Tha Gods Facebook Logo – with evolving graphics
I noticed on my facebook stream last week that an old colleague (and mate) Jonny (known as Jay__Dub in his musical circles) has just setup a new radio station, in facebook, called Tha Gods. (http://www.facebook.com/ThaGods)
Tha Gods is a page hosting a radio show called An Evening With Tha Gods. Broadcast once a month, live by Jay and one of his friends who love old skool Hip Hop, House,Garage, Rap, Electro, Old School, Funk, Reggae, D&B, Hardcore,Electronic, Rare Groove and Breaks. It’s a ‘house’ party by invitation, with the word being spread via facebook invites. Jay and DJ partner Ali Pacey play fave tracks, talk about the music and artistes they love and have a bit of banter with listeners who can shout out requests via Facebook posts on the event wall, facebook comments under the Livestream broadcast, twitter via @thagods and phone calls/texts.
When they’re’ not broadcasting you can play catch-up with the 3 hour show via Livestream (a tab on the page) or YouTube or Soundcloud.
So what platforms / tools are the guys using? err, lots:
Each tool is used selectively for it’s strengths, http://soundcloud.com/jay-dub for the main broadcast and original tracks they have played by artists. youtube.com/thagods as a sketchpad of favourite tunes, twitter.com/thagods as a broadcast and interaction tool with requests and other artists over in the US who also drum up interest for the show. They also use livestream.com/thagods for the live stream and historic events, and it’s iPhone app allowing their viewers to tune in, anywhere.
And finally shoutcast which is used in parallel with Livestream and pushed through the player Jonny developed and embedded in a tab on the Facebook site and through another DJ website with an established listener base. And of course there’s the obligatory podcast on http://web.me.com/jay.dub/Tha_Gods_podcast/Tha_Gods_Podcast/Tha_Gods_Podcast.html which will mean you get it every month without having to think about it. And all of these are integrated as tightly as possible into Facebook.
made the most of a host of connected platforms to get the word out and grow their listener / fan base;which I think is neat. All it has cost them is their time (and print costs for T-shirts I guess)…
I asked Jay what was next (you know, you just can’t have enough interlinked social platforms!) and they’re also looking at Spotify for detailed playlist breakdowns of each show.
It seems analogous (to me anyway) to the startup radio stations that sprang up in the states in the 1920s and 30′s. A set of enthusiasts (and small businesses) that used the technology available to talk to the world. But then, ‘talk’ meant in one direction and ‘world’ meant a limited geographic /
broadcast area. Now it’s a dialogue and it really is the world. Internet radio isn’t new – what’s new is it’s
within a social platform that can extend out to other social spaces easily and offer more than passive listening.
BIG UP THA GODS!!!!
Thanks Mark. This really confirms our aim to break a mould is working. You know I've always been passionate about music and we just want to invite people round and play some great tracks old and new. Tell you what. When Google TV hits, will we be in peoples living room while they jus chill and chat or have friends round? Who knows. All about hip hop man. Thanks for the shout Ben! Dope DJ. Check Ben Echo on soundcloud.com!
Keep up the good work guys, this is what Facebook should be used for! Good show, Good tunes, Good times! I.A.
The interface is awesome, great portal – The concept is great. Keep up the good work Guys…. this could be HUGE.