FLM: Tell us about your new book that was recently published and how people can benefit from reading it?
Eric: I'm very excited about the book, which was the #1 New Release in the Music category and then became the #1 New Release in the Business Communication category on Amazon. Return of the Hustle, the Art of Marketing with Music provides readers a step-by-step process for successful integration of music in marketing across all mediums: advertisements, television shows, films, and video games. Chiefly, it explains how music can do 3 main things: 1.) Attract more viewers 2.) Immerse them in an experience, and 3.) Extend the relationship with consumers, giving them a reason to talk about the experience and share with their peers after the credits roll. There's about 20 interviews and case studies with the leaders in the video game, television, film, brands, and advertising industries -- everyone from the CMO of Airbnb to the head of music at EA Games. It's the first time someone has broken down the process of successful music integration and extracted a repeatable process that people can follow.
FLM: Why is emerging technology so important in our lives and is there ever a chance that it can be harmful?
Eric: Anything is harmful in the wrong hands. But beyond the cyber terrorists, I think a real side-effect of social media is depression. People don't post the bad days or the horrible things we encounter on a regular basis. They filter their life and only post the extremely happy or celebratory moments. It's easy to see a stream of these events when you're having a hard few days or weeks and start comparing yourself; thinking "why is my life so much worse than everyone else’s?" This is something that’s becoming increasingly a more serious problem and more and more psychiatrists are recommending that their patients completely unplug from social media. You can't compare yourself to people's filtered and controlled projections of self. However, I still believe there are far more benefits. From an entertainment perspective, technology means we can communicate directly with our heroes. We can be in the studio with them when they're writing a song, on the field with them when they're playing football, hanging on the beach with them when they're on vacation. It allows us to enhance our passions and create better more enriched experiences. But the most important thing emerging technology does is level the playing field. Knowing more than someone else gives you an upper hand over them. Now, you can learn just about anything you’re curious about in just a few clicks. It erases borders and creates equality. We become better enabled and more enhanced to appreciate differences in cultures, and that teaches us respect. Nothing is scarier than speaking with someone who's been sheltered their whole life and has a one-sided perspective. Technology creates empathy. And we need more of that in the world.
FLM: Other than the companies you started, how does technology play an important role in your everyday life?
Eric: Honestly, I try hard not to let it take over my life and distract me from actually living. Being present in the moment is the one thing technology doesn't really enhance. I use it daily for staying in communication with friends and family, and for research and learning. Besides that, I avoid things like the digital watches and all other products that intrude too much and distract us from what life's really about.