12.04.09
With the music industry and traditional record sales declining, rock bands are struggling to stay relevant to their fans. The famous rock band REO Speedwagon has apparently found a new way to market themselves and get their music in front of listeners. According to the article in The New York Times, “REO Speedwagon Rocks on as a Game” , the band is working with digital agency Curious Sense to introduce an online video game as a way to promote the band and their new album.
The interactive game features avatars of the band members with a plot centered around the disappearance of their lead singer. For the $8 fee, gamers have the opportunity for up to ten hours of game play as well as receiving discount coupons for the bands new album and a chance to win prize packages including backstage passes to meet the band. REO Speedwagon saw this as great opportunity to generate interest, while reinventing the bands image and providing them with an alternative revenue source.
Here is what lead singer Kevin Cronin had to say:
“There is a need for us to explore all kinds of different avenues to get our music out there,” Mr. Cronin said in a telephone interview. “If you just think about how it used to be, you’ll be left in the dust.”
The game will be released Dec. 3rd on many popular websites for casual games including, BigFishGames.com, MSN Games, and Yahoo games.
image from The New York Times
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