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Monday, March 19, 2012
Media / Mailbag Here's an Example of How NOT to Send Your CD to Media Outlets
Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Speaking of sending your CDs to radio stations, just a couple weeks ago I got this package in the mail:
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO NOT DO when sending your album to media outlets.
Creativity is appreciated. Kithkin sent me leaves and rocks. Speaker Speaker once sent me jellybeans. But this motherfucker right here was sealed in eight layers of tape, meaning I had to spend minutes tearing through women doing stupid poses in their panties in order to open the package. Strike one. Then, inside, the short note taped to the front of the CD spelled my name wrong. Megen. Strike two.
I like bands with a sense of humor. I like getting weird shit in the mail. But I don't want to have to tear through Victoria's Secret models and clippings from an old GQ in order to hear your music. Is that really the first impression you want to make?
The music wasn't my thing. It sounded like singer/songwriter stuff that would've been used on Dawson's Creek back in the ’90s. Strike three. You're out.
2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kf4uLEij…
You watched Dawson creek in the 90's and like getting weird stuff in the mail?
You watched Dawson creek in the 90's and like getting weird stuff in the mail?
3
I don't know why, but that reminded me of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7otDLzQC…
Wait, come to think of it, I do know why....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7otDLzQC…
Wait, come to think of it, I do know why....
4
Unfortunately Megan, your kvetch is a huge fail, because they achieved exactly what they intended...what every band who submits a demo intends... and that is for you to listen to the music. You did just that. Whether you like the music or not is irrelevant. You listened. That is all a band can ask for.
5
4: Yes, that sounds completely logical. "Please listen to my music, but don't play it on the radio show. Which is why we addressed it to the radio show. We don't want airplay. All we ask is for one person to listen. Especially one who hosts a radio show that reaches thousands of ears. But please, for the love of all that is decent and holy, do not play our music on the radio show we have addressed this mailing to. We just wanted you to listen. In the words of a wise internet commenter, 'That is all a band can ask for.' Not for airplay, just for one person to listen and then file it away in their personal memory bank. That's exactly why we put the show name at the top."
(Yeah, I know, I'm ridiculous for responding to someone who won't even log in. On the other hand, it's a completely ridiculous statement, which would explain the necessary anonymity so as not to attract stares and whispers as one walks down the street. Conundrum!)
(Yeah, I know, I'm ridiculous for responding to someone who won't even log in. On the other hand, it's a completely ridiculous statement, which would explain the necessary anonymity so as not to attract stares and whispers as one walks down the street. Conundrum!)
6
yeah, i agree with @5 on this one. i can't imagine what any band wants is to send their cd into a radio station only to have it not played on the air....and then to have their packaging to the radio station criticized and their music slightly lambasted on, what i would suppose is, the largest music blog in the area.
maybe if megan had not blacked out their name, then they would have won the battle. but she didn't, so the point is moot.
they are foolish for sending this in though.
maybe if megan had not blacked out their name, then they would have won the battle. but she didn't, so the point is moot.
they are foolish for sending this in though.
7
I intern for a big label and used to intern for a radio show and would like to point out that while of course bands send in demos in the hopes of it getting signed or played on the radio, the majority of those demos go straight in the trash. Why? Because people don't think before they send. You never think your own band is crap, when in reality, pretty much all demos sent in are by shitty bands ( i have listened to 100s of demos and trust me, it's all bad). Sure there is maybe 1 good one ever few thousand, but it's mostly crap. I used to be excited to listen to new music, but after interning at a label for almost a year and listening to demos i actually like less stuff.
And in Megan's defense, posting these pictures is actually really nice of her. Yeah sucks for the band but it's great for others. One of the things bands screw up on most often is the promo pack. Either they send a freakin binder and full length or the put in a bunch of random crap (one label owner once told me she opened a package and it exploded with glitter all over her desk, and glitter is a bitch to clean up). So yeah, as Megan said creativity is nice, but it shouldn't take the person hours to cut through tape to listen to your music.
ALSO! Another thing bands don't think of, is your music actually, really, truly, right for the place you're sending it to? Have you actually worked on those songs long enough? Is that demo the best you'll ever be? Radio stations don't want to play bands that only there friends want to here and labels don't want to sign a band until it's the best it can be. No one has the time or money any more to help improve a band.
Sorry for the rant, i just agree with Megan.
And in Megan's defense, posting these pictures is actually really nice of her. Yeah sucks for the band but it's great for others. One of the things bands screw up on most often is the promo pack. Either they send a freakin binder and full length or the put in a bunch of random crap (one label owner once told me she opened a package and it exploded with glitter all over her desk, and glitter is a bitch to clean up). So yeah, as Megan said creativity is nice, but it shouldn't take the person hours to cut through tape to listen to your music.
ALSO! Another thing bands don't think of, is your music actually, really, truly, right for the place you're sending it to? Have you actually worked on those songs long enough? Is that demo the best you'll ever be? Radio stations don't want to play bands that only there friends want to here and labels don't want to sign a band until it's the best it can be. No one has the time or money any more to help improve a band.
Sorry for the rant, i just agree with Megan.
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