Friday, July 31, 2009

Brilliant marketing from Walmart

Walmart has never been known for its marketing brilliance, but Hollywood Records has.

There's a new EP by Miley Cyrus, The Time of Our Lives. Only available through WalMart due to the clothing line deal. Only problem is, it’s unavailable on Walmart’s Web site and if you call the stores they know nothing about it. Great marketing!

Just like the Christmas CD All Wrapped Up, exclusive through Target; it was unavailable too. Hollywood Records also has Bandslam videos of Amphetamine and Everything I Own up, getting great Internet buzz. Only problem, no radio play.

Disney is famous for hiring interns and young, inexperienced people for ALL their positions. Is this true at Hollywood Records, too? Think of the profits they’d make if they had people who knew what they were doing! I’m sure Walt and Roy are turning over in their graves. Hey, wait, wasn’t it Walt who created the cheap labor concept?

Another private word to Summit Entertainment about marketing Bandslam
Marriage with Hollywood Records

Thanks to all your employees who visited this site yesterday. Really appreciate it. Think you’re doing a terrific job marketing Bandslam. One of the best campaigns I’ve ever seen. Yet, I have one more way to improve it.

You’ve used two Tween favorites for your new movie – both in the Hollywood Records stable. This gives it a teen slant, yet after seeing it, the movie is more a drama in the Terms of Endearment realm.

The one fault I have, and it is not your fault, is you’ve released the video of Everything I Own, and a clip of Amphetamine, yet there has been no radio play. When I say radio play, I mean Internet as well as main stream.

Hollywood Records is working with Miley Cyrus putting Hannah Montana Volume 3 songs out before the CD was available. Ironically, those landed (played) right when her tour tickets went on sale.

You could be driving tons of momentum for Bandslam if songs were getting radio rotation. You need to address this with your Hollywood label connection.

Loved the movie!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

A movie about a band

A private word to Summit Entertainment about marketing Bandslam

First, get rid of the video of Everything I Own up everywhere and put up the movie version. This one sucks in comparison.

Second, put up a video – doing what you did with Everything I Own of film parts – of Someone to Fall Back On.

Third, quit pandering this as a teen flick. Once moms go with children to this movie, they’re going to see how dark and brooding it really is on a deeper level their children won’t comprehend. You’re going to have all those Desperate Housewives watching moms recommending this movie. This is a movie about high school angst, rejection and feelings. Every mom will love it!

Lastly, I want to thank you for the David Bowie part. Whoever incorporated that whole line of thinking was genius. I will say you’re not going to beat Star Trek or Harry Potter, but you’re going to do a hell of a lot better than I Love You Beth Cooper. I love your marketing strategies; especially Aly & AJ Twittering from London. Genius. Too bad you don’t have Vanessa Hudgens doing the same. Who knows? There's half-a-month until the opening. Maybe you will.

Are Aly & AJ 78violet going to open for U2?

Wow, it looks like a worldwide tour may be possible for Aly & AJ er, 78violet. Alyson Michalka has finished filming BOTH The Roommate and Easy A. No release date for Easy A yet, but Oct. 2010 for The Roommate.

Amanda (AJ) Michalka has finished The Lovely Bones, to be released December this year. So, as Aly tours the UK with kid sis in tow, AJ may do the same in December. Yet her character in The Lovely Bones doesn’t carry the whole film as Aly does in Bandslam. Who knows though, if AJ is as gifted as Aly, she may end up stealing The Lovely Bones.

I don’t see any scheduled activities other than those. 78violet may be ready to tour! As they said, it’s not going to be with Miley Cyrus. In a recent Web cast, the duo indicated they would be an opening act. Not really seeing any bands big enough to support Aly & AJ as their opening act. Are the Stones going to tour again?

Wait. This past week they were with U2 in Ireland. Are the pair going to open for Bono and company in the U.S.? I wouldn’t bet against it. They’re too good in concert for anyone else.

Lots of missed cities on this leg of the U2 tour:

September 12, 2009 Chicago, IL United States Soldier Field Snow Patrol
September 13, 2009
September 16, 2009 Toronto, ON Canada Rogers Centre
September 17, 2009
September 20, 2009 Foxborough, MA United States Gillette Stadium
September 21, 2009
September 24, 2009 East Rutherford, NJ Giants Stadium Muse
September 25, 2009
September 29, 2009 Landover, MD FedEx Field
October 1, 2009 Charlottesville, VA Scott Stadium
October 3, 2009 Raleigh, NC Carter-Finley Stadium
October 6, 2009 Atlanta, GA Georgia Dome
October 9, 2009 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium
October 12, 2009 Arlington, TX Cowboys Stadium
October 14, 2009 Houston, TX Reliant Stadium
October 18, 2009 Norman, OK Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Black Eyed Peas
October 20, 2009 Glendale, AZ University of Phoenix Stadium
October 23, 2009 Las Vegas, NV Sam Boyd Stadium
October 25, 2009 Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl
October 28, 2009 Vancouver, BC Canada BC Place Stadium