Can You Keep A Secret?

While I was eating up all the info in the June 7th issue of Billboard, I noticed an interesting article titled "A Secret No More," which reports about the success of Myspace Music's Secret Shows across the nation. It first started in January of 2006 and is about to host it's 150th show with Gnarls Barkley on June 8th in the Big Apple. In the past, it's hosted such act as Maroon 5, The Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ice Cube, Shadows Fall, Relient K, and Moby. How I did not know about this awesome franchise is beyond me (I've been blaming everything on being hooked on watching LOST), so hopefully I'll be enlightening you as well.

Basically, Myspace Secret Shows is a user profile and when a fan signs up as a "friend," the fan will get a bulletin a day or two before a show with something like, "Tomorrow night, The Killers in Las Vegas. First Come, First Serve." The awesome thing is that these shows are smaller and more intimate, offering the core fans more enjoyment. Better yet- these shows are FREE. If you're a human being, free is always a good thing.

I can only see benefits for everyone that brings together these shows.

Myspace. Let's face it. Myspace can be really ugly and overly convoluted with garbage with its ads and user created profiles. The main reason why I still use Myspace is because of its huge popularity in the music industry with Myspace Music. I know I'm not the only one that feels this way. (Yeah, agree me. You know it:) It's no wonder that Secret Shows is Myspace's most successful and longest-lasting music program in its history and the one program with the most user interaction. Secret Shows' main goal is to keep fans coming back and remain active on Myspace Music and it's definitely accomplishing that. 

Musical Acts and their Labels. Bands play these Secret Shows for free in exchange for promotion on Myspace Music, which extra costs absorbed by the label as a marketing and promotional expense. Myspace usually contacts labels for established bands that are already on tour or has recently released to be featured for the shows. I think this a good deal for bands and their labels. Because of Myspace's large social network that they can pull from, Secret Shows are guaranteed to fill an entire venue, even with the limited time restraint of bulletin announcements. Plus promotions and marketing is always a good thing, especially in this industry. These shows are a great way to give back to the core fans of bands that want an intimate performance from their favorites.

Clubs/Venues. It's win/win for these guys because they get all of the revenue from drink sales at the bar and bragging rights that Gnarls Barkley played at their bar. Every club would do anything to bring big acts from Secret Show's roster to their place.

You and I. Did I already mention that these shows are free? You'll be able to enjoy the bands better because of the smaller, intimate venues they will play in, which will definitely prove to be much more memorable. Plus you might receive one of the rad posters for the show.

Myspace made a wise decision with Secret Shows and the best part about it is that everyone wins! Myspace gets more hits, bands get more promotions, clubs get more people drunk, and you and I have more gas money! Got any more points I missed? Share it in the comments section!