- This Week In Music - Kina Grannis - Singer-Songwriter

In this episode of This Week In Music, Singer-songwriter Kina Grannis and her manager Jonathan Kalter join Ian in the studio to offer insight into how Kina uses the Web to build a loyal fan base. She's one of the most subscribed-to artists on YouTube with more than 400 thousand subscribers and 70M total video views. She's used her popularity online to sell out shows around the world, from Largo here in LA to two shows at Highline Ballroom in NYC to around the world.

00:26 - "Valentine" by Kina Grannis
03:00 - How Kina got her start in music
05:45 - Kina describes writing and submitting "Message from your heart" and submitting it to Doritos "Crash The Super Bowl" contest.
08:00 - "Did you have another on-line presence prior to the Super Bowl ad?"
16:50 - Feeling an urgency to get an album out for your fans and deciding not to sign with Interscope.
23:08 - How does YouTube and other social media outlets come in to play in building your fan base?
29:40 - What tools are useful for artists online?
30:32 - Jonathan Kalter on walking away from a major label deal, and the excitement and struggles of doing so.
35:26 - Discussing adding the help of a team.
38:49 - How do we reach people that aren't online?
40:18 - Is there a trailblazer in front of you or are you blazing a trail?
41:25 - Are there any techniques that you would share that other artists could adopt?

Category:

• Entertainment
• News

Starring:

• Ian Rogers
• Kina Grannis
• Jonathan Kalter

Produced by:

• Will Thompson

Tags:

• Ian Rogers
• Kina Grannis
• Jonathan Kalter
• Doritos Superbowl
• Valentine
• DIY
• Direct To Fan
• Topspin

[jessewski]

Nothing but love for Kina. She deserves all the attention she is getting. One of a kind person, and as sweet as can be. Keep it up Kina!

[lilruggedboy]

@TheEarlySpring Kinerds unite! lol <3

[10711851]

CONGRATS for best WEB born artist kina!!!

[Debonair73]

I have been following Kina on YT since the Digg video. I followed her through this whole story. Kina early success on YT with the contest and the Digg video was the exception but her story has been repeated many times on Youtube. Covers is how she built her audience like many on Youtube. The difference in Kina is that her original music was also very good. Also, Kina had it together business wise faster than most on Youtube most likely because of earlier experience releasing EPs.

[pacapao]

good interviews..

[scaremongerrring]

her manager is so HAWT. i want him.

[martinblasick]

Thanks for detailing her level at different points along the journey. Nicely done.

[Hanakojenn]

<3 Agreed, this is my favorite interview so far. I really liked the in depth history and series of questions. I am ALWAYS impressed that Kina will remember who we are at every show, even if it's been a little while. We love the music, but she definitely brings so much more to the table.