Episodes
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A few weeks ago, we talked about Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" as it turned 50 years old. This week, we celebrate Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy," which was released on March 28, 1973. Listen to the podcast to learn about:
The significance of "Houses of the Holy" in Led Zeppelin's discography, and how it marked a departure from their earlier albums.
The diverse themes and production innovations on "Houses of the Holy," which gave the album a richer, more polished, and sophisticated sound.
The importance of maintaining a consistent brand voice and point of view while experimenting with new genres or mediums.
The lessons content creators and marketers can learn from "Houses of the Holy," such as taking risks, pushing boundaries, embracing outside inspiration, and building emotional connections with audiences.
What makes "Houses of the Holy" so special? Why was it considered such a departure from Zeppelin's previous releases? What lessons can we take from the album as creators and content marketers?
Get the complete guide to this podcast episode and listen to Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy" at rockandrollreclaimed.com.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
On this St. Patrick’s Day, let’s get inspired by the greatest rock & roll band from Ireland (sorry U2, but you know it’s true): Thin Lizzy! Listen to the podcast to learn:
Mark’s thoughts on the brand new GPT-4 release from OpenAI
Blending influences and styles: Learn how to combine various perspectives and genres for original, engaging content, inspired by Thin Lizzy's unique sound.
Embracing authenticity: Understand the importance of incorporating personal background, values, and experiences to create relatable and genuine content.
Mastering storytelling: Discover the power of vivid narratives that evoke emotions, spark curiosity, and keep audiences engaged, as exemplified by Phil Lynott's songwriting.
Thin Lizzy OriginsThin Lizzy was an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. The band was known for its distinctive twin guitar sound, led by charismatic frontman and primary songwriter, Phil Lynott. They gained international success in the 1970s with hits such as "Whiskey in the Jar," "The Boys Are Back in Town,", and "Jailbreak."
The band underwent several lineup changes throughout their career, with Lynott being the only constant member until his death in 1986. Thin Lizzy's music incorporated elements of hard rock, blues, and traditional Irish folk music, which contributed to their unique and compelling sound.
Despite their success, Thin Lizzy faced challenges due to Lynott's struggles with drug addiction, and the band eventually disbanded in 1984. However, their influence on rock music was significant, and they're considered one of the most important bands in their genre.
Why do I bring this up? First, it's St. Patrick's Day week and I wanted to talk about my favorite Irish band. But mainly, Phil Lynott, through Thin Lizzy, created engaging, impactful, and exciting music. Content creators like you and me can learn from Phil Lynott's approach to songwriting and performance by striving to be authentic. Using storytelling, embracing creativity, and building impactful audience connections can help us create an engaging and memorable content experience for our audience.
Let's dig into the Thin Lizzy musical experience right now and explore why their music was so great.
Phil Lynott, the storytellerThin Lizzy's frontman, Phil Lynott, was a talented lyricist and storyteller. His lyrics often told vivid and compelling stories that captured the imaginations of fans. For example, the band's hit song "Jailbreak" tells the story of a prison escape, while "The Boys Are Back in Town" paints a picture of a rowdy group of friends returning to their hometown.
These stories resonated with fans and gave the band a sense of authenticity and relatability. Fans felt that they could connect with the experiences and emotions depicted in the songs, which made them even more invested in the music.
Get the complete guide to this podcast episode and get some great Thin Lizzy music recommendations at rockandrollreclaimed.com.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
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On the date of this publishing, March 1, 2023, Pink Floyd's legendary album, The Dark Side of the Moon, turns 50 years old. With sales of over 45 million copies worldwide, Dark Side holds a special place in the hearts and minds of rock and roll fans. Listen to the podcast to find out about:
Why Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon is still so popular 50 years after its release.
How the band used universal, human themes and topics, and experimental production techniques, to enhance the audience's listening experience.
How we can draw a connection between the effective use of early synthesizers in 1970s rock music and the effective use of AI-generated information in modern content marketing.
A Clear VisionThe Dark Side of the Moon is a rare instance where the band had a clear vision for the record they wanted to make, and they had the know-how to get it onto tape. They made it themselves. Pink Floyd self-produced it (with some engineering help from a young Alan Parsons). They stuck to their vision, and they created one of the greatest albums of all time.
The phrase "making your Dark Side of the Moon" has become shorthand for creating your life's best work. It's the pinnacle — the apex — the masterpiece that will never be topped. Let's explore the reasons for that. Why does the album resonate with so many people from the early 1970s up to today? What lessons can we learn from Pink Floyd that we can apply to the content that we make?
See the complete post with every detail at superspacerobot.com.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT mimic the processes of the human brain on a less sophisticated and dynamic level than the actual human brain. In this article, we explore and why it may be harmful to do so. Listen to the podcast to find out about:
How generative AI tools like ChatGPT work (at a very high level)
How pattern recognition in the human mind leads to the personification of AI tools.
The potentially negative implications of personifying digital tools like ChatGPT
Finding Lemmy On My ShedSeveral years ago, I noticed something curious on the side of my shed. The pattern of chipped and worn-away paint on the corner of one wall bore a striking resemblance to heavy metal icon, Lemmy Kilmister. That's weird, right?
Logically, I knew that my shed, a repurposed 100-year-old chicken coop on my family's farm, didn't really contain the essence of the deceased lead singer of one of the greatest metal bands: Motörhead.
That didn't stop me from giving a nod to ol' Lemmy as I rode by on the lawn mower, or walked past on the way to retrieve something from the shed.
When that part of the shed was in need of maintenance, I gave more than a moment's thought about how to complete repairs and still preserve "Shed Lemmy."
Recognizing Familiar PatternsThe human brain has evolved to recognize familiar patterns in things. It's called pareidolia, and it often takes the form of recognizing faces in headlights, power outlets, burnt toast, and even the corner of a shed.
How does this phenomenon of pattern recognition apply to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools that are taking the world by storm in 2023? It applies because people are recognizing patterns of humanity in these AI tools. Is that a good thing? Let's explore.
Being Kind to RobotsA recent post I saw on LinkedIn talked about how the poster would use words like "please" and "thank you" when interacting with generative AI tools. The reason given for this politeness was that decorum, politeness, and humanity are important in every interaction we make. If we dehumanize our interaction with AI, how will we treat the people we communicate with?
While I understand the intent and sentiment of treating our fellow humans with dignity and respect, there's one significant flaw. AI tools aren't humans, and at this point, they don't really even get that close.
See the complete post with every detail at superspacerobot.com.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Podcast Episode Details
Listen to the podcast to find out:
How to use the creative process to tell better stories and make better content that will set you apart from artificial intelligence (AI).
How the mind filters and distills the information that you receive about the world in order to inspire new creations.
Overall thoughts on Rick Rubin’s new book on creativity.
Book Report: “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick RubinToday on the podcast we are taking a look ata new book entitled The Creative Act: A Way of Being, written by famed rock and hip hop producer Rick Rubin. If you don't know Rubin, you probably know some of the music he's produced. This includes artists like Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Slayer, Danzig, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Audioslave, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Eminem, and so many more.
Structure of The Creative ActThe Creative Act is a book that gives us an inside look at how Rubin finds creativity, both within himself and within the artists he works with. It's a thoughtful book that's come at the perfect time for content creators, marketers, brands, and anyone else that's tasked with creating unique, differentiating content.
The book is organized into many short chapters on different topics with titles like "Look Inward," "Self-Doubt," "Distraction," "Collaboration," "Make It Up," "Breaking the Sameness," and many more. That makes it easy to dive into a few chapters at a time very quickly and internalize the lessons Rubin tries to impart.
The Vessel and the FilterToday I want to highlight one particular chapter of Rubin's book that I thought was useful to our current discussion: "The Vessel and The Filter." The premise of this chapter is that we all have a container within ourselves — a vessel — that we use to collect data from dreams, thoughts, and life experiences.
Sometimes the data that enters the vessel can be the same, meaning that people might have shared experiences or similar thoughts. However, this data is filtered differently by each of us. Sometimes things don't get through at all. We can't take everything in, and our senses aren't always able to perceive all of the information that surrounds us.
The way we filter information eventually becomes our beliefs and stories — a unique and particular point of view about the world we live in.
Visit the full show notes at superspacerobot.com for more detail on today's episode, as well as recommendations for three great albums produced by Rick Rubin.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Podcast Episode Details
Listen to the podcast to find out:
How to use the creative process to tell better stories and make better content that will set you apart from artificial intelligence (AI).
The best ways to use AI to create better, faster, more efficient content.
About a new and very impressive text to voice AI tool
Number 11 is a very special number in Rock and Roll.I thought that for our eleventh show we should celebrate the occasion by looking back and summarizing where we've been. I have selected some of the most important moments from the first 10 episodes of the podcast. If this were a rock band and not a content marketing podcast, you might call it a "Greatest Hits" album.
Regardless of what you call it, a greatest hits release can be a good way to repurpose existing content and bring your audience up to date.
New AI Voice Tool: Eleven LabsToday in the podcast I'm using a new tool that's currently in beta, appropriately called Eleven Labs. It allows you to enter text and convert it to one of their many stock voices. Or, you can convert text into your own voice by uploading a sample. Check out the podcast to hear Bella, one of Eleven Labs' stock voices, read the introductions to each clip. I am impressed with this service so far.
The Greatest HitsVisit SuperSpaceRobot.com for the full guide to this episode, including links to each podcast episode referenced in the podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Podcast Episode Details
Listen to the podcast to find out:
What Writer (writer.com) is and what it can do for writers and writing teams.
Features of Writer that may set it apart from similar platforms like Grammarly and Jasper.
Why David Crosby should be remembered for his importance to rock and roll and songwriting.
Introduction to WriterI saw a speaker, May Habib from Writer, at Content Marketing World in September — specifically, the virtual version — I didn't attend in person this year. May's presentation was compelling enough that I decided to check out the platform. If you've been listening for a while, you know that I played around with Jasper for several months in 2022. You can find my review on that in episode 5: Content AI and Humble Pie.
Issues with Content AI Platforms like JasperJasper is a tool that's based on GPT-3 AI project, the same project that ChatGPT and Dall-E 2 are based on. Jasper promises to help you do everything from writing full blog posts, to organizing your thoughts, rewriting existing text, creating captions, writing social media copy, creating product descriptions, and more.
This might be a mild spoiler for my review of that episode, but in general, I found the platform promising, and useful in some cases. I had a few problems with it, and concluded that I couldn't necessarily rely on it for more than simply developing ideas — so I canceled it.
The only problem is that, now and then, I find myself wishing I had some of that functionality back. ChatGPT solves part of the problem for me, but it just isn't as polished or easy to use as Jasper.
Then came Writer.
Is Writer a Grammarly Clone?At first glance, Writer is a Grammarly clone. Grammarly is the market leader in grammar correction and writing accuracy tools — and I've used it for years.
Like Grammarly, Writer watches what you write, and gives you a score based on the quality and accuracy of your writing. It provides suggestions in categories like spelling, grammar, terms, style, clarity, delivery, inclusivity, and plagiarism. If you've used Grammarly, you'll find that list familiar. There are some subtle differences, though.
Jasper-like FunctionalityLet's talk about the AI elements found in Writer, because this is the area where it moves beyond Grammarly. Writer has a feature called CoWrite that approximates the functionality of Jasper.
It features templates, similar to Jasper's Recipes, that analyze text you enter and create suggestions for blog post titles. It can summarize text into bullet points. It can even write copy for you based on the inputs you give it, or rewrite existing copy to simplify it and make it better.
Remembering David CrosbySpeaking of writers, I want to pay tribute this week to one of the great songwriters in the world of popular music over the last 50 years. David Crosby passed away last week at the age of 81.
Crosby was a huge part of two highly successful and influential bands: The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, and Nash — along with all its variations, including Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. David Crosby had a great voice and was a talented songwriter and musician.
Get the full show notes, including my bottom line on Writer.com and David Crosby album recommendations, at SuperSpaceRobot.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Last Wednesday, a few hours after the last episode of the "Content, Robots, and Rock and Roll" podcast came out, we got the news that legendary guitarist Jeff Beck had passed away.
I came to appreciate Jeff Beck a little later in my life. I think that was because he was a rather difficult artist to pin down music-wise. He didn't fit neatly into my teenage rock & roll brain. It took a while for me to truly appreciate his music. Once I did, I really did.
Jeff Beck was a prolific artist whose career spanned decades. He released dozens of albums in many different genres — rock and roll, blues, and jazz fusion being the most prominent. Beck had the unique ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. I wish I'd been in one of his live audiences. I never got the chance to see him live. He truly pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the world of music — particularly on the guitar.
Let's take this occasion to remember Jeff Beck, and see what lessons and inspiration we can learn from him that we can apply to the content that we create.
Podcast Episode DetailsListen to the podcast to find out:
Why (and how) Jeff Beck could connect with audiences on such an emotional level.
How we can make our content creation inspirational, yet un-copyable.
Why it’s important to master the fundamentals of automation and content AI in order to make more creative and more unique content.
Important Links
Get the full show notes, including my 5 Jeff Beck album recommendations, at SuperSpaceRobot.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Content, Robots, and Rock & Roll is the only show that takes inspiration from the greatest artists, albums, songs, and moments in rock and roll to make better, more creative, more compelling, and more efficient digital content that sets us apart from the robots. The robots are, of course, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other new technologies entering the digital content space.
Throughout the history of rock & roll, there have been artists who have embraced new technologies and new sounds, including the progressive bands of the 1970s and the New Wave artists of the 1980s. Among the first recording artists to really try new things and innovate in rock & roll music production were The Beatles.
In today’s podcast, we continue from where we left off last week, looking at a specific moment in Beatles history - one of the last moments - the sessions and live performance that would eventually become Let It Be.
GET BACK to Basics with Content Marketing Project ManagementA huge part of executing any content marketing strategy is project management.
About a year ago, I published a post entitled Content Project Management Lessons From The Beatles: Get Back! that discussed the 8-hour Peter Jackson project on Disney Plus that changed the way we look at the final months of The Beatles as an active, working band.
Be sure to listen to the accompanying podcast to this post, and read Content Project Management Lessons From The Beatles: Get Back! to get started with content project management and build a foundation for implementing a smart content AI strategy.
Podcast Episode DetailsListen to the podcast to find out:
How to lean on your roots (musical or otherwise) to create better content
Why managing content projects is hard
How to revise your workflow to create more realistic expectations - and outcomes
The importance of bringing in an outsider to the content creation process
Why you should never be afraid to try something new or different (hint: A.I. ).
Important Links
Full show notes and accompanying blog post
Content Project Management Lessons From The Beatles: Get Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
I recently changed the name of my podcast from The Rock and Roll Content Show to Content, Robots, and Rock & Roll. It remains the same podcast. We will still gather inspiration from rock and roll music, moments, artists, albums, and songs. We'll still use that inspiration to make better, more creative, more compelling, and more efficient digital content that sets us apart from the robots.
Who are these robots?They're not real robots. I mean robots in the abstract sense: artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and automation. These concepts are infiltrating the world of content creation right now.
AI is getting pretty good at certain specific tasks. We're not at a point yet where you'll be able to rely completely on AI for every part of your content strategy, but we are at a point where people will start to try.
My premise for this show is that AI is not necessarily going to replace humans in content creation and content marketing - at least not soon. I've played with all the tools, like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and other related AI tools. They're great. They're surprising in some cases in that they can create some really cool things, but they are not all the way there yet.
Podcast Episode DetailsListen to the podcast to find out:
The promise of content AI platforms.
The problems (right now) with using AI to create content.
How content AI platforms can be used as power tools for content creation.
How do we create a framework for digital content creation and how do we use AI to help?
Where to look in the rock and roll world for content project management inspiration (hint: it’s the Beatles).
Important Links
Full show notes and accompanying blog post
Content Project Management Lessons From The Beatles: Get Back!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Lionel Richie was among the favorite artists of my early music-listening years before I got more into rock & roll. I was excited to see Richie, who had already been inducted as a Commodore, get his solo induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
His speech was one of the highlights of the 4-hour event for me because the message got to the heart of what I'm trying to communicate through the Rock & Roll Content Show.
Podcast Episode DetailsListen to the podcast to find out:
1. What it means to be a “creative” artist vs. a “created” artist, in the mind of Lionel Richie
2. How we might start to apply that lesson to content creation
Richie’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction SpeechHere's Lionel Richie in his own words from that night:
I'm celebrating tonight, probably one of the funniest...jokes in my life, because all the songs that I wrote and recorded...were told to be by so many people: These are the songs that will destroy your career.
What in the hell are you thinking about? For example, I had a group of people come to me and say, Lionel, this is funk. What are you doing with Three Times a Lady, a waltz? What are you doing? And it went on to do great things. And then they said, 'can you give us another one of those [like] Three Times a Lady?'
And I gave him Sail On.
And then they said, can you give us another one of those [like] Sail On?
And that's when I realized the business - the true business - was into copying - not being original. So that's when I realized there are two types of artists:
Creative artists...and created artists.
And from that point, I decided I would be in the creative artists category. So when someone said to me, Oh, my God. I wouldn't do that song about what you. That's the exact song I'm putting out. I'm going in the opposite direction.
Later in the speech, Richie continued:
I'm standing on this stage because I want you to understand how important it is to let the creative flow. If you get an idea, the last thing you want to do is open your mouth and say something stupid like 'I wouldn't do that if I were you' - especially if you're talking to a creative. artist.
What Content Creation Path Are You On?Let's dive into Richie's words a little bit and connect them to whatever kind of content we might be making, whoever we might be making it for. Created vs. Creative. What category does your content currently fall in? It's something for all of us that consider ourselves creators of content to think about as we approach the new year.
Content creators can get ahead by taking the "created" path - the path that someone else already cleared and succeeded at, in other words. There's no shame in that. It's probably the smart move in some cases.
Would we be looking at Lionel Richie as a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame if he'd simply followed the formula that the record label wanted him to? Would we get from Three Times a Lady, to Sail On as part of the Commodores, to songs like All Night Long and Hello, if he'd followed the well-traveled path? If he'd simply followed the trends and been a "created" artist?
Perhaps, but it seems to me that, despite the problems and controversies the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has in terms of who is admitted and who is not admitted, the artists that ultimately get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame do so because they had something new to say. They had something unique or creative to share.
Created vs. Creative. What category does your content currently fall in? We'll talk more about this in future episodes.
Rock & Roll InspirationWatch the entire Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction on HBO Max in the United States to see Lionel Richie's speech as well as performances and speeches by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, The Eurythmics, Eminem, Judas Priest, Dolly Parton, and more.
Visit rockcontent.show for more on this topic and other topics related to content creation, content marketing, and rock & roll.
Do you have questions or ideas about refreshing and repurposing older content? Let me know about it at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Join Mark Dauner in this remix of an earlier episode from the Super Space Robot Podcast as he talks about a content marketing tool he’s been experimenting with called Jasper that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate content. What’s the verdict? Listen to the podcast to find out!
Artificial Intelligence has promised to put all of us writers and content creators out of a job within the next several years. Will it? Maybe. Probably not. We'll talk about what tools like Jasper do well, and where they still need a little human expertise and help.
Podcast Episode DetailsListen to the podcast to find out:
1. What Jasper.ai does and how it works
2. Some common use cases for the platform
3. What I think about it
4. How you might be able to work it into your content marketing workflow (hint...it does not involve firing your writers - or yourself)
Rock & Roll InspirationThis episode's rock inspiration is much more general, and not in any way connected to Jasper or content AI, but I recently had the chance to see Peter Frampton in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Frampton has never been among my favorite artists, but I have always respected him as a guitarist, and he put on an amazing show. His use of the Talk Box, which is an electronic device that allows the user to speak, or sing through their guitar's pickups, makes him sound like a robot - so I guess there's your tenuous A.I. connection.
As a rock & roll fan, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the legendary concert venues that I've always wanted to visit, and the chance to see the venue and sit in one of the fancy boxes around the outside of the hall was the main reason I bought the tickets. It was really cool.
I've linked two great Frampton-related albums:
1. Peter Frampton's legendary 1976 live album that put him on the map, Frampton Comes Alive!: Apple Music | Spotify
2. Humble Pie's 1971 live album, Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore, featuring Frampton on guitar. Apple Music | Spotify
Visit rockcontent.show for more on this topic and other topics related to content creation, content marketing, and rock & roll.
Do you have questions or ideas about refreshing and repurposing older content? Let me know about it at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Refreshing and Repurposing Older Content
Today I’m revisiting and repurposing some content that’s about a year old on this show. Why? I’m traveling part of the week and won’t have time to put together a full episode. Also, it’s Halloween, and last Halloween I released an episode of my previous podcast series Super Space Robot that’s still quite useful and relevant.
If you are a content creator, you're bound to have this problem. Over time, you forget about stuff. It drifts away, out of sight and out of mind. Nothing is ever really dead on the internet. All that old, long-forgotten content remains indexed by search engines and findable by people, by bots, and by who knows what else.
What Should You Do With Old Content?How do to uncover all of this old content? You should perform a content audit. Content audits are often overlooked by content creators for good reason. We are always focused on making the next thing, that we rarely take the time to look backward. Sometimes you have to look to the past to build a better future. As cheesy as that sounds, auditing past content can be vital for identifying gaps in your current content. What content is too old? What content is irrelevant? What content should be removed? What content should be revived and updated? Content audits help you determine what is out there already. That helps to save you time in the future.
Learn more about refreshing and repurposing old and outdated content at rockcontent.show.
Halloween Playlist: 13 Alice Cooper Spooky Halloween FavoritesI can’t think of a more Halloween-appropriate rock & roll artist than Alice Cooper. Here are 13 songs I’ve chosen that are some of his creepiest. They’re perfect to put on this Halloween season. I've linked to the playlist on both Apple Music and Spotify.
No matter what time of year you’re reading or listening to this, Happy Halloween!
Important Links:
Read the full synopsis of this episode.
Listen to Alice Cooper for Halloween on Apple Music and Spotify.Do you have questions or ideas about refreshing and repurposing older content? Let me know about it at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Today's rock & roll inspiration is slightly different from normal because it's not very old. I'm talking, of course, about the Great War of 2022.
No, not that one - or that other one. I'm talking about the war that broke out on social media between metal band Falling in Reverse's founder and vocalist Ronnie Radke and veteran rock DJ Eddie Trunk. Visit the Rock & Roll Content Show website for the whole story. For now, suffice it to say that the topic they fought over applies to what we do as modern content creators.
Digital Automation Improves Live Music ExperiencesDigital technology makes it possible for triggers to be fired to sync up automations of digital sounds and even stage effects. It lets touring bands who might not be able to afford to bring a whole string section or background singers on tour to deliver a sound that resembles their studio recordings.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Digital ContentIf you're listening to this podcast or reading this post, you're probably a digital content creator or digital marketer. When I talk to content creators, specifically writers and designers, about digital tech like artificial intelligence and machine learning coming into the content world, I often hear negativity and dismissiveness.
There's a reason for that. When A.I. for content first came on the scene a few years ago, the big belief was that writers would be out of a job in five years' time. Further, that brands could save money by eliminating human writers in favor of A.I. content generators. Some tools purport to do that, and they're getting better, but they are just not ready to be put into use without human support.
Just like in a rock and roll show, technology can be used to enhance what good writers and good content creators are already doing today. It won't fully replace it, at least not right now.
A.I. is not going to do all that heavy lifting. It lacks that human understanding and the knowledge and context required for great storytelling. It doesn't have a sense of humor. It doesn't have real emotion.
What can A.I. do for content creators?One thing that A.I. has gotten good at in content creation is editing and proofreading.
Tools like Grammarly, which I use religiously, use A.I. to find context in text and deliver more accurate suggestions in terms of grammar, tone, clarity, engagement, and delivery. Other apps like Writer have similar functions built-in.
For content writing, A.I. can also do things like create captions and social media descriptions. It can provide insight and recommendations for search engine optimization. It can help with tasks like planning, research, and outlining.
The next time someone asks you for an opinion on A.I. in content, don't be an Eddie trunk. Don't be a Ronnie Radke (although I think he's on the right side of this debate). Look into the nuance and think about how it might be helpful to have a little robot buddy helping you with your content.
Halloween Album Pick: In This Moment’s BloodAt the time of this post's publishing, I got to see the Blood 10th Anniversary Tour from the band In This Moment. I thought it was a fantastic show for Halloween. In This Moment's stage show and performance is always so visually interesting, spooky, and creepy.
Their album Blood came out in 2012, and I would consider it their best. It's certainly their most popular. I've linked to the album on both Apple Music and Spotify. If you like metal, it's great music to get you in the mood for the Halloween season.
Important Links:
Read the full synopsis of this episode.
Watch Become The Knight's Video, Bands Using Laptops and Tracks for Live Shows (Ronnie Radke vs Eddie Trunk)
Learn More About Falling In Reverse, and Eddie TrunkThink of some ways you might want to incorporate A.I. into your content workflow. Let me know about it at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
Making content can be tricky. You might have a great idea and know what story you want to tell. You might take lessons on storytelling simplicity from last week's episode, taking inspiration from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and allowing your audience the space to bring their own ideas and narratives.
But once you've done that, where do you publish it? What format do you use? Text? Audio? Video? How do you make sure it reaches the right audience in the right places?
There was once a time on the internet, a decade or so ago, when it was enough to create content, then share that link on social media.
Over time, things changed. Social media platforms got crowded with content. Social media platforms monetized and introduced advertising platforms. In that new environment, the likelihood that the audience you built on those platforms actually saw the content you shared dropped significantly.
Now, we're at a point where each channel you publish content requires some independence. It's no longer enough to use the "hub and spoke" or "publish once - syndicate everywhere" content model.
Your story could be the same, but how you tell it may change to reach the right audience. That's where multichannel content and content repurposing come into play.
What Is Multichannel Content?Multichannel content means what it says. It's the distribution and promotion of content via more than one channel. Channel examples may include your blog, social media accounts, video streaming platforms, and podcasts.
What is Content Repurposing?Content repurposing means taking existing content and using it in more than one way - sometimes with modifications - to work on more than one channel.
Looking Back at MTVFor some multichannel content inspiration, let's travel back in time to the 1980s and talk about MTV. No, I don't mean the weird reality show network that it eventually became, but the cable TV channel that became famous for playing music videos nearly 24/7.
In this episode of the Rock and Roll Content Show, we talk about how the MTV mega-hit "Money For Nothing" from British rock band Dire Straits was a shining example of multichannel content in the 1980s. You might be surprised by the lessons we can learn from Dire Straits when developing content for multiple channels in our own content marketing. Even better, you won't even have to play your guitar on the MTV.
Important Links:
Read the full synopsis of this episode.
Listen to Dire Straits' 1985 masterpiece album, Brothers In Arms. Here are links to the album on Apple Music and Spotify.
Read I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video," by Rob Tannenbaum
Visit comic Sam Morrill on InstagramThink of some ways you might want to take these lessons on multichannel content and content repurposing when building your own content. What are they? Let me know at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com -
I was preparing another episode of this podcast to release as episode #1. You'll hear that one next week. But then something happened. I saw the new film, Moonage Daydream, documenting the art of David Bowie from his early career to his final work, Blackstar, released days after his passing in 2016.
In the first episode of the Rock & Roll Content Show, we take a look at David Bowie's epic 1972 concept album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Ziggy Stardust is one of the most influential rock albums of all time. It loosely follows a rock star from outer space who comes to save the earth five years ahead of an impending disaster. Over that time, he becomes beloved - rising to epic stardom. Ziggy buys into all the hype and self-destructs, eventually dying on stage.
What can we learn from Bowie, and Ziggy, about storytelling? How do simple concepts help your audience fill in story gaps with their own ideas and experiences? What can we take from the construction of the Ziggy Stardust concept and incorporate into our own content creation? Listen to find out!
Important Links:
Read the full synopsis of this episode.
Subscribe to the Rock & Roll Content Show Newsletter.
Listen to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Here are links to the album on Apple Music and Spotify.
Check out the white paper mentioned in the podcast, Harvard Business Publishing's Telling Stories: How Leaders Can Influence, Teach, and Inspire by Vanessa Boris and Lani Peterson.Think of some ways you might want to take these storytelling lessons from Ziggy Stardust when building your own content. What are they? Let me know at [email protected].
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit superspacerobot.substack.com
