I know I’ve talked about the amazing speed at which news releases keep popping up several times in the past. Hundreds of new albums are released every month; surely more than in the past. Of course, that means quantity over quality but the fans seem unaware of it. Every band/musician claims a piece of the “music pie” but unluckily few of them get some.The weird thing is the way which most newcomers use to take care of their promotion. With thousands of webzines, ezines, blog sites etc. on the web and a few hundred magazines (the big ones have survived) around the world, one could say that it’s easier today to present your album and get the fans’ attention. Is it so easy then? Yes and no.
Firstly, the big magazines won’t ever give a shit about those that do not bring ‘em money and they do not present any bands unless they have to gain something out of them. That has always been the case with big rock/metal magazines, like it or not.
Secondly, out of the thousands webzines only a few hundreds, if a band is lucky, will present their album. The web is a way wider and more populated place nowadays for anyone to get advertised, presented and make money eventually. Some webzines have got too “big”, due to the support they get from the major labels, and they praise and advertise all of the “great” bands/musicians, like “good employees”. Those webzines are the ones which are “popular” among the fans. It doesn’t matter if one knows what the next best album is gonna be like or which bands are gonna be praised and so on. None gives a shit about it! They follow what they have been told to follow. You need to be “trendy” and “cool” so you follow what they “big ones” tell you to follow. That’s the end of the story and it’s non-negotiable!!!
Thirdly, the bands that do not pay a PR label to do the dirty work for them and send their stuff here and there so as to be presented and reviewed… have decided that the “game” is easy and they can do it by themselves. So what do they end up doing? They go to the “contact form” of numerous webzines and they send a message like: ‘hey, this is our new album, review it and also tell us if you need an interview, thx”!!! Great way to promote your own work! I’m wondering what the percentage of “success” of this “new way of promotion” is. 10%, 20% or 30%? I do not think it can be higher than this.
What every (new) band or artist should understand is that webzines (no matter if they “big or not”, are not their little biatches!!! Now, going to the beginning of this article, everyone should understand that in a time when lots of new albums are released, sending a message like the one above, won’t take you anywhere. It will probably be deleted right way and you won’t ever get a reply.
That’s why I recommend you “built up” a relation with any webzine or magazine you want before you send your stuff there for presentation. Sending a message to inform the media of your new album and then ask them for a presentation is far better than sending out your album link for download right away without asking what they will need in advance. If the press is interested they will get back to you and in that way you will “ensure” a potential presentation… that’s much better than nothing, right? And the most important thing of all, show the apt respect to any webzine and you will be treated with respect. The second decade of the 21st century is not meant for Rock Stars. This ain’t the 80s or the 90s anymore. The music is much more broken and “repetitive” nowadays… can’t you tell?
Ohh and please do not act like little biatches when the rating is not high or the review is not favorable… you ask for the reviewer’s honest opinion so be prepared for anything. If not then get your buddies and your girlfriends to applaud you and admire your “talent” and end it there. Do various FB, TW or Instagram posts and you’re done… you’re a “Rock star”! Hurrah!!!
PS1: Plagiarism and “review stealing” keeps going on the internet in full pace. Especially from a “blog site” which has 0 dayz (they think it rox!) and lots of impudence to “steal” others’ work and also ask for “donation” to keep doing so! Un-freakin-believable!!! What’s next? Sue all of those that are delivering the goods? What’s wrong with the web-world today?! Now, they do not “steal” the whole review but “parts” of it and they blend it with other pieces together, so they present others’ work as their own! Moreover, they keep offering albums for “free” and they ask for money (donations) so that they can keep it up too! They should be “paid” for stealing and giving stuff away for free, but those who struggled to put their work out should get nothing due to the public benefit or what?!!
PS2: I wanna thank Silje Nocturnal from Nocturnal Girls who has brought such beautiful, hot and sexy models to Grande Rock!
PS3: Also special thx to the sexy Miss Shay Hendrix for being Grande Rock’s Model Spotlight for October!
PS4: Winter is coming and it’s getting colder and colder as Xmas approaches…
PS5: This month’s editorial is dedicated to the pioneering bassist and vocalist of Cream, Jack Bruce, who passed away a few days ago. Thank you for the great music Jack! Rest In Peace…