- Dec312011
The Lava Lizard: 2012 Suggestion Box!
Written by Trent | Filed under Announcement
2011 was a phenomenal year for The Lava Lizard and after only six months since its inception, the site has already received major recognition! However, there is always room to grow and as we all look forward to the new year, I want to see what suggestions you have to offer the site as we seek to achieve expansion in the coming months!
What were your favourite aspects of The Lava Lizard in 2011? What would you like to see improved in 2012? Are there any new artists, genres or sections that you would like to see added to the site? This is your opportunity to use your voice!
Be honest, be constructive and be fair with your points. This is not an opportunity for you to voice your hatred for a particular artist or launch attacks against anybody. Rather, this is your chance to make the blogosphere a better place!
Share your suggestions below!
Keys:39 Comments
Leave A Comment
-
-
Follow Us
Hot Stories
Latest News
-
-
-
-
Powered by WordPress
I love your music minute features & how often you respond to your fans (BTW do you have a special name for your fans) lol Trans
I really enjoyed the articles you did, you made some great points on pop culture. I really liked the music minutes and your reviews too. All I would say is keep up the good work.
I would only suggest you play with your writing style a bit. It’s good, but sometimes it seems like each article follows the same format exactly, and the only thing different is the topic. Idk if that makes sense, but I hope it helps. I read music minute every day and every album review. Definitely do more album reviews!
Music minutes should be a daily thing!
My favorite aspects was the shade. For Improvement, there’s nothing that comes to mind. I would like famous webshows from online for shows like Awkward Black Girl and Fly Guys and review them. I would also like for you to put up alternative music, like Florence + The Machine, Coldplay. I dont want it to just be an Urban Entertainment site, it want it to be of all diverse music. Plus, I would like for you to add interns for the site. We need fresh, new, young people on the site to help you out, so you dont have to work so hard.
I think every so often you should do a posting on voices. Maybe post a video or do a write up on certain singers voices/range/tones. In the day and age of the Rihanna’s and Katy Perry’s I think people underestimate the voices of Beyonce, Mariah, Jessie J, Adele etc.
I like the last two suggestions ahead of me.
Ooooooo I love the site but I agree that you need some help so that you could grow faster. You are always up!! Do you sleep?? Even at 3am you’re posting stuff!
@hassan music minute is a daily thing lolllll
Don’t try to be TOO BIG, TOO SOON. You can do “big things” and expand yourself if it’s lucrative and true to you, but stay in your lane. I love your Music Minutes and Wednesday features, and the FB commentary. I’ll just say feature more good, even old school R&B—bring back why we loved Paula Abdul, Janet, Usher, or even the P. Diddy era.
Many people question why some people are popular but it’s nice to have flashbacks of the timings of how things came to be.
And I’d love to see a feature of “growth” or “declines” in artists that tells stories (e.g. Beyonce’s vocal growth, Kelly’s confidence growth, Kelly Clarkson from A.I. to now, Trey Song’s transition to R.Kelly, or the roll out of R.Kelly clones, or how Timbaland & R.Kelly changed the sound of modern r&b, why Soulja Boy technology game changed the game, ATL’s dance movement (Laffy Taffy, Snap etc), when chopped-n-screwed got mainstream and watered down.
Tell stories Trent! We followed you here for a reason!
Oh, and Tim is right! If you add stuff like Awkward Black Girl, you may open yourself up to a whole new audience you never expected.
You should talk about Demi Lovato more, I know she’s a disney kid but she also has a great voice you should look on youtube and watch Demi&Kelly Clarkson singing Have yourself a Merry little Christmas it was great!!
The only thing I can think of is more album reviews. I actually read those all the way through. Also you should change up your writing style like someone said about but still keep it shady (I love the gifs).
I think you should do an up and coming artist/artist u should look out for post At least once a month….also a funny or inspiration clip/video from YouTube atleast once a month….you know just to make us smile
. Also u post should post oldies/classics from the 90s and before that atleast once a month since we always talk about how sad music is today. I really enjoy your posts on beyonce’s album struggles and Xtina so keep those up.
But definitely the Artist we may not have heard of posts…..I still cant forgive u 4 not putting me on to Emeli sande lol
And a ROBIN THICKE post would be nicw here and there lol. Not sure if u listen to him but also an album review……
And More guess who’s with less obvious people lol
also, you should introduce experimental music Dj’s like Flying Lotus and get into Thundercat.
Plus, I think you should review current shows like Community, Parks and Recreation, True Blood and review books as well. Im all for diversity. Lets get to the T.V junkies and the Bookworms.
This is my favourite music blog especially for features like Music Minute and Way Back Wednesdays. I think the site could improve if you give more acknowledgement to other pop acts on the charts (like Tim said above) and write a few more album reviews (though I feel reviews work better written in the present tense unlike in your ‘Talk That Talk’ article). I like Trav and SparkD’s suggestions and as I’ve noticed there aren’t really any typos recently (less random words like “the” and “a” where they shouldn’t be lol) just generally keep up the good work in the new year! Oh and I hope the gif collection stays fresh!
Posting too much about Mariah is a big turn off; I mean she was relevant in the 90s, but she has fell off. You need to look (or sound) more professional instead of showing you are a stan – it takes away from the credibility of things you blog about.
Stop shading other divas and telling lies about Mariah in the process.
My only suggestion would be to include more album reviews.
I do wish this site could cover more music genres like alternative and REGGAE/DANCEHALL/SOCA (Trent you’re West Indian!) I get that this site is more for urban/pop music, but some island music here and there (whether its introducing new artists or trends, classics or what’s hot) would be great! I think it would go really well with the whole LavaLizard brand and of course your own personality and culture. Just keep the right balance (not too much) and I think it could really add to the brand and site. Maybe a feature once or twice a week (entitled ‘Island Sounds’, ‘Wine & Spice’ for example). It could expand your audience and add even more flavour and uniqueness to the site, as well it could be something interesting for people less familiar with that genre of music to check out.
@ hassan: Music Minutes are already a daily thing. Maybe you mixed that up with Way Back Wednesday…
@Tim: This is a music site though and none of those shows are music-related. This site’s focus is on music. Covering random TV shows on this site would distract from the music. The closest thing I can think of is like something to do with TV show soundtracks… -_-
Love your site but i would say stop being so shady in your post stop comparing Mariah Carey to everybody that’s out we get it you a stan but you just do to much sometimes other than that i love the site
@Bee have you watched ABG or Fly Guys? Fly Guys are trying to record, and the Awkward Black Girl chick crazy chick raps out her frustrations. Isn’t this site “brand Trent shade” as much as it’s music?
I think the shift from just news/alerts to telling stories around artists works. It’s already working with Music Minutes and Way Back Wednesdays.
And going pop (on Billboard), doesn’t mean you’re treading on Perez territory as long as it’s true to you.
Old school folks like Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, PDiddy, R Kelly, Kandi, even Neptunes all need some kind of feature—shady or not– because they did something for r&b that few people acknowledge or have awareness today. And let’s not forget business-wise, what buffoons like Soulja Boy & Master P did in their eras. I also need for Trent to feature bad dance divas like Madonna, Jody Watley, Karyn White, Pebbles, Cindy Lauper, B Angie B, and VANESSA WILLIAMS. We need to see the 80′s 90′s 00′ prelude of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and Gaga. Kudos to your Tina Turner & Patti feature!
Mobile site needs to come back, and more album reviews.
Love the site, suggestions for next year include will be to expand the number of artist and music which you cover. Including new, exciting artist which fit the existing mold but also artist which take RnB/Pop influences and meld it with alternative, indie, rock and other directions. Artist like Ezilia Banks, James Blake, Emeli Sande, florence, Kimbra, Lana del Ray….im sure 2012 will bring plenty more. It can get tedious seeing the same faces, especially when their not really up to much and articles are instead based on what their planning for the months ahead (mariah, janet). Whereas as elsewhere in the world there are plenty of acts which a releasing new music which constitutes a much more interesting article then kety perry on the beach.
Happy New year
Wow a lot of these people have good ideas. This is my first time ever commenting because I definitely come to this website first and feel like it has a good future ahead of it. Trent is doing an amazing job, and the fact that you are asking to hear from the fans is pretty legit.
I really like SparkD’s idea about telling an artist’s story of growth or decline. Talking about the producer is a good idea too, to bring us back to all of the highs (and lows) of what music they put out and when they got hot and when they were not. Think about some of the people who used to run the game who are nowhere to be found… Ja Rule, 50, Ashanti (although she is attempting a comeback)… the whole irv gotti takeover, Scott Storch, Sean Paul, etc.. You could analyze why they fell off and who took their spot.
Another idea that I think would make a very interesting read is doing features on certain cities. I’m sure you could probably think of a more clever title for the feature but something like “Reppin _____” (Reppin’ Chi-Town or Miami or Bronx or Queens for instance)… and show us the evolution of a sound and the artists who come from certain cities and how that shaped them as an artist and what kind of sound comes from different places, not only cities in the US but around the world.
I definitely agree with the people who have commented about maybe thinking outside of the box a little bit in featuring acts not immediately Urban/Pop. Florence and the Machine has always been a wish for me to be seen on a blog like this. Maybe show artists who, although are in other genres of music, have SOUL. Acts like Florence, Sia, and whoever said Demi Lovato is right, that girl can definitely SANG and her talent is definitely masked by her persona of being a Disney girl. She is an amazing vocalist.
Only other little tidbits: I agree with featuring up-and-comers more often who the public may not know yet. Album reviews are great, I personally see nothing wrong with your style of writing- I’m sure there is always room for improvement but just keep them entertaining, to the point, no BS’ing, and a little shade (when deserved) is always a plus. HA! Music minutes are amazing, GIFs GIFs GIFs I live for those haha! Keep up the good work you do a nice job. Roll on 2012!
I think you should do more album reviews but not just Pop/R&B albums. I would like to see more Hip-Hop/Rap albums reviews as well.
SN: I love the “music minutes” and “Way Back Wednesdays” posts.
Continue: Music Minutes, Way Back Wednesday, Album Reviews, Burning Up and Hot Topics (basically all that you already do, continuing doing it). Make sure you keep using gifs; they are needed.
New: In terms of the physical format of the site, if possible, every comment should have a reply button so that it’s easier for your commenters to reply to each other.
As long as you keep me up to date, entertained and informed, I have no complaints.
I love the Music Minutes and Way Back Wednesday. Adding a few different music genres would be great, only if your knowledge integrity isn’t compromised. I have a great idea, but I’ll have to get it to you another way, because I know fakejuice still stalks this site.
More album reviews, shade, news/reviews on upcoming new artists, and also interviews. Good luck in the new year. I enjoy reading your site!
^ yes, more album reviews.
I think you should Update the site. Maybe a different color. I wanted to say I love how you support JoJo too. I hope you keep doing it in 2012.
Get someone to help you run the site. You work very hard. Don’t treat them like That Cum Juice.
I like the direction your blog is going. Music minutes are great. I think it’s important to find out what your audience is interested in so you can get more support and spread your topics out more to make it a little difficult for other sites who copy your material. I like how you keep facts before your opinions or media takeout rumors. Many people don’t know the difference.
I love your site and most opinions have been said so I guess I’ll join to those asking for more album reviews. You have wonderful-shady writing skills and is always fun & interesting to read what you got to say.
More articles analyzing stars’ careers like the one you did with Christina Aguilera would be great too. There are so many singers out there whom need some extra guidance lol.
Oh, and if it’s not too much to ask why not changing the layout again? That would be awesome.
HNY!
[...] The Lava Lizard: 2012 Suggestion Box! [...]
ALBUM REVIEWS!!!
More Way back Wednesday!!! love love love that feature.
More Album reviews. At least one a month.
Also, include more Hip-hop features. Now adays ANYONE can be a rapper and thats sad.
Congrats on the blog. I vist everyday.
MY SUGGESTION: Stop being so damn AMAZING! LOL
I’d love to see you get into ‘Link Love’ or ‘Hot Things Not Found Here,’ ‘Links I’m Looking At,’ …something that shows love to other artists / sites that you check out that may venture outside of regular posting. Even if you don’t do a full post on somebody like Florence, link to a site that has a good story about them and write a few sentences of your thoughts on it. If you see a nice up and coming artist’s video on YouTube, post the link to it and say what you liked about even if you don’t give them a full ‘Burning Up’ feature.
That, in my opinion, would be the best way to give the people the extra tid bits they are asking for as well as show some love around the web.
Also, as a Beyonce stan, iRequest you stop making Mariah look like The Queen. We ALL know it’s Beyonce. *twirls* But for reals, when you do comparisons, compare the people to people on their level. Rihanna’s #1′s are nowhere near Mariah’s. Compare her to somebody with eight #1′s, who’s only been in the game 6 years like her, or something like that.
Of course, you know I visit everyday and stan my lil heart out. I hope to see MUCH growth in 2012!! YAY! *skips away with a smile*
I agree with what Brutally Honest said…there are way too manyMariah posts especially since she has not been relevant sine the 90s/early 2000s. The site started off with massive potential but fell off with the many odes to Mariah and shade to exta hardworking, talented, and quite relevant females like Beyonce. Your credibility becomes questionable each and every time you do this. This reads more like a personal shrine to your fave while neglecting your core audience. The truth speaks louder than anything. I love your humor and shade when it is on point!