Ex-Byrd Roger McGuin Uses Blog To Connect With Fans

Roger McGuinn may be best known for his work with The Byrds, but those of us who watch the technosphere also know that he’s an avid early adopter of technology and the advantages and opportunities it provides musicians.

McGuinn was giving away free MP3’s monthly via the old MP3.com long before it was fashionable.  Unlike many "former rock stars", McGuinn could still easily get a record deal, but last year he chose not only to record his own CD in his home studio and to forgo brick and mortar distribution totally by making it only available via online stores like Amazon, the various legal download services like iTunes, and on his own RogerMcGuinn.com . 

McGuinn is already producing a podcast available via iTunes, but it’s his blog that caught our eye.  He’s certainly not the first musician to use a blog to connect with their fans, but there is something particularly effective about this one including some extremely well written "Roadie Reports" from his wife and traveling companion Camilla. A recent post about McGuinn recording with Dolly Parton is a great example:

• "Roger sat down with Dolly at the recording board and played the tune, then he suggested to Dolly that there was a nice harmony part she could sing. She asked Roger to sing the part. The CD, "Those Were The Days," will be released October 11, 2005 and is filled with the people who sang on the original songs. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for all those sessions."

Many musicians and music marketers could learn from the straight-forward and honest style of this blog.

Check out the blog here.