Most people thought Marie Digby sounded pretty good for an undiscovered artist when she posted videos of herself singing covers of hit songs like "Umbrella" and "Torn" on YouTube. It turns out that she already had been signed by with Hollywood Records (a Disney label) well before her YouTube channel emerged. The Wall Street Journal explains in this article that outs Digby as a signed artist.
What her legions of fans don't realize, however, is that Ms. Digby's career demonstrates something else: that traditional media conglomerates are going to new lengths to take advantage of the Internet's ability to generate word-of-mouth buzz.
Ms. Digby's simple, homemade music videos of her performing popular songs have been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube. Her acoustic-guitar rendition of the R&B hit "Umbrella" has been featured on MTV's program "The Hills" and is played regularly on radio stations in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Portland, Ore. Capping the frenzy, a press release last week from Walt Disney Co.'s Hollywood Records label declared: "Breakthrough YouTube Phenomenon Marie Digby Signs With Hollywood Records."
What the release failed to mention is that Hollywood Records signed Ms. Digby in 2005, 18 months before she became a YouTube phenomenon. Hollywood Records helped devise her Internet strategy, consulted with her on the type of songs she chose to post, and distributed a high-quality studio recording of "Umbrella" to iTunes and radio stations.
Digby probably should have disclosed that she already had a record deal which is something the vast majority YouTube singers do not have. However, Digby explains in a blog post that just because you are signed doesn't mean you are on the path to success and riches.
IS this guy completely insane. You think it's that easy? That you get signed and suddenly everything's taken care of for you!!!?? DO you think that my record label came to my house, my bathroom! and told me what songs to sing and told me that in a matter of weeks i'd be some "youtube" phenom??!?!
Wake up - I am GRATEFUL to be signed but you know what, Labels don't come to your house, hold your hand, and direct youtube videos for you.
I have so many dear friends who were signed to the biggest record labels in the world, made amazing albums and were DROPPED. that's it.....
Apparently, a lot of the people on YouTube haven't read the Wall Street Journal story because there are recent comments on her videos telling her she is good enough get a record contract. They are more right than they know. You can read more discussion of the WSJ-Digby story here, here, here, here and here. And here is an article about Marie Digby back in 2004 when she was one of three finalists remaining in a Pantene Pro-Voice singing contest. (via Buzz Feed).
Below is Digby's cover of Natalie Imbruglia's hit song "Torn." She also has an original song called "Unfold" that is quite good.
