Bob Baker's "The Buzz Factor" Delivering music marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and more since 1995 - http://TheBuzzFactor.com/ March 18, 2003 - Vol. 9, Issue 7 In This Issue: - Norah Jones' Manager Responds - The Dixie Chicks' Anti-Bush Backlash - Energize Your Music Marketing __________________________________________________ See the end of this message for details on how to get on and off the Buzz Factor mailing list. __________________________________________________ Welcome! As we wait for an apparently unavoidable war, wherever you are in the world, I hope life is treating you well. Whatever happens, the band must play on. Here are this issue's hot topics ... => NORAH JONES' MANAGER RESPONDS A few Buzz Factor readers took issue with my comments in the last issue about Grammy phenom Norah Jones. I wrote that she is "a fantastic example of what can happen when an artist's career is allowed to grow organically" and that her success "wasn't manufactured by major label moguls. Her notoriety grew through a buzz created slowly but surely by fans." One subscriber responded "Oh, come on now, Bob. She made it because she is Ravi Shankar's [daughter]. There are 15,000,000 other girl singers out there doing the same thing who blow her away." Another dissenting voice stated, "Come on. First of all, Blue Note is not an indie. It's part of Capitol and owned by EMI. And yeah, the album didn't get the amount of 'fanfare' that, say, Madonna's most recent release was given, but it got much more promotion than the vast majority of first albums by unknown singer-songwriters. "Blue Note was trumpeting this release long before its street date and kept pumping it every chance it had. Based on all the noise that was made, I'd guess that Blue Note spent more on promoting this album than on all their other 2002 releases combined. "More BS. All those TV appearances didn't happen because fans demanded them. Those videos didn't get made because fans demanded them. Norah Jones was VERY heavily marketed." I wanted to get another perspective. So I took a chance and contacted Jones' manager, Steve Macklam. He was kind enough to send the following response: "I suppose the reason Norah's success has raised a few eyebrows on both sides of the indie vs. corporate fence is that it confounds analysis in its simplicity. From time to time an artist just strikes a chord with the public and the whole project takes on a life of its own. No doubt, there are A&R guys out there right now trying to build the next Norah Jones. But this kind of music and this particular kind of success doesn't work that way. "Support for the record began from the ground up, largely through word of mouth. Long before the record was released there was a quiet buzz on the street that something real was happening. At the time, it seemed like every label in New York was trolling for the next Diana Krall. What they got was something completely different. Fortunately, Norah's early demo's ended up on the desk of someone as cool and savvy as Bruce Lundvall at Bluenote Records." Macklam explained that PR efforts started on the East Coast and spread from there. "There was no massive marketing campaign, no brilliant backroom strategies, no radio- friendly remix, just the usual pre-release mailout to the usual suspects. And if anyone thinks that mailouts from a jazz label like Bluenote are met with excitement and anticipation, then you haven't been reading your SoundScans very carefully. "But here's what really matters," he continued. "When people began to hear the music, they just plain loved it. Major press was on it in a heartbeat. Press you would die for, pay anything for, if you could. As it turns out, Bluenote never had to. There were so many requests to speak with Norah that by the time the CD was released she was already starting to burn out and complain about being over exposed. "There was a story in the press about Norah going to the label when she heard that the record had just sold over a million copies and asking them to please stop selling records. It's a true story, and it speaks volumes for Norah as a person and as an artist. "Since then the record has gone on to sell more copies than Norah or any of those of us working with her ever imagined. It's got us all shaking our heads trying to figure out how to take credit for something that just seems to have happened on its own. I'm sure there will eventually be all kinds of theories about how or why this record succeeded as much as it has. For myself, it's enough to know that every once in a while making a great record is all it really takes." For more detailed background info on how Jones' popularity spread, despite her reluctance to embrace it, check out this article which appeared in the 'Dallas Observer' in September 2002: http://www.norahjones.com/press/dallasobserver091902.htm => ENERGIZE YOUR MUSIC MARKETING Here's an e-mail I received about a week ago: "Since reading your 'Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook' two months ago, I've done more to energize the mechanisms to promote my new CD, and the previous three CDs, than I've done in the past four years combined. You've really got me going. I'm telling you, using your book opened up the floodgates of ideas and inspiration. More than that, you crow-barred a self-convinced 'I hate promotion' guy out of his stubborn, old habits and into enthusiasm -- which is no small feat!" -Dan Oakenhead, www.oakenhead.com Find out what all the buzz is about at http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htm => THE DIXIE CHICKS' ANTI-BUSH BACKLASH As you've probably heard, the Dixie Chicks are under fire for a recent comment that singer Natalie Maines made during a show in front of a London audience: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." News of her remarks spread, and now the Chicks are in hot water with radio stations, retailers and fans. The girls' conservative country music fan base is not taking kindly to the anti-Bush sentiment. What do you think? Antiwar and antigovernment views have played a role in music of the past. Have times changed? Do you think politics and music go together, or should they remain separate? Or was it simply the content and geographic location of Maines' remarks that were the problem? Send your comments to feedback@thebuzzfactor.com - Please include your name, band name and web site address (if you'd like those items to be listed with your comments). I may use the best responses in a future article. => UNLEASH THE TESTIMONIALS Marcia Yudkin, author of "Six Steps to Free Publicity" and 10 other books, just sent me the following blurb: "Bob Baker's advice on harnessing and expressing your creativity comes from someone who's pursued his dreams, made mistakes and shares wise lessons. If you have been putting off a creative project, buy this motivating book and you'll soon get cracking!" She is referring to my newest book, "Unleash the Artist Within: Four Weeks to Transforming Your Creative Talents Into More Recognition, More Profit and More Fun." Find out more about this inspiring resource at http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/unleash.html And, I'll even send you five free excerpts by e-mail. Just send a blank e-mail to unleash2@freeautobot.com __________________________________________________ SPREAD IT AROUND Forward this issue to your friends and music associates. Encourage them to subscribe. It's easy ... and it's free! =========== Cool Music Stuff You Need =========== Killer Press Kits: The 29 Most Important Elements in Creating Sizzling Music Publicity Materials http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/presskits.html Guerrilla Music Marketing Power Course http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/gpc.html For the go-getter who wants it all -- more than 600 pages of marketing ideas and self-promotion tips. Three powerful resources, one awesome discount! E-zine Music Marketing: Powerful Ways to Promote Your Music with a Fan E-mail Newsletter http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/quiz.html How to Attract Thousands of Fans Like Magnets Online http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/byo.html Earn Cash as a Buzz Factor Affiliate Make 40% on every copy sold through your affiliate link! http://www.bob-baker.com/af/BuzzAfil.html Sell More CDs and Merchandise Online http://www.cdstreet.com/signup/thebuzzfactor/ Take fan orders right from your web site ... and at gigs, too. It's fast, easy and reliable with CD Street. Check Out http://PromoteYourCreativity.com Bob's other web site for writers, artists, performers and anyone pursuing a creative passion. Get Your Own Domain Name for Only $15 a Year http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/url.html __________________________________________________ Current circulation: 8,524 subscribers To START getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to subscribe@thebuzzfactor.com with the words "Subscribe Buzz" in the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/ __________________________________________________ REPRINT PERMISSION Would you like to run some of the content from this issue on your web site or in your e-zine? You may do so for free as long as you add the following credit: "Reprinted from Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor, featuring free marketing and self-promotion ideas for songwriters, musicians and bands on a budget. Visit www.TheBuzzFactor.com for details." __________________________________________________ The Buzz Factor is published by Bob Baker PO Box 43058 - St. Louis, MO 63143 Phone: (314) 758-7578 - E-mail: bob@thebuzzfactor.com http://www.TheBuzzFactor.com/ (c) 2003 by Bob Baker - All Rights Reserved |