Weird Al Yankovic is an American singer known for his parody songs. His successful career is the result of key decisions he has made over time. First, in the 1980s he used MTV to distribute his music videos, which helped attract audiences' attention. Second, in the 2000s as MTV declined, he switched to YouTube which allowed him to reach larger audiences more easily. Third, he started writing songs based on his own lyrics rather than just parodying existing songs, allowing more creative freedom and variety in his music. These strategic decisions have supported his long career success and put him on track for his first number one album.
Weird Al Yankovic is an American singer known for his parody songs. His successful career is the result of key decisions he has made over time. First, in the 1980s he used MTV to distribute his music videos, which helped attract audiences' attention. Second, in the 2000s as MTV declined, he switched to YouTube which allowed him to reach larger audiences more easily. Third, he started writing songs based on his own lyrics rather than just parodying existing songs, allowing more creative freedom and variety in his music. These strategic decisions have supported his long career success and put him on track for his first number one album.
Weird Al Yankovic is an American singer known for his parody songs. His successful career is the result of key decisions he has made over time. First, in the 1980s he used MTV to distribute his music videos, which helped attract audiences' attention. Second, in the 2000s as MTV declined, he switched to YouTube which allowed him to reach larger audiences more easily. Third, he started writing songs based on his own lyrics rather than just parodying existing songs, allowing more creative freedom and variety in his music. These strategic decisions have supported his long career success and put him on track for his first number one album.
Alfred Matthew Yankovic, as known as Weird Al, is an American
singer, songwriter, music video director, and parodist. Weird Al is well known for his parody songs. He is on track to have his first No.1 album on Billboard. His successful career is a result of changes he has made since his first parody song debut. There are three major decisions he has made: using MTV as a publicity and distribution channel from 1983 to the begin 2000s, switching to the YouTube platform, and producing songs based on his own lyrics. First of all, Yankovic, a.k.a Weird Al, decided to use MTV as a distribution channel for his very first albums. After the MTV had broadcasted some first music videos on its TV program in August 1981, music video became the new trend in musical industry. Weird Al realized the opportunity to attract audiences attention by making shot-by-shot music videos and had them broadcasted on the MTV. At that time, the teenager, who was Weird Als target audience, perceived the MTV as a religious. It made the MTV became the first and most effective choice for Weird Al to distribute his songs. With the method of making parody music videos that play off the audiences obsessive familiarity of the famous songs and distributed them on the MTV channel, Weird Al quickly attracted audiences attention. For example, a shot-for-shot parody of Jackson's "Beat It" music video, which was
distributed on still-young MTV, peaked at number 12 on the Billboard
Hot 100 on April 14, 1984. In the 2000s, Yankovic decided to use the internet-based video sharing website YouTube. His decision based on the fact that the people were not interesting in watching music video on TV anymore. This trend led to the decreasing in number of audience; it made the MTV no longer the best distribution channel. YouTube has millions of users and tremendous number of view. Furthermore, the change in information technology gives people an opportunity to access YouTube quickly and easily. These factors made YouTube became the new and effective medium for Weird Al introducing his songs. To embrace the new platform, he released the twelfth studio album Straight Outta Lynwood in 2006. He made a video for every parody song in the album and shared these videos on YouTube. As a result, Weird Al distributed his albums faster and easier to a larger number of audiences. To achieve higher success, Weird Al has made a big change since he started his career. He decided to write songs based on his own lyrics. Weird Al expects his songs have stronger impact and receive more audiences attention. By using his own lyrics, Weird Al has wider variety of topic to write songs about. His songs are no longer identical to the original songs. For example, the song White and Nerdy has nothing in similar to the original song Ridin. He realized that people
played the original songs many times on YouTube therefore the
differences in lyrics and the sense of humor contained in those songs will be very attractive to audience. In conclusion, the Weird Als successful career is the result of his vision that supports his decision making process. His three major decisions are utilize the MTV as a distribution channel in the late 1980s, switch to YouTube in beginning of 2000s, and write songs on his own lyrics. Those three decisions are the important factors led to his success. They set the foundation for his first No.1 albums and future achievements.