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16 Aug 10 - 12:44 PM (#2966435) Subject: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Dan Schatz My new CD and book, The Song and the Sigh, is getting very close to its release date - I'm hoping to have copies in hand within the next few weeks. I'm incredibly excited - the CD is 17 songs from a variety of sources, including 6 of my own. Backup musicians include Magpie, Charlie Pilzer, Lisa Null, Carly Gewirz and George Stephens. And the audio, done by GRAMMY winners Pete Reiniger and Charlie Pilzer, is top notch. The CD will be contained in a CD sized hardcover 65 page book of lyrics and prose reflections - the CD is in a folder in the back of the book. My question is this - for radio airplay, would it be a good idea to make up special promo copies in CD sleeves, rather than send an entire book to every radio station? I worry that DJs might find a book a little off-putting, whereas a CD sleeve can have the important information - song titles, authors, track lengths, and a brief bio - right there. Among other things, the savings in mailing costs alone could pay for the extra copies and sleeves. On the other hand, CD sleeves are very small, have no spine, and could get lost or forgotten easily. Might they get ignored? Of course DJs I know, or who request one, could get the full book. This is a decision I need to make very fast, so any advice folks can give - especially the DJs and more experienced performers amongst you - is deeply appreciated. What do you think? Dan (PS: I haven't made a webpage for the new project yet, but my Facebook public page has information.) |
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16 Aug 10 - 01:30 PM (#2966476) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: GUEST,Auldtimer Get a name at whatever radio station you are dealing with and make contact with them, directly. A 65page book is way too much info through the post, but could be a good lead into an air time slot for a chat and some listening time on some programs, be avaliable for interviews. In my limited and long outdated radio experience, I remember being glad of any contact with my audence. If just to prove anyone was listening. |
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16 Aug 10 - 02:06 PM (#2966507) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: GUEST,folkiedave Auldtimer speaks wisely. I get both styles and treat them both equally. I need the info (especially track length). And if you have a record with eight 7 minute tracks it ain't going to get much airplay. Some records are made for radio with 3 - 5 minute tracks, some with a load of long tracks are not. Recommend tracks to DJ's. (I listen to them first). |
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16 Aug 10 - 02:22 PM (#2966524) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: DebC This sounds like a fantastic project, Dan. That said I am not a DJ, but I have done enough radio and have seen the inside of many stations to know that DJs are very different from each other and their wants and needs vary widely with each individual DJ and each station. There is definitely no "one size fits all" when it comes to folk music radio and the DJs (mostly volunteers) who program the shows. Something I think you might want to do is subscribe to the Folk DJ list. Once you subscribe, read the playlists and figure out which DJs might be interested in your project. Once you have done that, send a brief note to the list with a description of your recording and asking what they would prefer. There are some that will want the entire booklet and some that *may* be interested in a stripped-down copy. One recommendation I would make though is not to send sleeves to radio. They do not store easily in station libraries and can get lost. Good luck, Dan. Deb Cowan |
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16 Aug 10 - 02:25 PM (#2966526) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Dan Schatz Thanks for these thoughts. My design for the sleeves includes information oriented to DJs. A friend suggests I may be better off sending jewel cases, though - harder to get lost. I just hate wasting that much plastic (plus it costs more). Thoughts? Folkiedave, the tracks are mostly between 3 and 5 minutes, mostly between 3.5 and 4.5. Only one is longer than 5, and it's still not that much longer. Dan |
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16 Aug 10 - 02:53 PM (#2966546) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: open mike as a d.j. who subscribes to the folk d j list, i find it a great resource. there are organic, non plastic cases which have a spine this is important when scanning the stacks for a selection...true, sleeves do get sandwiched between cases and get lost in the shuffle at times. (as an aging d.j. i also would add a plea for LARGE TYPE AND HIGH CONTRAST COLORS FOR EASY VISIBILITY...fancy scrolling font with grey and pink letters may be difficult for some of us curmudgeon types) I have however gotten several books..such as Christine Lavin's One Meat Ball...a recipe book with c.d. and also some other books and book-lets. The question is whether you can afford to send these. You can post on folk d.j. and those who are interested can contact you and let you know if the book is of interest or not... i often do read from liner notes on my show... and one feature of my radio show is that i read from farmer's almanacs, so the spoken word is a part of my show. some d.j.'s hardly say a word, even to mention who and what they are playing...i feel this does the performers a dis-service. I figure a big part of my job is to let people know who they are listening to as well as where to get recordings if they want to! good luck |
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16 Aug 10 - 05:44 PM (#2966681) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: oldhippie Dan, 1. You need enough of a spine for identification when in the station racks. 95% of our library CDs are in jewel cases. 2. Unlike others posting above, I do my own programming, and like longer tracks for the same reason - that they are often not played by other dj's. 3. Track length and songwriter credit ( or "trad..arranged by..") are important. 4. I would personally prefer the complete booklet, as I write and post a blog of my show content on our website. I also review CDs. |
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16 Aug 10 - 05:53 PM (#2966685) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Bernard Yes - track length and credits are very important! It's an unfortunate fact that we sometimes choose the track we play because its length fits the running order... sorry! On Oldham Community Radio (UK) we always give out as much detail as we have available, and invite listeners to ring/write/email if they miss anything. Better still, if you'd like to join us on air - either in the studio or by telephone, just get in touch and we'll organise it! |
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17 Aug 10 - 04:33 PM (#2967376) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Dan Schatz Thanks everybody. After consulting with several folks, I've decided a sleeve is definitely not a good idea - too easy to lose track of. I am still toying with the idea of making jewel boxes for radio use, but on the other hand, the book would stand out nicely (and is sized to still fit on a shelf of CDs). Track times, while not on the outside cover of the book, will be on the page next to the CD sleeve and printed on the CD itself. I will probably send it with a little piece of paper with biographical information, etc. That stuff is in the book, but harder to find. The book itself is focused more on ideas than music, but on the other hand, that's part of what makes the project unique. Dan |
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18 Aug 10 - 01:35 AM (#2967616) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Dan Schatz I'm leaning toward just sending the book to everyone - short runs of printing gets expensive. Incidentally, some sample songs are now on the Facebook public page, link above, at least temporarily. Enjoy! Dan |
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18 Aug 10 - 07:41 PM (#2968236) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: GUEST Send ska a music cd With spine. Include a "onesheet" on the book. Who is doing your packaging? I'm interested inthe book format for another project Cathy |
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18 Aug 10 - 09:40 PM (#2968306) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: GUEST,bankley best of luck Dan,.... looks like you have a handle on it.. let us know how it all turns out |
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18 Aug 10 - 10:04 PM (#2968313) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: Dan Schatz Well, I've figured out that it won't cost too much to have extra bulk CDs made, and I can do jewel cases, inserts and tray cards through Oasis "short run" for about $1 a piece - so I'm going to do that after all. Those that want books can have them, but for some purposes it's good to just have the music with all the helpful information (bio, songwriters, track times, etc.) readily available. Thanks everyone for the encouragement! Dan |
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19 Aug 10 - 03:44 PM (#2968814) Subject: RE: Advice for new CD radio airplay From: oldhippie There are also jewel cases for multiple CD sets, that include space for thicker booklets. |