Friday, April 25, 2008


http://www.jmapromo.com/

Hi Everyone! Due to recent events (that I'm praying will work out) I wanted to blog about Jeff McClusky & Associates, one of the biggest entertainment and artist promoters in the country, which is based in Chicago. They work with both major and indie labels, as well as internet companies and film companies; they've played a huge part in the movie soundtracks that have had massive success, like Titanic and Men in Black (admit it, you have both!!) Jeff McClusky has been working in the music biz for over 30 years and has contributed to the successes of U2, Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna, and Pearl Jam.
This summer I'm looking to have a kick ass internship with something having to do with music. I have something set up with ASCAP http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=40251439, which is a non profit performance rights organization (I'm going to blog about them tomorrow). It sounds really fun and I'd learn an important part of the music business that not a lot of people care to learn about. But just recently, I caught wind of an opportunity that was practically placed into my hands from the heavens! So here's what happened: My old neighbor just happened to sit next to Jeff McClusky at a boxing game, or some kind of game, and they got to talking. Somehow the conversation turned to his daughter's high school, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, which coincidentally is where I went! Once my neighbor mentioned by plans to get into the music industry and the things I'm doing at IC, he suggested I contact him. If I got an internship with him, I would be working for the big movers and shakers of the industry and getting to work on events like Lollapalloza, which McClusky basically runs. Working for him could help set up my career before I even graduate.
Ok, i've gotten carried away. But I was so excited when I got the news I had to blog about it! Tomorrow I'm going to talk more about my internship at ASCAP. I need opinions on which one you guys think I should pick!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Is gossip the new way to market music?

So a lot of the stuff we read in the tabloids is crap, complete crap. It's all fabricated and innacurate and we can't take any tabloids seriously. But we look at them. We can't help it; we glaze at them in the magazine aisle and when we are checking out at Wegmans. So its an obvious move for the tabloids teaming up with musicians to promote their music, because gossip is what interest people most. So does anyone think its a coincidence that Ashlee Simpson got engaged AND supposedly pregnant right before her 3rd album is about to be released? released?http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-musicmarketing-pg,1,6148267.photogallery

UMM...actually I can't decide. The force of the tabloids is so strong it can make you thing anything. Then AGAIN......celebrities aren't stupid.http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-musicmarketing-pg,1,6148267.photogallery Ashlee Simpson hasn't been doing much in the past couple years; she NEEDED some publicity. Also she is releasing her album between Madonna and Mariah Carey, two heavy hitters. Did Ashlee come out with this info "coincidentally" at the same time her album comes out? PUH-LEASE. she hasn't been doing anything lately other than posing with her boyfriend/fiance/whatever Pete Wentz. Put it has people talking about her, and could encourage sales of her album. I know its getting vicious out there, but really? You're going to whore yourself out to US Weekly just to the that "edge" for records sales.

Honestly I love music, I really do, even the over-prosessed stuff like Fall Out Boy, but..resorting to tabloids to gain attention for you album, well clearly you're album can't speak for itself (COUGH ashlee simpson!)

comments?


Friday, April 11, 2008

You know what really grinds my gears?....

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily

One of my last blogs I talked about the Honda Civic Tour for Fall Out Boy's last concert, and how much product placement there was. Well they are doing it again with Panic At the Disco's new tour. And it seems like it's gotten worse. Panic just performed their first show of the tour the other night and concert goers were disappointed to have the concert constantly interrupted by car commercials and video of other artists signed with the label. Sadly I know from experience that they aren't very good in live performances, but this is the last straw for me. I know labels are trying to find new ways to promote because records sales aren't enough, but I don't have the heart to go to a show, even of some of my favorite bands, and put up with that. It's not even about the money, because those kinds of bands don't go for much, maybe $30-40 max. It's just the idea of it. I don't go to concerts to watch car commercials, I got to see live performances. Just like I don't go to the movies to see ads for breast augmentation. There is a time and a place people!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Live Nation

I've been hearing a lot about Live Nation but not really sure what they actually were. I was curious to find out more about them.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/the-rise-of-concert-promoter-live-nation-804620.html I knew Madonna just signed with them, U2 got a lot of buzz for signing with them too. Jay-Z is the newest artist to sign with them. But I had never visited their website for any concert tickets I had to buy or anything like that, I just read about them in the news, apparently not done often enough). They're a concert promoter, they cut deals with artists that pool tours, merch, record sales, and everything in between. A sweet deal for the artists because they're making money where they're losing money in record sales. U2 and Madonna are signing close to hundred million dollar deals. But what about us? the consumer? I mean they may be helping out musicians, but I have not seen the fruits of their labor. They don't offer any cheaper deals to concerts. The artists they have singed seem to be explusive of big names like Rolling Stones, so their tickets still go for a beautiful $200. I don't see any $20 concert tickets for indie bands. What gives?? If Live Nation is supposed to be this ground breaking business why is it not even affecting the most important component: US?

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