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When is Text Message Marketing Effective

Text message marketing has become one of the most efficient channels to increase sales of a business. It is immediately received and read. It takes one hour at most to get a response from a text message, unlike an email that takes over 24 hours. 

While there is no denying its benefits, done wrong, it could have a contrary impact. Many marketers irritated their customers in the past and ended up losing even the most loyal of them. If you are using it for the marketing of your business, make sure you use the best free mass texting service and follow tips shared in this article. 

You Have a Local Audience

If you have a local audience, it’s unlikely that your SMS marketing investment would go to waste. Sending a text message to an audience that can physically approach is very effective. They are more likely to put their trust in the message when they see a local business. 

You Don’t Irritate Them

Text message marketing is effective as long as you don’t irritate your prospects. Sending long or frequent messages would disturb their peace and they will block you. Remember, they will have to leave whatever they are doing to take out their mobile phone and read your message – make sure it’s worth it. Send them a text only when you have something valuable to offer that they will like. 

You Have a Great Pitch

Just like any marketing tactic, it’s important to have a great pitch, even in SMS marketing. As a matter of fact, you have to be smarter with an SMS. It has to be as short as possible but must convey the complete message. You have to add a call-to-action while triggering the pain points of your audience and highlighting your unique selling points with the offer – how it’s done is an art itself.

Video: A rare look at the Sex Pistols’ 1978 US Tour

“D.O.A.: A Rite of Passage” from 1981 is a rockumentary which mixes the Sex Pistols’ disastrous 1978 US Tour with interview and concert footage for some of punk rock’s earliest bands.

The Doors Perform “Light My Fire” on Malibu U, hosted By Ricky Nelson in 1967

Jim Morrison apparently missed the shoot with the band. Note that there are no shots clearly showing him and the band at the same place at the same time.

What would a piano sound like if you replaced the strings with guitar strings? This.

Mattias Krantz strings us along and shows us what happened you replace all the pinao strings with ones from a guitar.

Licensed Music and Great New Royalty-Free Albums are Ideal for Your Video Production Needs

While it’s true, at least before the recent shutdowns due to the pandemic, that the real money in the music industry came from live shows, it’s worth noting that there is one other area of the business model that is going swimmingly and that’s the royalty-free market.

A number of sites and services have cropped up offering free, or very cheap, access to royalty free music for use in your personal video content. This could come in the form of music that overlays your social posts (which can prove very effective indeed), to your short film productions, podcasts or even your wedding videos.

The library’s offered for such services are vast, some are simply mammoth-like in their size, and the genres of royalty free music that are available will pretty much suit any need you might encounter.

If we are now living in the content creation age then the key need of musical accompaniment has never been so vital and frankly trying to license and use songs, or even short portions of songs, from big-name artists is just not cost-effective outside the use of national television stations or very large production companies.

Therefore scanning what’s on offer from those in the business has never been more relevant, or indeed easier. 

Some services even offer you access to latest albums available from artists who are freely making their efforts available on a royalty free basis, no doubt confident that the use of their work may well open doors in the future.

Artists that are hosted on these relevant services aren’t usually signed up to major labels but that doesn’t lessen their quality, indeed if anything the work they produce is more bespoke in nature and could well be a smoother fit for whatever niche you are looking to cover.

For example, perhaps you represent a budding new brand looking to market your services across all the relevant social channels and you are seeking a kicking beat or an ideal tune that will linger in the heads of viewers who come across your offering. A good track could prove key in getting the most out of your promotion or advertisement. 

Of course it’s not just specific songs you are looking to use, it’s also SFX (sound affects) and again the royalty-free model is one that works ideally for such a service. 

Most sites offering these packages are super intuitive as they are built specifically to fit your needs, all manner of options are available and prices are far cheaper than you’d imagine, and a fraction of the costs associated with licensing existing commercial efforts from established acts.

Among the acts that we’ve been enjoying of late are the minimalist stylish licks coming from Spearfisher along with the dreamy soundscapes produced by Denitia, there really are a huge number of relatively unknown gems out there, just waiting to be used to perfectly push your projects, be they personal or public in nature.

This move was perhaps an expected one. Great advertising productions have become the bread and butter of some acts’ attempts at breaking the market. There was of course the time Moby did all he could to get the tracks of his Play album licensed as far and wide as possible, this led to that album selling 12 million copies.

Then there was the succession of number one hits that sold by the bucketload after appearing in Levi jean commercials. 

Music helps to cement the quality of the visual placed against it, this goes from personal social media posts (Tik Tok users can’t get enough of matching short-sharp portions of songs to their latest dance videos), to branding efforts used to bring maximum awareness to the company running them.

The nature of buying music has evolved over recent years and the act of purchasing a musical product is in many ways alien to the younger demographic. However the use of music as a product in it’s own right, outside of one’s personal enjoyment, is becoming a more common portion of the revenue producing arm of the industry.

It appears that the readily accessible music market, where you can download and play any track you require (usually for free via a paid streaming service), has on the whole made the commodity of music somewhat cheaper on the whole. 

However services that offer royalty free music for personal and commercial benefit could well be a bright new future for emerging acts.

Best Theme Songs Found in Online Casino Slots

Slot developers are always on the lookout for new themes to keep players interested and coming back for more. Music-themed slots are very popular with slot players from around the world because most developers base their slots in iconic bands, individual performers and theme songs that have struck the right note with billions of fans from around the world.

Visit the game lobby of any online casino and you will find plenty of music-themed slots, including those developed in honour of noted singers such as Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. They not only treat players to theme songs but also offer lucrative bonus features and large jackpots.

All these slots can be played for free using no deposit free spins bonuses which you can find on this page. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular slots which have theme songs that have been massive hits over the years.

Michael Jackson King of Pop

Michael Jackson, widely acclaimed as the “King of Pop,” is now the theme of a popular online slot called “Michael Jackson King of Pop,” developed by Bally Technologies. Its reels feature symbols of Michael Jackson, his white gloves, shoes, hat, and sunglasses. As you play, you can listen to popular Michael Jackson songs such as Dirty Diana, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal.

Gone but not forgotten

Michael Jackson King of Pop has five reels, three rows, 25 paylines, and plenty of bonus features. There is a Wheel of Fortune with prizes such as multipliers, cash, and two free spins rounds—the Smooth Criminal Free Spins with five free spins with wild reels and the Beat It Free Spins with 10 free spins with frozen wilds.

The Moonwalk Wilds feature gets activated at random during the base game. When this happens, you can watch Michael Jackson moonwalking across your game screen, leaving behind 2 – 5 wild symbols. The Stacked Wilds is also a random feature that can turn two reels into wilds.

How much can you win? The game has an RTP of 96.01% and a top fixed jackpot of 500 coins, but you can win more in the bonus rounds.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is a slot in NetEnt’s game library. It not only honours the American songwriter, singer, and legendary musician, but also treats his fans to some of his greatest songs such as Purple Haze and Foxy Lady. The slot is made entirely in pastels and the reels are set against an open-air stage.

With ten betting levels and coin values ranging from 0.01 – 1.00, Jimi Hendrix is one of the most affordable NetEnt slots. It has an RTP of 96.9%. Land five Jimi Hendrix symbols across a payline and win 400 coins, which is the top fixed jackpot.

Also gone but not forgotten

The slot is loaded with special features such as extra wilds, re-spins, bonus rounds, and random multipliers of up to 30x. Also, there are two free spins rounds to choose from—the Crosstown Traffic Free Spins with six free spins and wild reels, the Purple Haze Free Spins with up to 12 free spins with extra wilds, and the Little Wing Free Spins with up to 12 free spins and up to 5 overlay wilds.

Guns N’ Roses

NetEnt has created many slots to please music lovers over the years but its most famous music slot arguably is Guns N’ Roses. This hard rock band achieved cult like fame in the late 80s and 90s. If you enjoyed their music over the years, you must give this slot a few spins.

Guns N’ Roses is a 20-line slot with five reels and three rows. The reels, which are set against a stage and a cheering crowd, are populated with icons of band members Slash, Axl Rose, Izzy Stradin, Steven Adler, and Duff McKagan along with a few guns and roses.

When it comes to special features, you will find plenty in the form of an expanding wild, an overlay wild, and an extra wild that appears during the free spins. If you land three bonus symbols, you get to spin the Bonus Wheel, which can unlock a bonus game, free spins, or coin wins.

The slot has an RTP of 96.98% and you can win a maximum of 750 coins per spin of the reels.

Elvis Lives

Elvis Presley passed away in 1977 but his legend has never died. Commonly referred to as ‘The King’ Elvis changed the music scene for the better. Are you a fan of Elvis Presley? Would you like to listen to popular songs such as Burning Love, Suspicious Minds, and Hound Dog as you play slots?

If so go ahead and play Elvis Lives, a WMS slot with five reels, 12 rows, and 60 ways to win. It’s betting range of 0.50 to 100.00 per spin suits budget players as well as high rollers. What’s more, you can win up to 2000 times your bet amount.

Elvis Lives has a simple design. It is set against the backdrop of Elvis Presley, and as you play, you can listen to some of his popular songs. The reels are populated with symbols of high-value cards, lotuses, sunglasses, belt buckles, microphones, and of course, Elvis Presley.

The slot has four bonus features—Aloha Free Spins, TCB Free Spins, Jumpsuit Picker Bonus, and Elvis Lives Bonus. The Jumpsuit Picker Bonus yields the biggest prize. Light up all the letters in the well-known singer’s name and get a prize of 2000 coins.

Go ahead and enjoy these top slots with great music themes.

Musicians and Celebrities Who Love to Play Bingo

There are literally millions of loyal Bingo game players across the globe. Who wouldn’t want to sit with their card, dauber and hear the famous “clickety-click sixty-six” or “Legs Eleven whit woooo” It is a classic game of all-time and so it is not surprising that there are celebrities and musicians who have a passion for the game. Let’s take you through ten legends who know how to have a great time!

Catherine Zeta Jones

Beautiful and talented actress and wife of the Hollywood legend Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones loves nothing more than a good game of bingo. Since she was young she has played the game in her native Wales. Bingo is a game loved in the social clubs of the Welsh valleys. It is claimed that Zeta Jones would spend some of her childhood making her personalised set of bingo cards and balls, so she could play whenever she wanted. The love continues into her family life today, as she continues her childhood tradition with her husband and children – especially in the holidays.

Kate Moss

Yes, it is true – the rockstar supermodel with a reputation for beyond cool loves a game of bingo. She has, it is reported, been a massive fan of the game all her life – well before she found fame on the catwalk. Rather than visit the local Mecca, Kate is more likely to be found playing bingo online.

Russell Crowe

The superstar actor famed for his role in Gladiator and other rough-ass roles is also a massive fan of the beautiful number game. In fact, before he even became a famous Hollywood superstar he called bingo regularly in his home country of Australia.

Robbie Williams

Despite being a legend of the music scene, Robbie Williams is a simple northern lad at heart. He may have risen to mega stardom in the band Take That – but down deep he is influenced by the working clubs of his home town. It is, therefore, no surprise that Robbie loves a game of bingo every now and then. And, what is amazing, is he drags his famous mates along for a game for charity. Charities such as Babies with AIDS, Habitat for Humanity, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have all benefited from a game of bingo or two

Courtney Cox

So, Monica from Friends loves a game of bingo – I bet she is super competitive while playing too.  Well, to be fair, the actress playing Monica, Courtney Cox would play in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama – and now she apparently loves to play a game or two with her closest friends – which just happens to include Ricki Lake and Paris Hilton. Now, can you imagine this girls’ night at the local bingo club – a-maz-ing.

Sharon Osbourne

Talking of your perfect line-up for a girls’ night out at the bingo, you would also want to include Queen Sharon in on that. Reports suggest that she is one of the most knowledgeable people you can meet on the topic of bingo and considers herself up there as one of the biggest bingo enthusiasts. Such is her love of the humble number game, Sharon Osbourne created her personal online bingo site.

Mick Jagger

As we are walking in the company of legends, we really ought to mention that you can play bingo like Jagger – and forget all about the dancing. The Rolling Stones lead singer loves the game and is known to throw large bingo parties in his home.

Bono

If you thought Mick Jagger was the coolest bingo player to walk the planet, then you need to reassess. Bono, yet another rock god, loves a game. He once served in a bingo hall before he was famous – working in Mtr Pussey’s Cafe serving food as the numbers were called. Such is his nostalgia for the game he is known to call on his friends Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell to play too. That is some beautiful company.

Denise van Outen

Denise is a down-to-earth Essex lass and so thinks nothing of taking a trip to the bingo hall. She may have had success in the US, but she will always make time for bingo card daubing.

HRH Prince William

Let’s end big. While not technically a celebrity, Prince William is the biggest of names to add to the bingo-loving list. He would apparently sneak out of Sandhurst to play a game or two at the local bingo hall. I bet that raised a few eyebrows amongst the locals! The royals as a whole tend to love some family entertainment in the shape of a game of bingo. While we have no evidence that the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles say down to mark of their two little ducks, we just wanted to leave you with this classic comedy image.

Reinforcing Fun: How to Make the Most Out of Your Free Time

With the year 2020 bringing about an unprecedented challenge in the form of the pandemic, just about everyone is scrambling to keep things together. The bills need to be paid, and everyone has to take precautions to ensure that they are as safe as possible from the outbreak. It is hardly the ideal scenario for stress relief, which is the reason why anxiety and depression are more common than ever.

As if that was not enough, there is also the burnout people are experiencing from dealing with matters of work and home simultaneously. It is a challenging situation no matter how you slice it, which is why it is more crucial than ever to take advantage of your free time. Here are just a few ways to help make the most out of off-hours to help you destress and unwind!

On the topic of getting enough sleep

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night is a simple concept, but a bit harder when it comes to overall execution. It can be challenging to focus on rest when there are already so many responsibilities to deal with, and thoughts can linger during off-hours and make it challenging to get into a restful state of mind.

That said, there are plenty of different wellness products that can help. From soothing essential oils to herbal teas that are known to help ease frayed nerves, it would be a good idea to accompany bedtime vibes with effective wellness products.

Enjoy your favorite hobbies!

While some might feel too tired or distracted to think about making the most out of their free time, choosing how best to take advantage of the time given to you is crucial to helping you feel like you have more control over your life. Even if you have to force yourself, it would be a good idea to really take the time and enjoy what you have.

For example, if comics were your thing back in the day, there is no better time than the present to get right back into it! It will not take too much time, and you can check DC or Marvel comic book news for updates on the heroes and the artists that bring them to life. You can also explore comic book guides to help you navigate and enjoy the vast world of comics. The same thing can be said about video games!

Ensure that you are focused during your work hours

While it might seem odd to talk about work in an article focused on free time, how well you can deal with distractions can make a more significant impact than you might think. By ensuring that distractions are kept to a minimum, you will feel better about having time for yourself, and you will be less likely to be distracted by work. You can help ease distractions by decluttering the room if you work from home, as well as writing up a personal schedule.

While it can be challenging to remain optimistic during the pandemic, it does not have to be such a miserable affair. The above tips will help you keep a handle on things and ensure you are prepared to deal with what lies ahead.

 

 

Barry Gibb Releases Americana/Country Album With Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch

A lifelong bluegrass and country music fan, legendary singer, songwriter and producer Barry Gibb has long dreamed of a project that would bring him together with some of the artists he admires the most. With the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, that dream has become a reality with GREENFIELDS: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1—out January 8.

Watch the album’s official trailer HERE

 

Across twelve of the Gibb Brothers beloved songs reborn, the album features collaborations with Alison KraussBrandi CarlileDavid RawlingsDolly PartonGillian WelchJason IsbellJay BuchananKeith UrbanLittle Big TownMiranda LambertOlivia Newton-JohnSheryl Crow and Tommy Emmanuel. In advance of the release, “Words of a Fool,” featuring Grammy Award-winning Jason Isbell, is out today.

Of the experience, Barry Gibb shares, “From the first day we stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville (the very place where Elvis, Willie, Waylon, Roy, the Everly Brothers and so many other legends made their magic) the album took on a life of its own. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to work with Dave and all the artists who stopped by. They were all incredibly generous with their time and talent. They inspired me more than words can express. I feel deep down that Maurice and Robin would have loved this album for different reasons. I wish we could have all been together to do it…but I think we were.”

Dave Cobb comments, “It was truly an honor to work with one of my heroes. The Bee Gees’ first album has always been a staple for me and it was surreal to get to witness the genius of Barry Gibb in the studio—he’s one of the greatest of all time!”

Jason Isbell adds, “Barry Gibb is one of the greatest songwriters and singers in popular music history, and I’m happy to say he still has that beautiful voice and that magical sense of melody. Working with him on this project has been one of the great honors of my career. He’s a prince.”

With a career spanning more than five decades, Sir Barry Gibb stands as one of the most renowned and celebrated musicians of the modern era. As co-founder and creative leader of the Brothers Gibb—better known to the world as the Bee Gees—Barry with his brothers, Maurice and Robin, represent one of the most successful vocal groups in rock and roll history, having sold more than 200 million albums to date. With nine #1 singles as a performer, Barry is also amongst the most successful songwriters of all-time (with sixteen #1 singles) and is seventh on the list of most successful producers (with fourteen #1 singles). He is also tied with John Lennon and Paul McCartney for most #1 singles in a calendar year with seven. Among his many awards and honors are eight Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award and, most recently, the 2015 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also the recipient of the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, the BMI Icon Award, four BMI Songwriter of the Year Awards, four BMI Song of the Year Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2004, Barry received one of Britain’s highest honors when the Bee Gees were made Commanders of the British Empire and, in 2018, was Knighted “Sir Barry Gibb” by Prince Charles for his services to music and charity.

GREENFIELDS: THE GIBB BROTHERS SONGBOOK, VOL. 1 – TRACK LIST:

  1. “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You” with Keith Urban
  2. “Words of a Fool” with Jason Isbell
  3. “Run to Me” with Brandi Carlile
  4. “Too Much Heaven” with Alison Krauss
  5. “Lonely Days” with Little Big Town
  6. “Words” with Dolly Parton
  7. “Jive Talkin’” with Miranda Lambert, Jay Buchanan
  8. “How Deep Is Your Love” with Tommy Emanuel, Little Big Town
  9. “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” with Sheryl Crow
  10. “To Love Somebody” with Jay Buchanan
  11. “Rest Your Love On Me” with Olivia Newton-John
  12. “Butterfly” with Gillian Welch, David Rawlings

Nav Drops New Mixtape Emergency Tsunami Ft. Young Thug, Lil Baby, Gunna, Lil Keed And Sah Babii

XO Records chart-topping rapper and producer NAV has released a new mixtapeEmergency Tsunami via XO Records/Republic Records/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The project was entirely produced by longtime collaborator and certified-Platinum “Turks” producer Wheezy and features many of the biggest names in music, including Gunna, Young Thug, Lil Baby, Lil Keed, and Sah Babii.

Emergency Tsunami comes on the heels of an already banner year for the second-generation Toronto-Canadian. In May, he released his Good Intentions album, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 making it one of the biggest Hip Hop debuts of 2020, the follow-up to his Bad Habits album, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 80 million streams the first week, making it one of the biggest Hip Hop debuts of 2019. Both albums have asserted his dominance in the mainstream, garnering coverage and acclaim from the likes of Variety Magazine, Rolling Stone, Complex, The Associated Press, The New York Times, Pitchfork, Fader, and many more.

NAV has been co-signed by some of the most prominent artists in the game, from being signed to The Weeknd’s XO Records to his well-known friendship and collabs with Lil Uzi Vert and producing Drake’s 2015 Grammy-nominated diss track “Back To Back.” Just last year, he has also made notable guest appearances on critically acclaimed albums such as Young Thug’s So Much Fun, DJ Mustard’s Perfect Ten, Pop Smoke’s Meet The Woo 2, and most recently, Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake (Deluxe). He has quietly ascended from the days of only a few hundred streams on SoundCloud to a multi-Platinum star with over 6.5 Billion global streams.