Athlete, what a title to have. According to Websters dictionary, an athlete is someone who is trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength. I like to think of athletes as freakishly fit business men ( or women). In today's world of celebrity athlete, image (either good or bad) and marketing are everything. From cell phone pictures gracing the pages of TMZ or god-like looking photos on the cover of SI, image either makes or breaks (see: Ben Rothlesberger) an athlete.

Image aside, in todays world, athletes are making money in almost every way imaginable. From appearing on commercials to raking in big bucks from a sponsor, if money is to be made, an athlete will make it a million times over.

Athletes aren't athletes anymore. They are trend setters, marketing experts, and a public relations department all wrapped into one. Young people looked up to athletes all the time, trying to imitate the way they play or they way the act. Personally, I've never really understood that. Sure, they may be excellent athletes, but at the end of the day, they are people just like you and me. I don't care if you're Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods your'e human and you've made plenty of mistakes (just ask Tiger).

To me, athletes shouldn't be role models at all. Like I said before, they are people just like you and me. The only thing separating them from us is the amount of money in their bank accounts. To often these "professional" athletes make poor decision after poor decision, just proving my point that they're human.

Athletes can market themselves all they want but I'll never fall for the "almightier than thou" approach. Sorry Kobe, you're image is still tarnished even though a house is sitting on your wifes ring finger.

Big diamonds, big houses, and fast cars are all part of the label as a professional athlete. All of that is awesome and I'd love to have it, but it isn't everything.

This blog isn't the most uniformed one that I've written, sadly that reflects the behavior of professional athletes. Good today, bad tomorrow. You never know what you're gonna get with them.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26607/athletes_shouldnt_be_role_models.html?cat=40

YouTube = good marketing, Good marketing = record label signing

Hmm...the question of the day, has YouTube killed the video star? Nah, it hasn't, it's just enhanced everything about marketing that anyone could ever think of. YouTube provides a stage like none other, allowing amateur artists to become overnight sensations. As more and more people are discovered over the inter-web, more creative ways of marketing are being developed. Instead of posters in CD stores, and billboards on the side of the road, today's artists show everything they've got online. Whether it's from private videos shot within a celebrities home, or a clip backstage at a concert, artist's are becoming more and more open with their fans. In my opinion, everything musical artists are doing today benefits them greatly. Instead of being out of the public eye, artists are now becoming one of "us" by baring it all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTErC6Goq84

People notice when artists are just like one of "us". By them noticing, people become more and more intrigued and are very prone to by any musical artists work. This means more money for the artist, and that YouTube and the internet actually work as an effective marketing tool. To me, I'd buy something from an artist that I can see out of the spotlight before I bought a CD from just another stuck up celebrity.

While there are a select few people who make it big off of YouTube or some other source online, I don't think record companies will ever become extinct. I believe this because not everyone will become online sensations. Some people take time to become good, therefore they need the big record company behind them, providing a backbone to their work. When people see "def jam artist" on a CD or on Itunes, they are more prone to listen and buy that piece of work because it comes from a famous company.

As time passes, and more people become YouTube stars, it will only be a matter of time before they are picked up by a big record label. While YouTube is good for marketing, I don't think it will ever fully destroy the usefulness of a record company.