A super simple and quick way to promote is to imprint your brand name on concrete. Nine Inch Nails promoted their August 27th concert at the IZOD Center doing just that.

Now don’t run off inking your brand name into the pavement. You have to get permission from the city! I would also suggest thinking about if this specific type of guerilla promotion matches your brand image and if so what kind of sidewalk ink promotion would be sustainable and influential. You would definitely have to couple this promotional tactic with a more substantial one.

For those who love Jimi Hendrix like I do, a free poster of the music legend would be a great compliment to any Hendrix collection. I am always skeptical about the text-this-get-this exchanges that companies are now implementing, but for those who have ever successfully received free merchandise from sending a text, this seems like an easy way to get complimentary products. Posters especially are one of my top promotional products picks.

I’d never miss an opportunity to blog about my favorite progressive rock jam band, Umphrey’s McGee - especially when band merch is involved! I recently received this jumbo promotional sticker after purchasing a digital recording of a live show that I attended at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Looks like UM has decided to send out a sticker to everyone who buys a copy of these live recordings, and it’s certainly a good idea. Right now I’ve stuck the high-quality sticker on the bumper of my car where plenty of people can see it. A small investment for Umphrey’s, but they just gained more respect from an existing fan, and more exposure to potential fans!

The sequel to the overwhelmingly popular “Rock Band” video game has quite a surprise in store for music and merch lovers everywhere. The game allows players to create their own band, which they can customize down to the tiniest detail. The band’s name, logo, appearance, and members can all be adjusted to suit the tastes of creative rockers worldwide…but there’s a surprise for hardcore fans in the upcoming release:

Rock Band 2 plans to allow gamers to log on to the official site, where they will be able to order posters, T-shirts, and other band merch featuring the custom bands they’ve created in the game! This awesomely interactive feature is sure to send sales skyrocketing as fans rush to immortalize their digital creations with branded merchandise.

Seems a number of bands are using their creative juices for more than just creating lyrics and melodies. A number of bands are now selling unique, novelty merch items. It runs from the innocent to the not so innocent (I won’t get into specifics). Often bands will give away interesting merch with a CD purchase. The latest in strange merch, apparently, is the Oasis Teddy Bear. Seriously.

Coney Island was once again host to the eighth Siren Fest. Performances included Canadian Broken Social Scene, Stephen Malkmus’ (of Pavement fame) band Stephen Malkmus and the Jinks, and North Carolina’s Annuals. The Annuals were in a giving mood at this already free show, and during their performance released beach balls imprinted with “Annuals” into the crowd. Appropriate given that Coney Island’s beachiness.

With the music industry slumping and the growth of legal and illegal mp3 downloads no one would expect records to sell, but the thing is, Vinyl LPs are making a comeback.  The sale of vinyl record grew 36 percent between 2006 and 2007, showing up on shelves at various retailers, music stores, and yes, the merch stand at the back of that tiny venue.    

Vinyl’s comeback is refreshing.  Analog offers a less synthetic sound than digital music.  Look for records at the next show you go to, cause that’s definitely merch done right!

Seattle based record label Sub Pop has a long, rich history in the alternative, grunge and indie rock scenes. The label released music by notable musicians such as Nirvana (Bleach is Sub Pop’s only platinum album), Sunny Day Real Estate, The Shins, and The Postal Service. This year marks Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary. While still not legal to drink in the United States, Sub Pop is still seriously celebrating! This past weekend (July 12 and 13) the label hosted an Anniversary show at Redmond, WA’s Marymoor Park where bands such as Iron and Wine, The Helio Sequence and Wolf Parade (to name a few) performed. Tickets came with a nice little surprise: a 20th anniversary Sub-Pop compilation CD!

Ever wanted to sleep with band members from The Thermals? Well, looks like your chance may come sooner than you think. Of course, it might cost you a little. A woman recently crafted 2 dolls in the image of Kathy and Hutch. Right now one of each exists, but if these little guys are sewn in greater quantity the band will sell them, giving you the chance to go to bed with two members of the Portland based group.

It’s always nice when a musician is understanding of their young fan bases sometimes-tight-for-money lifestyles (aka college) and offer options.  Jonah Matranga (of Far, Onelinedrawing and Gratitude) has always been considerate asking fans pay what they can for merch (ranging from CDs to Hoodies).  The “sliding scale.”

Now here’s some Merch that makes a difference! Inspired by musicians such as Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, Feist, Animal Collective and Beirut (to name a few), artist Andy J. Miller created Colour It (Red), a coloring book in partnership with the (Red) organization, meaning half of the sales go to fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Perhaps they should just call it Schwag by Southwest? Check out how any bags they put together this year! Lowly SXSW unpaid volunteers, we salute you! You definitely earned your free wristbands.

Here’s a cool guitar pick necklace promo. Of course, this one isn’t actually band schwag, it’s from the Japanese clothing company Hysteric Glamour, which specializes in pop culture and rock and roll influenced fashions.