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Unsung Forum » "How To Buy A Record Review" |
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bauheed 895 posts |
Nov 09, 2011, 20:00
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This sort of practice is not unique to the music industry. I used to work in the electronics industry, and it's common practice for the trade press to only run feature articles on your product (which you would have the opportunity to 'contribute' to) if you paid for a series of ads. On a related note, brings to mind Luke Haines in his recent book when he mention that he's never had a good review or been featured in mojo since he stole Phil Alexander's girlfriend.
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mingtp 2270 posts |
Nov 09, 2011, 23:04
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bauheed wrote: On a related note, brings to mind Luke Haines in his recent book when he mention that he's never had a good review or been featured in mojo since he stole Phil Alexander's girlfriend. Ha! IanB wrote: Was this a Metal thing? Certainly possible; I'll never forget Whitesnake's 1987 eponymous album (the one with Here I go again etc) getting a 2K or 3K in Kerrang! only to have it re-reviewed with a 5K a few weeks later after pressure on the magazine from the band's label. Not the same I know, but certainly indicative of the times.
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vince 1628 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 06:20
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No it's nothing new. This practice started - or at least took off - in the mid-80's when "the biz" was at it's coke-fuelled worst. There was a time when I occassionally wrote reviews that record companies had paid for. It never bothered me. It was my job. But it did allow me to subversibly slip in the odd review of Nick drake etc when no-one was looking. I don't see it as any different than bands having to buy their way onto support slots or the stuff Alan Freed got up to. It's not right, it's just the way it is. My intial thought was "Wah....now the classical world has to put up with the same kind of shit the rest of us have been dealing with for years. Welcome to hell my friends....."
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keith a 9573 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 10:56
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Going off at a slight tangent, and I may be being slightly cynical here... What the situation with magazines and their free cd's? Apparently the label (or with more self-sufficient acts the artist themselves) have to pay to be featured on the cover cd. Now I'm not saying that this guarantees a great review because I can recall examples where this hasn't been the case, but they do tend to get the almost obligatory complimentary paragraph on the pages where they write all the blurb about the disc. I can think of one band I like mentioning this situation and considering it too expensive to 'donate' a new track, but I'm pretty sure they have been on one since. I must be naive because I had previously assumed that they let magazines have access to these tracks cheap or free, not that they received payment for their 'promotion'. PS Ian, Please find attached back-dated invoice for writing complimentary reviews of your music. ; )
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elegant chaos 2390 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 11:25
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I've never written a review that was paid for in such a way - but a band I know who are still going had their album reviewed some years back in Melody Maker (I think). The reviewer actually gave them 9 out of 10 - but the editor downgraded it to 8 because the band (who owned their own label) didn't advertise it in the paper.
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riotmaster 1563 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 13:11
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I've not found a magazine that doesn't charge for the privilege yet It's not cheap either! For example, THE last time I got involved, it was £375 plus VAT for one 4 minute song on a well known 'leftfield' UK magazines free CD That was a few years back with my other label of the time. I think we did it 3 times in total, the first twice we did sell more than usual, but it's hard to know whether that was down to being on the CD or just because they were great bands ;) The third time we saw no visible signs of sales increase at all.
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IanB 6761 posts |
Edited Nov 10, 2011, 14:19
Nov 10, 2011, 14:19
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keith a wrote: Going off at a slight tangent, and I may be being slightly cynical here... What the situation with magazines and their free cd's? Apparently the label (or with more self-sufficient acts the artist themselves) have to pay to be featured on the cover cd. Now I'm not saying that this guarantees a great review because I can recall examples where this hasn't been the case, but they do tend to get the almost obligatory complimentary paragraph on the pages where they write all the blurb about the disc. I can think of one band I like mentioning this situation and considering it too expensive to 'donate' a new track, but I'm pretty sure they have been on one since. I must be naive because I had previously assumed that they let magazines have access to these tracks cheap or free, not that they received payment for their 'promotion'. PS Ian, Please find attached back-dated invoice for writing complimentary reviews of your music. ; ) Ha! I've already got my invoice into Gentle Giant, Gryphon et al! I've paid for a few cover-mount things. Have always been fairly brutal. Never less than a % share of the manufacturing and mechanicals. Even if it is described as something else. Can't remember ever getting a free one! This is from an actual e mail from a well known British music mag "The way it works is that the track is free in effect, as we pay the production and publishing costs, and ask you to support that with a 1/4 page ad. The rate for 1/4 page ads is £290.00 and we ask for an extra 20% for 'special position' ie front of mag layout over 3-4 pages."
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Popel Vooje 5373 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 16:11
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Squid Tempest wrote: Kid Calamity wrote: Half a dozen eggs? Per review? OK, as long as they're fresh and free range. Send the CD and a few suggested words to help me along the way. Chuck in some cash and I'll increase the word count and exclamation marks. Gentlemen, I think we have a deal. If I throw in an egg-timer will you write a review that consists solely of exclamation marks?
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Squid Tempest 8763 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 19:04
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Popel Vooje wrote: Squid Tempest wrote: Kid Calamity wrote: Half a dozen eggs? Per review? OK, as long as they're fresh and free range. Send the CD and a few suggested words to help me along the way. Chuck in some cash and I'll increase the word count and exclamation marks. Gentlemen, I think we have a deal. If I throw in an egg-timer will you write a review that consists solely of exclamation marks? Looks like it's boiled eggs and toastie soldiers round my place then, see you Saturday. Sample review: Good stuff this new Glow recording!!!!! Simply splendid stuff, stuck to my turntable/CD Player/tape deck (delete as appropriate) for the last (insert no of weeks since release) weeks!!!!! Makes me feel fantastic/evil/high/expansive/relaxed/myself!!!!! Buy one/two/three now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Squid Tempest 8763 posts |
Nov 10, 2011, 19:10
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IanB wrote: keith a wrote: Going off at a slight tangent, and I may be being slightly cynical here... What the situation with magazines and their free cd's? Apparently the label (or with more self-sufficient acts the artist themselves) have to pay to be featured on the cover cd. Now I'm not saying that this guarantees a great review because I can recall examples where this hasn't been the case, but they do tend to get the almost obligatory complimentary paragraph on the pages where they write all the blurb about the disc. I can think of one band I like mentioning this situation and considering it too expensive to 'donate' a new track, but I'm pretty sure they have been on one since. I must be naive because I had previously assumed that they let magazines have access to these tracks cheap or free, not that they received payment for their 'promotion'. PS Ian, Please find attached back-dated invoice for writing complimentary reviews of your music. ; ) Ha! I've already got my invoice into Gentle Giant, Gryphon et al! I've paid for a few cover-mount things. Have always been fairly brutal. Never less than a % share of the manufacturing and mechanicals. Even if it is described as something else. Can't remember ever getting a free one! This is from an actual e mail from a well known British music mag "The way it works is that the track is free in effect, as we pay the production and publishing costs, and ask you to support that with a 1/4 page ad. The rate for 1/4 page ads is £290.00 and we ask for an extra 20% for 'special position' ie front of mag layout over 3-4 pages." I'd like to think I wouldn't involve myself in such an obvious scam, but when I think about it, if I had a record company offering to do it for me I probably wouldn't refuse. As it is, I live in the insanely optimistic viewpoint that if I keep producing the music I love and find creatively pouring out, sooner or later people will start buying it for the sheer love of the sounds.
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