When looking at business articles online, the jargon might be hard to digest. But, there are some tips for setting yourself apart from the competition that can come from one of the most unlikely sources – rock music. So, let’s take a look at what businesses can learn from successful musicians like Bon Jovi and Radiohead.
Find Your Niche
Bon Jovi is by far one of the most recognisable rock bands out there, with many top hits over the decades. One of their iconic songs, Wanted Dead or Alive, drew parallels between bands on tour and the life of a cowboy. Since then, this has inspired a wide range of media that combines cowboy iconography with rock music. Just take online casino games – the popular slot game Wanted Dead or a Wild uses symbols like cowboy hats, sheriff badges, and spurs to build an immersive picture of the Wild West. Coupled with the rock music elements in the soundtrack, this highlights the impact that cowboy rock has had on these thematics.
Of course, Bon Jovi continued to lean into their cowboy rock vibe after the success of this track, which has become their unique and recognisable sound. This same logic can be applied to all kinds of businesses – as can many aspects of Bon Jovi’s 40-year longevity. It is important to set your brand apart from your competitors, providing a unique spin, and addressing how your brand is different.
Think outside the box to draw parallels between your brand and something your target audience responds to – perhaps a new way of looking at key pain points your business solves. This will give you an untapped niche that your business can lean into through consistent messaging, and your brand can become known as the thought leader in that aspect.
Disrupt Tradition
Radiohead broke new ground in 2007 when they self-released their seventh studio album, In Rainbows. This album was released as a digital download, where listeners could pay what they want. Whilst at the time this was considered an odd strategy, according to RadioX the average price paid worldwide was £4.55 – and, despite many free downloads, Radiohead made an estimated £2.3 million. The technique served as an early example of how music could be distributed in the wake of digital transformation.
What Radiohead successfully did here was disrupt the traditional business model of music distribution not only by selling their music digitally but by directly engaging with their target audience. In other words, the disruption of traditional business models can open the door for innovative thinking which can ultimately allow for new opportunities in the industry.
Just one example of this is Netflix, which pivoted from a DVD rental service to online streaming. Due to this, more streaming services began to pop up, and physical rentals dwindled, changing the industry forever. With this in mind, don’t feel boxed in by historic business models – continue to reinvent beyond conventional means.
As you can see, both Bon Jovi and Radiohead can be an unlikely source of motivation for businesses, highlighting outside-the-box thinking that can set your business apart from competitors. By approaching it in new, innovative ways, this can allow for creative ideas that could evolve into something rockin’!
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