Cds promotion is there is none

[gnr-dave]

This album is going to basically sell it self. They dont need any promotion. Once the album drops, there is going to be a huge word of mouth buzz .I am sure they will have huge display in stores but once its out you know that Gnr.com will have it on their main page, mtv.com, rollingstone.com, blabbermouth.net etc etc will all hvae it on their front pages that its now out. Also, i wouldnt be suprised of the better HD ad at the end says the song better can be found on the album CD out now in stores. And I tunes could also have the first single on the main page. Basically the no promotion thing is their promotion and its going to be huge.

[FinckFortus]

You have a very valid point, there will be a lot of residual promotion from third parties like MTV and RS and such. At this stage, I just want to get MY hands on the album, I don't really care about promotion or anyone else.

[fiefer1]

Most assuredly the album will sell itself, but promotions are necessary nonetheless, and I'd expect to see them when the album is ready to drop. The album has a considerable amount of buzz, but a large portion of potential buyers would be neglected without some mix of a traditional, mass promotion campaign.

The world of advertising is changing, with marketers continuing to take new routes to communicate their product. Creative internet campaigns, tie-ins & placements continue to increase in popularity, but traditional media is not dead, and continues to control a majority of most ad campaigns. The release of a major record is no different. Record labels are increasingly taking new avenues to promote their bands - but these still involve mainstream media. Chinese Democracy will not simply "appear" on shelves - the record company, management, and the band has invested too much to take such a risk.

Currently, some things you see in your everyday life are in fact paid promotions. For example, most news articles are the product of public relations managers. Take Rolling Stone - upcoming/current music happenings are the work of public relations personel - Rolling Stone writers don't perform all the story-finding. Recently, General Motors admitted to being behind the release of a viral video that appeared to be an illegal recording of a yet-to-be-seen Buick.

Being in PR, I know the work of my peers when I see it. I'm standing by my statement that the articles in Rolling Stone, "leaks" from GNR's official site, and even the Harley Davidson ad - were PR stunts to increase ticket sales for GNR's tour. Buzz being the key word here. Marketers often target the "influential" consumer - such as the music aficionado or the die-hard GNR fan who tells their peers that an album is eminent. The album may not be far off, but these were clearly creative promotions for the tour.

Realistically, the album has to be released next year. Theoretically, the record company won't have to communicate its release as much as most records due to the enormous amount of buzz. However, as I stated before, buzz-only promotions limit your market reach, and they certaintly want the first week of sales to be fantastic.

[Estranged Reality]

I told someone today that the album is coming out. She asked why she didn't hear anything about it, because we work at a record store. I said it's a surprise release. She said that's stupid, and that people won't buy it if they don't know it's coming out. I tend to agree with her.

I think the drama is tiring. Enough already. Yes, we get it. CD's a big deal. It's round two. Axl has a flair for theatrics. It's a big operatic grand revelation. But seriously, it's not the 1970s, and you can't hide things long. One person gets a sniff and it's on the 'net and the surprise is over and they just end up hurting themselves.

I just want, for once, to see my favorite band function normally. All the die hard fans here are in support of this "surprise" release strategy, and there's no doubt in my mind that it will sell, but it would sell a lot more with proper promotion and advance notice. A single, a video, promotion. Period. It's not too much to ask after more than a decade.

I'm not criticizing them for kicks, I'm just offering my thoughts on why I think the way they're going about this is kind of silly. I could understand it in theory, but in today's world it's not a reality. Albums can't be released randomly, without notice, and sell as well as the other new release whose single has been playing on rotation on MTV for weeks.

Edited November 15, 2006 by Estranged Reality

[ssiscool]

is it just me or are threads getting very repetative. album needs no promotion, still no album, my friend's friend said xx is the date, only x amount of tuesdays left, release stratagies will go like this, why no date all these types of threads gets very boring.

[EccoTides]

I told someone today that the album is coming out. She asked why she didn't hear anything about it, because we work at a record store. I said it's a surprise release. She said that's stupid, and that people won't buy it if they don't know it's coming out. I tend to agree with her.

I think the drama is tiring. Enough already. Yes, we get it. CD's a big deal. It's round two. Axl has a flair for theatrics. It's a big operatic grand revelation. But seriously, it's not the 1970s, and you can't hide things long. One person gets a sniff and it's on the 'net and the surprise is over and they just end up hurting themselves.

I just want, for once, to see my favorite band function normally. All the die hard fans here are in support of this "surprise" release strategy, and there's no doubt in my mind that it will sell, but it would sell a lot more with proper promotion and advance notice. A single, a video, promotion. Period. It's not too much to ask after more than a decade.

I'm not criticizing them for kicks, I'm just offering my thoughts on why I think the way they're going about this is kind of silly. I could understand it in theory, but in today's world it's not a reality. Albums can't be released randomly, without notice, and sell as well as the other new release whose single has been playing on rotation on MTV for weeks.

I completely agree. The constant silence, the website hijinks, and the ridiculous lengths they've gone to over the years to hide Chinese Democracy have actually hurt my own interest in CD - After this drawn out saga, I just want this potentially-amazing band to show their cards or back away from the table.