's favorite, Code Monkey. He achieved a level of internet fame a few years ago for his "thing a week" podcast wherein he composed, produced, and published a new song each week for a year. For this he was profiled in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. At around the same time he did the Pop Sci podcast, an interview program for Popular Science Magazine, and worked with John Hodgman on the Little Grey Book Lectures.
What makes Coulton distinctive though is his relationship to his fan base and use of the internet to maintain this. During the "thing a week" period people started sending him videos, graphics, and other artifacts relating to his songs, which he would dutifully post. This established a positive feedback loop between him and his fans. A number of these home made videos became minor hits on youtube, increasing his audience.
As far as I know, Coulton does not have an agent, a manager, a record label, air play, or any other accouterments of popular music success. His albums are not on Amazon. His songs are not protected by DRM. But, then there he is, making a living and supporting his family. He does have an occasional backup band and he occasionally backs up John Hodgman's bookstore appearances.
Coulton regularly posts concert announcements to his blog, but will also post a little wrapup afterwards, almost a thank you note. The audience is always described as awesome, as I am sure they are. Recently, Coulton has been having his audience pose for a photograph from the stage at concerts and posting them on his blog. I think this is genius. It completes the web 2.0 loop: seamlessly merging the world of real life with the world of the web. At a concert in Chicago not long ago he invited the star of a popular Youtube video for Code Monkey come on stage to reproduce the video live. This, of course, was immediately posted to Youtube.
What really strikes me about the Jonathan Coulton approach to the internet is its old fashioned civility. Trust, thank you notes, and pictures of the event to help everyone remember. If I was running a music company I would be quaking in my boots.
- J
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