--- title: Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead description: "Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History. Get your copy now." --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/books/marketing-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead#maincontent) # Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead ##### Covered extensively by the media including *The London Sunday Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Independent *(UK), *Billboard,* Reuters, UPI, ABC News, *Canadian Business Magazine*, the Street, and *The New York Post.* ![Marketing-Lessons-from-Grateful-Dead-Large](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Assets/Website%20Images/Large%20Book%20Cover%20Images/Marketing-Lessons-from-Grateful-Dead-Large.webp?width=1403&height=2068&name=Marketing-Lessons-from-Grateful-Dead-Large.webp) ## What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History. Now in a revised new edition. *Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead *gives you key innovations from the Dead’s approach that you can apply to your business. Find out how to make your fans equal partners in your journey, “lose control” to win, create passionate loyalty, and experience the kind of marketing gains that will not fade away! The Grateful Dead broke almost every rule in the music industry book. They encouraged their fans to record shows and trade tapes, they built a mailing list and sold concert tickets directly to fans, and they built their business model on live concerts, not album sales. By cultivating a dedicated, active community, collaborating with their audience to co-create the Deadhead lifestyle, and giving away “freemium” content, the Dead pioneered many social media and inbound marketing concepts successfully used by businesses across all industries today. Buy the Book [ Learn More ](https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1394378017/freshspotpubl-20) [ Learn More ](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marketing-lessons-from-the-grateful-dead-david-meerman-scott/1111930419) [ Learn More ](https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/marketing-lessons-from-grateful/id390549582) [ Learn More ](https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Lessons-Grateful-Dead-ebook/dp/B003Z0CQZY) [ Learn More ](https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Brian_Halligan_Marketing_Lessons_from_the_Grateful?id=AQAAAIB1Wl7aOM) ## About the Authors ### [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/about-david) Since his first Grateful Dead show as a teenager in 1979, David Meerman Scott has seen the band and its offshoots over 100 times. He also writes and speaks about sales, marketing, and public relations. [ About David ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/about-david) ### [ Brian Halligan ](https://www.hubspot.com/company/management/brian-halligan?__hstc=121728916.f3e6b3bddd67e3da1c2d3c39ddce1a42.1760550474154.1765819053526.1765824016410.21&__hssc=121728916.5.1765824016410&__hsfp=3949366232) Brian Halligan has seen the Grateful Dead more than 100 times. He is CEO & Co-Founder of HubSpot, a marketing software company that helps businesses transform the way they market their products by "getting found" on the Internet. [ About Brian ](https://www.hubspot.com/company/management/brian-halligan?__hstc=121728916.f3e6b3bddd67e3da1c2d3c39ddce1a42.1760550474154.1765819053526.1765824016410.21&__hssc=121728916.5.1765824016410&__hsfp=3949366232) ### [ Bill Walton ](http://www.billwalton.com/) Bill Walton is one of most recognizable sports figures in the world. He was named to the “50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time” list and is a Basketball Hall of Fame member. In his spare time, Bill has seen 870 Grateful Dead shows. [ About Bill ](http://www.billwalton.com/) ### "A welcome change from the standard business books" Covered extensively by the media including The London Sunday Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Independent (UK), Billboard, Reuters, UPI, ABC News, Canadian Business Magazine, the Street, and The New York Post. #### “Enlightening and liberating..." “Like all the best teachers, this book inspires you to do your own thinking in your own way, and I found it enlightening and liberating.”  ![Financial_Times_corporate_logo-svg-5c1af7255be29f5f54f4f835731e1034d5753a59](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Testimonial%20Images/Financial_Times_corporate_logo-svg-5c1af7255be29f5f54f4f835731e1034d5753a59.png?width=40&height=40&name=Financial_Times_corporate_logo-svg-5c1af7255be29f5f54f4f835731e1034d5753a59.png)Financial Times #### "...a welcome change from the standard business books..." "A welcome change from the standard business books… Scott and Halligan provide examples of modern-day companies that are illustrating the lessons.”  ![1413842518-entrepreneur-logo](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Assets/Website%20Images/1413842518-entrepreneur-logo.webp?width=40&height=40&name=1413842518-entrepreneur-logo.webp)Entrepreneur #### “...accessible, entertaining and thought-provoking...” "the book, like the band, defies expectations and proves to be accessible, entertaining and thought-provoking. Not bad for a bunch of dirty hippies.” ![Risk Management Magazine](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Testimonial%20Images/Risk%20Management%20Magazine.jpeg?width=40&height=40&name=Risk%20Management%20Magazine.jpeg)Risk Management Magazine #### "Fits four decades' ... into the context of recent American marketing" “Fits four decades’ worth of guitar solos and weed smoking into the context of recent American marketing.” ![The-Guardian](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_Assets/Website%20Images/The-Guardian.png?width=40&height=40&name=The-Guardian.png)The Guardian (UK) #### "...a well-written and sprightly little book..." “…a well-written and sprightly little book. If you learn these lessons, you will have a better company and you will have a better life…” ![Management Today](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Testimonial%20Images/Management%20Today.jpeg?width=40&height=40&name=Management%20Today.jpeg)Management Today “Marketing gurus Halligan and Scott take a crack at codifying the Dead’s non-musical innovations… that correlate with emerging business principles. It’s a trip that’s surely been long and strange; but as [they] remind us, it’s also been profitable.” ![Canadian Business Magazine](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Testimonial%20Images/Canadian%20Business%20Magazine.jpeg?width=40&height=44&name=Canadian%20Business%20Magazine.jpeg)Canadian Business Magazine “Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead explores the phenomenon created by the Grateful Dead showcasing the extraordinary power of music and the innovations the Dead developed to connect and bond with their audience.” ![Michael Lang, co-creator & Producer of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Festival and author The Road to Woodstock](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Testimonial%20Images/Michael%20Lang%2c%20co-creator%20%26%20Producer%20of%20the%201969%20Woodstock%20Music%20%26%20Art%20Festival%20and%20author%20The%20Road%20to%20Woodstock.jpg?width=40&height=43&name=Michael%20Lang%2c%20co-creator%20%26%20Producer%20of%20the%201969%20Woodstock%20Music%20%26%20Art%20Festival%20and%20author%20The%20Road%20to%20Woodstock.jpg)Michael Lang, co-creator & Producer of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Festival and author The Road to Woodstock ## Table of Contents ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 1: Create a Unique Business Model ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 2: Choose Memorable Brand (and Band) Names ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 3: Build a Diverse Team ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 4: Be Yourself ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 5: Experiment, Experiment, Experiment ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 6: Embrace Technology ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 7: Establish a New Category ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 8: Encourage Eccentricity ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 9: Bring People on an Odyssey ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 10: Put Fans in the Front Row ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 11: Build a Following ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 12: Cut Out the Middleman ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 13: Free Your Content ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 14: Be Spreadable ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 15: Upgrade to Premium ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 16: Loosen Up Your Brand ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 17: Partner with Entrepreneurs ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 18: Give Back ![Arrow](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Icons/Arrow.svg) ## Chapter 19: Do What You Love ## Resources from David's extensive free content library below. [### Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead trailer Watch Now ](https://youtu.be/Z9c37q1UL_I) [### A Legendary Guitar Goes to a Legendary Marketer Read Now ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/a-legendary-guitar-goes-to-a-legendary-marketer) [### The Grateful Dead Celebrate 50 Years and Say Fare Thee Well to the Tribe Read Now ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-grateful-dead-celebrate-50-years-and-says-fare-the-well-to-the-tribe) #### Join 20,000 other entrepreneurs and creatives who receive David's ideas, examples, and inspiration.  🚀 Delivered Weekly  ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person", "@type" : "Person", "description" : "Marketing and sales visionary, international bestselling author of 12 books, keynote speaker in 47 countries, and advisor to emerging companies.", "email" : "mailto:David@DavidMeermanScott.com", "image" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/DMS-Homepage-Featured.jpg", "jobTitle" : [ "Keynote Speaker", "Author", "Business Growth Strategist", "Marketing Advisor" ], "knowsAbout" : [ "Content Marketing", "Fandom Marketing", "Newsjacking", "Real-Time Marketing", "Public Relations", "Sales Strategy", "Business Growth" ], "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "sameAs" : [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Meerman_Scott", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeermanscott", "https://x.com/dmscott", "https://www.instagram.com/dmscott/" ], "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/search?q={search_term_string}" } }, "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ```