By MeSoHordey
Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:11 pm
Jamon wrote:They're following the modern hip-hop model, 90% crow, 10% flow.
The product isn't ready. There hasn't even been a widespread testing of the software and they're already prepping armies of street teams to sell it.
The strange thing is, this might work. Many of you know your MPC, and can get into it, but you might be a minority. Many people seem to be beat skimmers.
They don't dive deep, they just grab some prepackaged sounds, drop them into a sequence, and make-believe they're like a famous producer.
That's where the money is, fooling these guys, supporting their delusional fantasies. The Kangz aren't selling their music in old CD format, no money in that, they're selling culture.
For some of us, the Beat Thang looks like a gimmick. That's because we view our MPC as a tool, not a lifestyle. But not everyone does. The Kangz are targeting non-techs.
You don't just buy a Thang, you buy membership into a club. You get the style, merchandise, friends, access to a President who walks, talks, and acts like you.
Welcome to modern marketing. Where products are no longer sold based on specs alone, they are fluffed up using psychological trickery to make it cultural.
If this works, the Beat Kangz are truly pushing new grounds. They are not only selling a PC dedicated to a single software app, but to their music as well.
Didn't you find it odd that the "Beat Kangz" is like a music group name, yet they used it to make hardware too? It's confusing, like "Dr. Dre Electronics". What's that?
It's the new trick. Instead of selling CDs, they're selling a box full of their signature sounds. They're pulling you into their fanbase, and people will distribute their sound.
Even "Dr. Dre" is being used as a brand name to sell music gear now. Do you know why? It's because the market has shifted from consumer to producer.
Before the means of production were kept in control of the wealthy capitalists. Big names had access to that, and made products to sell to poor consumers.
Now the means of productions are so cheap, everyone has access. Everyone is a producer. Now you can't just sell a product to be consumed, it has to produce too.
The MPC is more from the old world, the Beat Thang is more from the new. That's why the MPC is more hardcore tool, boring looking. The Beat Thang is more consumer.
Get used to it, this is the age of the prosumer.
If you just want a tool, you'll have to be extra careful now to research it thoroughly. Wait for the trial and see for yourself. If you aren't fooled by the glitter it should be clear then.
Dude - you are so not getting your beatthingie on time. They are going to ship everyone elses first, and then route yours through Asia.Sometimes I still laugh out loud about the beat kangz and that time some English dude hacked the Akai marketing website and stole a bunch of pictures of the Ren before it was released.
