Who is the real Marie Digby?
Who is the real Marie Digby? A rising music star created by posting music videos on YouTube and iTunes or the product of a carefully planned campaign by a Major Record Label? The answer turns out to be a bit of both.
Marie Digby, you may have heard her song ‘Umbrella‘ (opens in iTunes), was signed by Hollywood Records (a Disney label) in 2005 with the idea of using social media tools to build her career. After a lot of work, music videos, and social networking, Digby built herself a large and loyal fan base. Her mistake was waiting until that point to announce that she had been signed by Hollywood Records. Now, many of her fans feel burnt, and rightly so, since Digby and her label violated their trust.
So much about music is an emotional connection with the material. That’s just not going to happen if in the back of your head you remember this incident. For instance, is her "Ugly Betty" song truly a heartfelt creation or deliberate cross promotion (or in Disney speak ‘Synergy’).
This is very similar to the LonelyGirl15 scenario which recently ended with her character being ritually sacrificed to appease fans. But at least the show still had fans. Digby and her record label need to do some damage control here and perhaps her career can be saved.
Frankly, I had been hearing a small bit of buzz surrounding Marie Digby the last few months. Her music isn’t necessarily that original, but she has budding talent that is well represented in her music videos. I hope she’s able to over come this serious faux pas and build a long career.
For more on this read "Church of the Customer", the Wall Street Journal article where the lie was revealed, and Digby’s response to that article. BuzzFeed is also tracking this story.
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Why would fans feel like they were burnt? They don’t want Digby’s CDs to have world wide appeal … they want her songs for themselves? With the cost of putting a CD out - the label wants to make sure there is an audience for it. Book publishers do it all the time. Her fans feel violated? Would they feel better if Digby’s music wasn’t available to enjoy at all? Judging from her videos - she appears to sing and play instruments “live” which is more than I can say for other successful Hollywood Records acts.
100% in total agreement with OTTO. If the “FANS” want Marie Digby to see her album being sold worldwide, they the “FANS” must not be so immature and selfish. A good support from the “FANS” is what she needs NOT
bombarding her for some naively rubbish comments and out of this world stupid feeling of violated trust! Come on people, if you’re a good “FAN”, show some support, the right way.
I, as a “FAN” and all of the others from Asia, would like to say, ALL THE BEST TO MARIE DIGBY AND MAY YOU HAVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ONE DAY HERE IN ASIA!
who posted this stupid article anyway?
marie digby rocks so, if you think she’s not good enough to have “FANS”, why dont you make your own music video, post it on youtube then wait for comments. who knows, hollywood record agents might spot you. haha.
Kit,
I think you have the order of events confused. She had the record label and then started posted videos. She wasn’t discovered on YouTube, it was a ruse to get fans to think she was fan discovered when really it was just a brilliant marketing plan.
In the end, her music and talent should stand on its own. So she has a good chance at continued success. But the lesson is internet users have a long memory and will ferret out every deception eventually. So basing your marketing plan on deception is probably not a very good business plan.
Doesn’t anyone remember that she won that Pantiene (I forgot how to spell it) Pro-Voice thing a few years ago? That’s how I learned about her. She’s been around a little while and she was not discovered because of YouTube. That’s like a hobby and way to get her new stuff out. She’s got so many loyal fans out there, why would we feel “burnt”?