This is a great article that furthers the evidence that the internet is changing how we watch sports.


http://mashable.com/2010/03/19/march-madness-on-demand/


March Madness has been off to a great start in the online world. This week, online streams from CBS have seen a record number. Fans have been pouring in to watch their favorite teams go at it online. On the first day of the tournament there were actually three million unique visitors watching streaming video, a 20% increase over last year's numbers. CBS even put in a handy "boss button" - a convincing (not) screen shot that makes it appear that you are working in PowerPoint - in case your boss comes by when you are watching games at work. The number one game streamed, Florida vs BYU, beat last year's number one game by 50%. Clearly this is saying something about the power and growth of the internet.


And it's not just streaming video that is getting people online for March Madness. Many websites and phone apps are doing what they can to reach fans. Facebook has NCAA fan pages for up-to-date news and fan connection.


There are also some free and cheap bracket apps for your phone to keep track of your bracket and join pools. Speaking of brackets, many sites such as ESPN, Yahoo!, and CBS are offering prizes to those who fill out the winning bracket on their sites.


And of course there is Twitter - plenty of reporters and analysts to follow during the games.


Not having a TV is no longer a problem. The NCAA has invaded every part of the internet so that finding a score is as simple as clicking a button on your phone or opening your favorite website. Although this type of instant-information is nothing new (relatively), it is still pretty amazing if you think about it. It makes you wonder what the internet will be like in 10 years.

http://mashable.com/2010/03/12/musicians-social-media/

This is a great article about how musicians are using social media to connect with more fans and create better music. It's very similar to what we see in sports and business, too.


We've heard of musicians on Twitter tweeting about busy lifestyles and favorite coffees, but now they are reaching out to fans even further. Many musicians now are posting videos online to give their fans something more while they are waiting (for an upcoming album). Using sites such as Ustream to create video conferences, they can update fans on how long until an album, problems they are running into, or just random thoughts that they want feedback from. Some are even going as far as asking fans for song advice. "Rob and Kal", a band from the UK, actually post up songs they are working on and ask for suggestions and advice on how to make them better.

Some smaller bands even ask for money so they can produce vinyl records. If enough fans donate on a site such as Kiva (a site that collects multiple donations to reach a certain goal), they can produce the records for the fans.

And finally, some musicians are teaming up with non-music bloggers to promote their music. Because of the fact that non-music bloggers usually don't deal with musicians (duh), running a contest or promotion through them is pretty easy to get them to do. It's also great for that blogger because it's something fresh and different for them. And it can increase traffic/attention for both parties. It's a win-win, and therefore a great marketing strategy.

Why am I talking about musicians on a sports marketing blog? Because the strategies work. Regardless of type, these strategies are universal. Sports stars can use Ustream as a press-conference video or let fans know what's going on in the off season for example. There are plenty of uses for it. Keeping your fans updated helps your image. A good image results in a good brand. And that's what it's all about. There are so many ways that stars can connect with fans now to grow and become even more successful.