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Post by cw on Aug 25, 2009 4:03:27 GMT 1
People have thought this has been done under John Hughes' Spokes Records but, whilst he clearly is still involved in a management/advisory sense, this does not appear to be the case.
Katia's friend Rafa (from Sao Paolo's Dundalk band) asked the Boss Lady the following question "What is the recording company of the album? Can you tell us, or it's a secret yet?".
She Tweeted back the following reply: "Yes, my company is called BobbyJean records, I may do a deal ltr elsewhere."
As regards "autonomy", I think we can agree that it is a very good move BUT it also indicates that she & Gav are most likely "self-financing" in a big way .... and from here on it does NOT get any cheaper !! As it stands atm, SHE will be stumping up the money for promotion. Her replies to those enquiring abt wider release/promotion were:
" yes but I'll stagger release so I can promo each place myself" EUR
"Yes when I get the deal sorted, at the moment just UK and Ireland" USA
" both will work well, but 4 me its best 2 release thr when I cn come & promote myself, 4 the moment just UK & Ireland" BRA
Whilst she clearly WANTS to take it internationally & the netbase has been very supportive, it certainly looks like she's playing a wait & see game as to the response to INAD & maybe the initial album release ... as regards to how much further she can/will pursue matters. If she IS to take it beyond UK/Ire & maybe a toe-poke into W.Europe then she will need to get the distrubution deal sorted.
Wombat's other sneaky suspicion is that she may well have been helped out due to a lot of "goodwill" with many key collaborators on the album who may indeed have been doing as much as possible on a "mates rates" basis. Could be wrong but really wouldn't be surprised...
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Post by DazedOblivion on Aug 25, 2009 7:18:30 GMT 1
That's very interesting news about the record label. I haven't heard of BobbyJean and can't find it on the internet (yet). By way of example, Cara Dillon and her husband Sam Lakeman, in an effort to be fully in control of the kind of albums they want to make, started their own label called Charcoal Records. They are are using a distribution company called Proper Music Distribution. With this new label, she released her album in January (with U.S. release coming this September). Though their company is tiny, Cara and Sam were able to work out promotions in the UK through HMV that were very fruitful and led to her current album being also her best-selling album ever in the UK. Sharon has so much going for her with the massive worldwide fan base. This also poses problems with distribution. It won't be easy, but I think that she's already done a remarkable job in utilizing those types of promotion that are both popular and inexpensive, such as Twitter. And the DJs are really loving "It's Not A Dream". I hope she and Gavin can find a way to get the record to all those parts of the world that represent lots of sales, such as (for example) Spain, Indonesia, The Philippines and, of corrs, Brazil.  |
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Post by cw on Aug 25, 2009 12:54:12 GMT 1
Precisely, Steve !! There are many blessings with going "Indie" BUT so many who wax lyrical about these labels fail to acknowledge the obvious drawbacks. If the artist's market is essentially a domestic/regional one then basically those drawbacks don't enter the equation until/unless they seek to expand to a wider audience.
Your comment re fanbase requires some clarification. The fanbase is most definitely global but made up of many components.There is the activist "netbase" that exists on boards like this, COL & CC; it is the smallest component BUT as Sharon has found to her delight it can be a massive source of strength & aid in facilitating her success. Beyond this was the larger fanbase that has perhaps tuned out after the band went into hiatus (these were the fans who were the concertgoers). Further beyond were those fans who bought their music and/or still tune into music of that style. Our Brazilian friends are definitely "demographic 1" whereas many other parts of the Corrs fanbase are more of the other demographics.
Overall there IS still a latent Corrs fanbase, especially in their old markets. Shaz & Gav have been brilliant with their engagement strategy with demographic (1) who are fully activated & behind the project. That in itself has already created a clear "product demand" in a number and has effectively been "pre-promotion" meaning she is not "starting from square one". Her problem, esp without the major label promotional muscle of the band days, is going to her capacity to access the external markets AND get her product out & known to the full "old" fanbase .... who will almost certainly "gobble it up" IF they get to hear it and are able to buy/see her.
I DO hope she is able to cut the necessary deals for international distribution AND promotion. She is "promotional Gold" in every sense of the word ... it will be a question of getting her onto the radar screen of TV & radio in these markets. Here the activist base CAN help IF they approach it sensibly AND Team Shaz communicate their strategy/release dates.
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Post by cw on Aug 25, 2009 14:43:36 GMT 1
Some further word from The Boss. Early prospects for UK/Ire looking v good. IF she can communicate like this throughout the campaign then .....
Release Week
August 24th, 2009
Hi Guys,
Exciting times! I’m off to North of England tomorrow to do radio promotion. Thursday I’ll be in N. Ireland doing all the commercial stations and BBC. The single is released and available for download in Ireland on the 28th of August and in the UK on the 31st.
So fingers crossed we get a good chart position and more good airplay. Please feel free to ring up and request “Its Not A Dream” from your local stations… all help greatly appreciated!
So far it’s been amazing to be A-listed on BBC Radio 2 UK, 3 weeks in a row! Thanks to you all for your incredible support!
Recorded some lovely new stuff last week and I am really happy with the direction of the album so far. I’m due to release at the end of October but I’ll keep you posted on the exact date.
When I know, you’ll know.
All my love
Sharon x
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Post by DazedOblivion on Aug 26, 2009 5:15:17 GMT 1
Thanks for keeping us up to date so well, CW. Before I knew anything of exclusivity, I requested the song to be played at SoftRock UK on Keith Hazelton's Sunday program three weeks ago. He used his connections to find it. Since then, he's played three straight weeks - 9 August; 16 August; and 23 August. www.softrockuk.ismysite.co.uk/table_musicplayed.htmThanks for liking it, Keith!! ;D |
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Post by cw on Aug 26, 2009 10:58:18 GMT 1
Thanks for keeping us up to date so well, CW. Before I knew anything of exclusivity, I requested the song to be played at SoftRock UK on Keith Hazelton's Sunday program three weeks ago. He used his connections to find it. Since then, he's played three straight weeks - 9 August; 16 August; and 23 August. www.softrockuk.ismysite.co.uk/table_musicplayed.htmThanks for liking it, Keith!! ;D That's good to hear !! Has he stated that he likes the song  ATM, she's been doing the promotional rounds, especially regional radio ..... maybe you could encourage him to seek an interview from her esp if he has national coverage. If he's like nearly everyone who's encountered the lady .... he'll probably having her on the show. |
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Post by DazedOblivion on Aug 31, 2009 14:57:01 GMT 1
That's good to hear !! Has he stated that he likes the song ATM, she's been doing the promotional rounds, especially regional radio ..... maybe you could encourage him to seek an interview from her esp if he has national coverage. If he's like nearly everyone who's encountered the lady .... he'll probably having her on the show. Yes, he said that he thinks that the song is beautiful and can't wait to hear the album. He played it again this week - 4 weeks in a row. His show is more internet-based with listeners abroad as well, such places as the U.S., Canada and Germany. He always plays a lot of music that I like (quite a bit of which I don't know). |
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ATM, she's been doing the promotional rounds, especially regional radio ..... maybe you could encourage him to seek an interview from her esp if he has national coverage. If he's like nearly everyone who's encountered the lady .... he'll probably having her on the show.