If you are an Adult Contemporary artist, it is prudent to have a holiday song if you plan on getting airplay between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every year hundreds of stations switch to "The Best Mix of Holiday Hits," many programming them 24/7. The stated reasoning is that holiday music is a sales success and often spikes the ratings for these stations.
Fortunately for the Jerry Lembo Entertainment Group, we actively promote and market several artists with songs celebrating the season. Most of our projects are original tunes. Here is a partial list (artist, song, and example of station frequently playing):
Donny Osmond Christmas Time" KUDL/Kansas City
Melissa Etheridge "Christmas in America" WLTW/New York
Ben Green "Holiday" WTSS/Buffalo
Tim Hockenberry "Christmas By The Bay" KOIT/San Francisco
David Corey It Looks Like Christmas" KRWM/Seattle
Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 WASH/Washington, DC
The upside of writing an original holiday tune (and this also applies to Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.) is that these songs get recycled annually and continue to deliver both mechanical and performance royalties. And if you're lucky enough to write a classic, they never go out of style!
Last year's Top 10 Most Played Christmas Songs (Source: Mediabase 24/7):
1) Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" (1958)
2) Burl Ives "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" (1963)
3) Bobby Helms "Jingle Bell Rock" (1957)
4) Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song" (1946)
5) Bing Crosby "White Christmas" (1942)
6) Andy Williams "Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" (1963)
7) Carpenters "Merry Christmas Darling" (1970)
8) Jose' Feliciano "Feliz Navidad" (1970)
9) Johnny Mathis "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" (1986)
10) John Lennon "Happy Xmas/War Is Over" (1970)
Writing a holiday song virtually guarantees that cash will replace coal in your stocking.
Happy Holiday$$$!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Rated PDG (Pretty Damn Good)
The only thing missing from The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film and TV Music Conference 2005 held November 15-16 at the Beverly Hilton was popcorn, candy bars, and soft drinks.
Day one highlights included Billboard Co-Executive Editor Tamara Coniff’s chat with composer Hans Zimmer, the father of integrating the electronic musical world with traditional orchestral arrangements. I even learned a bit of trivia during this session. Did you know Hans first enjoyed success in the world of pop music as a member of The Buggles (“Video Killed the Radio Star”)?!
Robert Kraft, President, Fox Music, was on a panel that discussed the ins and outs of soundtracks, music licensing, scoring, and discovering the perfect song. Kraft has overseen more than 150 Fox scores and soundtracks, including the record breaking Titanic.
Laura Carrillo, Executive VP, Creative Advertising, New Line Cinema, gave expert advice on the fine art of putting sound to trailers and television promos. Carrillo oversaw the advertising campaign for the successful trilogy for The Lord of the Rings.
The ASCAP Presents Making Money from Film and Television Music panel that featured Jeff Brabec, VP Business Affairs, Chrysalis Music Group, and Todd Brabec, Executive Vice President, Director of Membership, ASCAP, got ‘two thumbs up’ from the entire audience. I highly recommend the updated and expanded fourth edition of their book Music, Money and Success.
Newly signed Columbia recording artist Teddy Geiger performed songs from his forthcoming CD Underage Thinking (in stores February 14, 2006). His single “Confidence” is available now on iTunes.
Dave Stone, VP of Music, Bunim-Murray Productions, whose credits include seven seasons of The Real World, helped explain what it takes to get your music on the shows he oversees, many of which highlight unsigned acts.
Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Electronic Arts (The Washington Post called him ‘The Clive Davis of the Video Game Industry”), shared secrets and strategies on how to capitalize on new media, especially video games. Electronic Arts is forming EA Recordings, a digital only venture with Nettwerk Music Group, designed to sell EA owned original music from its many video games as digital downloads and/or ringtones.
One of the most entertaining and informative sessions featured award winning director Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby), composer Mark Isham (winner of a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Clio), and songwriter Bird York, whose music has been heard on TV’s Family Law, Nip/Tuck, Everwood, and House. They discussed their collaboration on the motion picture Crash. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, rent or buy it today; it is Oscar material.
The conference crammed so much content into two days that I suspect, as I begin to reap the rewards of my expanded knowledge of the behind the scenes business of Film and TV, it will be time to book my 2006 registration.
Day one highlights included Billboard Co-Executive Editor Tamara Coniff’s chat with composer Hans Zimmer, the father of integrating the electronic musical world with traditional orchestral arrangements. I even learned a bit of trivia during this session. Did you know Hans first enjoyed success in the world of pop music as a member of The Buggles (“Video Killed the Radio Star”)?!
Robert Kraft, President, Fox Music, was on a panel that discussed the ins and outs of soundtracks, music licensing, scoring, and discovering the perfect song. Kraft has overseen more than 150 Fox scores and soundtracks, including the record breaking Titanic.
Laura Carrillo, Executive VP, Creative Advertising, New Line Cinema, gave expert advice on the fine art of putting sound to trailers and television promos. Carrillo oversaw the advertising campaign for the successful trilogy for The Lord of the Rings.
The ASCAP Presents Making Money from Film and Television Music panel that featured Jeff Brabec, VP Business Affairs, Chrysalis Music Group, and Todd Brabec, Executive Vice President, Director of Membership, ASCAP, got ‘two thumbs up’ from the entire audience. I highly recommend the updated and expanded fourth edition of their book Music, Money and Success.
Newly signed Columbia recording artist Teddy Geiger performed songs from his forthcoming CD Underage Thinking (in stores February 14, 2006). His single “Confidence” is available now on iTunes.
Dave Stone, VP of Music, Bunim-Murray Productions, whose credits include seven seasons of The Real World, helped explain what it takes to get your music on the shows he oversees, many of which highlight unsigned acts.
Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Electronic Arts (The Washington Post called him ‘The Clive Davis of the Video Game Industry”), shared secrets and strategies on how to capitalize on new media, especially video games. Electronic Arts is forming EA Recordings, a digital only venture with Nettwerk Music Group, designed to sell EA owned original music from its many video games as digital downloads and/or ringtones.
One of the most entertaining and informative sessions featured award winning director Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby), composer Mark Isham (winner of a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Clio), and songwriter Bird York, whose music has been heard on TV’s Family Law, Nip/Tuck, Everwood, and House. They discussed their collaboration on the motion picture Crash. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, rent or buy it today; it is Oscar material.
The conference crammed so much content into two days that I suspect, as I begin to reap the rewards of my expanded knowledge of the behind the scenes business of Film and TV, it will be time to book my 2006 registration.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Successful Sound Insures Santana's Survival
As it states in his bio, Carlos Santana has been reinventing and reshaping the landscape of the known universe's musical culture for close to four decades. One of the concepts employed by Carlos and Executive Producer Clive Davis is to create multi-ethnic, multi-genre collaborations that maximize cross-marketing opportunities.
For certain artist development acts this could be a way to accelerate awareness and rapidly build your fan base.
On Supernatural, Santana's special guests included Dave Matthews, Everlast, Rob Thomas, Lauryn Hill and Ceelo, Product G&B, Mana, Eagle Eye Cherry, and Eric Clapton.
For Shaman, Santana enlisted Musiq, Michelle Branch, Seal, Macy Gray, Melkie Jean and Governor Washington, P.O.D., Citizen Cope, Chad Kroeger (Nickelback), Dido, Alejandro Lerner, Ozomatli, and Placido Domingo.
Santana's newest release is All That I Am. (Some say it should be called All Things To All People.) Making appearances on 'Supernatural Vol. 3' are Steven Tyler, Mary J. Blige, Big Boi, Joss Stone, Sean Paul, Los Lonely Boys, Bo Bice, Will.I.Am, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Hammett, Robert Randolph, and a return visit by Michelle Branch (and the Wreckers).
I'm generally not a fan of an all you can eat buffet approach to albums. However, in my neighborhood, the parking lots are always filled to capacity at these establishments, which tells me there are fans of this concept.
So, it's a music marketing strategy worth considering. Who are the local or regional stars in the zip codes you are targeting? Record duets, play at each other's gigs, exchange databases, link to one another on your web sites, and do best Value sales (selling one of your CDs packaged with one from your guest collaborator).
The Best of Santana ("Jingo," "Evil Ways," "Black Magic Woman," "Oye Como Va," etc.) now appears to have served as the appetizer, with Supernatural, Shaman, and All That I Am as the entree. For dessert I'd like to see Santana and:
Stevie Wonder
Tom Petty
Keith Urban
Willie Nelson
Norah Jones
U2/Bono
Green Day
Bob Dylan
Lionel Richie
Bob Seger
Clive, you can reach me at jerry@lemboentertainment.com or 201-840-9980. (Bands looking for new marketing strategies and innovative promotional ideas can reach me there as well.)
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
A Couple of Guys Named Paul
There is an interesting dichotomy on this week's Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (9/21/05).
The number one album is by a Houston rapper -- Paul Wall -- and it sold 176,000 copies in the U.S. It's titled "The People's Champ."
Another guy named Paul -- Paul McCartney -- placed number 6 this week with his new CD "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," which sold 92,000.
An alumus of the Beatles and Wings, once upon a time McCartney's album would have been titled "The People's Champ." In 1964, everyone wanted to hold his hand. Now that Sir Paul is 64, it seems music buyers would rather be "slap flippin'," "riding dirty," "big ballin'," and "sittin' sidewayz" with the rhyming rapper Paul Wall.
On his next CD the former Mop Top may have to collaborate with Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Snoop, Ludacris, Bow Wow, and the Ying Yang Twins if he hopes to regain his crown.
The number one album is by a Houston rapper -- Paul Wall -- and it sold 176,000 copies in the U.S. It's titled "The People's Champ."
Another guy named Paul -- Paul McCartney -- placed number 6 this week with his new CD "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," which sold 92,000.
An alumus of the Beatles and Wings, once upon a time McCartney's album would have been titled "The People's Champ." In 1964, everyone wanted to hold his hand. Now that Sir Paul is 64, it seems music buyers would rather be "slap flippin'," "riding dirty," "big ballin'," and "sittin' sidewayz" with the rhyming rapper Paul Wall.
On his next CD the former Mop Top may have to collaborate with Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Snoop, Ludacris, Bow Wow, and the Ying Yang Twins if he hopes to regain his crown.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Hell to Hope
The Jerry Lembo Entertainment Group recently signed an artist development consultation agreement with pianist/songwriter Ana Galatas. Ana's label (Rimsky) and management company (Sands Entertainment) are based in Miami. Hurricanes are no stranger to that area; in fact, the local university carries that handle.
What I didn't know was that both Ana's character and musical influences had deep roots in Louisiana. I asked her to reflect on those memories:
"To borrow from a similar saying: 'You can take a girl out of Louisiana but you can’t take Louisiana out of the girl.' I was blessed to be born in New Orleans and live in small towns across the state.
My preacher father served Carrollton Methodist Church, and I fear they’ve been devastated by Katrina. My Mother did her nurses training at the now bereft Charity Hospital. In the 50’s, Mom said there was a line down the middle of the hospital ward – to separate blacks from whites. The nurses enjoyed treating the blacks more because they were more appreciative than the whites. When I reminisce about my Louisiana upbringing, I can’t help but “go there” on the issue of race relations. If CNN had been broadcasting images of upper class whites begging for food and water, this story would have different headlines.
I can share with you endless beautiful memories – rocking on the front porch, beignets in the French Quarter, heaps of crawfish on telephone spools – then there is the MUSIC. Music that evolved from the slaves and is now our only original musical art form. I’m so deeply appreciative for the exposure I had to Spirituals, Jazz and R&B. Where would American music be without the profound influence of African-Americans?
How then can such an atrocity occur after such enormous contributions to our society? As a kid, I played organ for a small church in Slaughter, LA. One of the elderly church ladies told me that the at one time the choir robes doubled as Klan robes.
Louisiana has overcome so much. My high school in Zachary, LA has grown past our tainted past. Proms that were segregated now enjoy integrated reunions. Finally New Orleans appears to be going from “hell to hope” and perhaps light is finally being shed on a problem that should be 'no more'."
Ana asks that you please send your donations to:
Baton Rouge Area Foundation Displaced Residents Fund.
http://www.braf.org/
What I didn't know was that both Ana's character and musical influences had deep roots in Louisiana. I asked her to reflect on those memories:
"To borrow from a similar saying: 'You can take a girl out of Louisiana but you can’t take Louisiana out of the girl.' I was blessed to be born in New Orleans and live in small towns across the state.
My preacher father served Carrollton Methodist Church, and I fear they’ve been devastated by Katrina. My Mother did her nurses training at the now bereft Charity Hospital. In the 50’s, Mom said there was a line down the middle of the hospital ward – to separate blacks from whites. The nurses enjoyed treating the blacks more because they were more appreciative than the whites. When I reminisce about my Louisiana upbringing, I can’t help but “go there” on the issue of race relations. If CNN had been broadcasting images of upper class whites begging for food and water, this story would have different headlines.
I can share with you endless beautiful memories – rocking on the front porch, beignets in the French Quarter, heaps of crawfish on telephone spools – then there is the MUSIC. Music that evolved from the slaves and is now our only original musical art form. I’m so deeply appreciative for the exposure I had to Spirituals, Jazz and R&B. Where would American music be without the profound influence of African-Americans?
How then can such an atrocity occur after such enormous contributions to our society? As a kid, I played organ for a small church in Slaughter, LA. One of the elderly church ladies told me that the at one time the choir robes doubled as Klan robes.
Louisiana has overcome so much. My high school in Zachary, LA has grown past our tainted past. Proms that were segregated now enjoy integrated reunions. Finally New Orleans appears to be going from “hell to hope” and perhaps light is finally being shed on a problem that should be 'no more'."
Ana asks that you please send your donations to:
Baton Rouge Area Foundation Displaced Residents Fund.
http://www.braf.org/
Monday, August 29, 2005
Boulevard of Platinum Dreams
Since its release about a year ago, American Idiot has seldom left my CD player.
After winning seven of the eight MTV Video Music Awards they were nominated for, Green Day should rename their current multi-platinum CD (4 million plus in domestic sales and growing) American Geniuses.
American Idiot is on track to match or exceed the 10 million copies sold on their Dookie disc.
In accepting the rock video award, singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong said, "It's nice to know rock music still has a place on MTV." Hell, I wasn't aware MTV still showed videos!
When I tune in I usually get Inferno 2, Laguna Beach, Making the Band 3, MTV's The 70's House, My Super Sweet 16, Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n' Out, Real World, Trailer Fabulous, etc.
Green Day has extended their red hot arena/stadium tour into early October. The band has a colorful and compelling history that has sustained over a decade and has seen many musical fashion fatalities.
They are still the number one rock band in overall airplay with 13 different songs getting 100+ plays a week at the format.
Young rockers should research Green Day's rich catalog of hits and add them to your Platinum playbook.
After winning seven of the eight MTV Video Music Awards they were nominated for, Green Day should rename their current multi-platinum CD (4 million plus in domestic sales and growing) American Geniuses.
American Idiot is on track to match or exceed the 10 million copies sold on their Dookie disc.
In accepting the rock video award, singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong said, "It's nice to know rock music still has a place on MTV." Hell, I wasn't aware MTV still showed videos!
When I tune in I usually get Inferno 2, Laguna Beach, Making the Band 3, MTV's The 70's House, My Super Sweet 16, Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n' Out, Real World, Trailer Fabulous, etc.
Green Day has extended their red hot arena/stadium tour into early October. The band has a colorful and compelling history that has sustained over a decade and has seen many musical fashion fatalities.
They are still the number one rock band in overall airplay with 13 different songs getting 100+ plays a week at the format.
Young rockers should research Green Day's rich catalog of hits and add them to your Platinum playbook.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Do You Have What It Takes To "Change The World" With Your Music?
I'm sitting in my office listening to the new Eric Clapton studio album Back Home and wondering which of my artist development clients will still be making 'Must Hear' music five decades from now.
Many of today's contemporary artists have achieved fleeting platinum status. What lessons can be learned from Clapton's career longevity?
Adaptability comes to mind. Clapton played with the Roosters, the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos before embarking on his successful solo career.
Change is constant in life and in the music business. Throughout Clapton's career, conflict and confrontation surely came into play on more than a few occasions, not to mention personal hardships and tragedy. Did you know Clapton was an illegitimate child? As an adult, he endured heroin and alcohol addictions, divorce, the deaths of several close friends and his son Conor.
Devastating events like these would have been enough to cripple most people both mentally and creatively, yet Clapton persevered. Did you know that he is the only triple inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of both the Yardbirds and Cream, and as a solo artist)?
Do you have the passion and personal stamina to endure the less glamorous side of show business, or are you just in it for an American Idol moment? If you've got what it takes to "Change The World" with your music and need assistance in outlining your music business career objectives and creating an action plan, please visit www.lemboentertainment.com.
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