Jonathan Coulton is a singer/songwriter known for his quirky lyrics and marketing savvy. He gained a cult following by providing his music for free. His style blends pop culture references, offbeat musical subjects, and music tailored for computer geeks. His “Thing a Week” project proved digital downloads could be a lucrative means of employment. Coulton’s refusal to copy-protect most of his music beyond the basic level is a key part of his marketing strategy. He has enjoyed success composing music for video games and collaborating with comedian John Hodgman.
Jonathan Coulton is a popular singer/songwriter known for quirky lyrics, talented compositions and impressive marketing savvy. His practice of providing his music for free has given him a large cult following. Coulton, a former Yale Whiffenpoof, is known for his sensibility for folk songs and is often compared to artists They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies.
Coulton originally worked as a computer programmer after graduating from Yale but gave it up to pursue a music career. His first popular song, a choral remix of the hugely popular “Baby’s Got Back” shows clear influences from his a capella background with the famous Whiffenpoofs. His style has continued to develop as a blend of pop culture references, offbeat musical subjects, and music tailored for computer geeks like himself.
In 2005 and 2006, Jonathan Coulton undertook a project similar to performance art, called “Thing a Week”. Every week for just over a year, Coulton produced a newly recorded song. The intention behind the process was multifaceted; in addition to wanting to push himself as an artist, Coulton wanted to see if digital downloads from the Internet could really be a lucrative means of employment.
Due to his habit of providing free full versions of his songs available on his website, “Thing a Week” turned out to be a big hit. In 2007, Jonathan Coulton was surpassing his income as a computer programmer through his music alone. The project’s music is now available through music download sites and his website, as four song compilations. A key to Coulton’s marketing strategy is his continued refusal to copy-protect most of his music beyond the basic level.
Jonathan Coulton’s website is also extensive and accessible to potential new fans. A user-editable database is provided along with lyrics, guitar tablature, and song recommendations based on the situation. Some music critics consider knowledge of Coulton’s marketing techniques to be a considerable part of his musical success.
Jonathan Coulton’s music varies widely in both subject matter and musical style. One of his most popular songs, “Code Monkey,” features a pop electric guitar part similar to the music of Blink 182. He frequently deals with pop culture icons, in songs like “Ikea” and “Tom Cruise Crazy.” He also sings with the romantic and personal struggles of strange subjects, singing the inevitable abandonment of male seahorses in the mournful ballad “Seahorse” and the odious love life of a lonely giant squid in “I Crush Everything.”
Since the beginning of his professional career, Jonathan Coulton has enjoyed incredible success for an artist who is independent and far from the mainstream. In 2007, he composed the music for the popular video game Portal and his song “Code Monkey” was used as the theme song for an animated show of the same name. He is a frequent collaborator with comedian and The Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman, and has appeared on the show as a performer. His talent, humor and marketing savvy have combined to bring Jonathan Coulton a sizable fan following that continues to grow as his prolific songs have reached a mainstream audience.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
