Freestyle promotion?

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When a new freestyle album is released, how is it promoted?

Are they promoted in magazines that are not trade, like in the old days you used to see the adverts in Black beat magazine, is this still used today even though they don't feature any freestyle, it's income so they wouldn't turn down a small ad. Some ad is better than none at all.

Do you have pop magazines that are aimed at teenagers, is this audience targeted, if not why not?

I NEED INFO
 
contined

I just thought of something else to ask?

HOW'S HAS PROMOTING FREESTYLE CHANGED FROM THE LATE 1980'S TO PRESENT DAY?
 
It seems that many people look to the intenet to advertise but truth is that not many people rely on the net for "all the latest" on whats new. more needs to be focused on other areas of the market.
 
Hey BritFan!!! Well the way I find out about new Freestyle is either on Web sight's like ClubFreestyle or at the clubs if there is a performance and the artist say's they are coming out with a new album or Ocassionally a the radio stations will say something. Thats pretty much it. I haven't seen any other sources. It's unfortunate. Oh well good luck to you in your search for the music we enjoy!! Keep on Freestyling!!! 😉
 
If freestyle is to reach other areas, teenagers, 30 somethings, doesn't it need to be advertised where non freestyle fans will see it. Pop, teen, R&b, Hip hop magazines etc.

I believe there are alot of people out there that are not even aware that TKA, Cynthia, Johhny O, Safire, Lil Suzy are still making album & have a current album out. Because they don't go to these clubs, or visit web sites.

JUST HOW HARD IS IT TO PLACE AN AD IN ONE OF THE ABOVE MAGAZINES, FOR A DAY OR EVEN TWO?
 
Brit' Fan,

To advertise in a magazines like that could cost you more money than it takes to record an album. It's just not a cost effective move for labels to make, unless they feel that they can sell 500,000 albums. You can take out ads in magazines that are aimed at the dance industry but that could cost you $5,000 for every time it runs. It ain't cheap.

A top freestyle artists album today, would sell 5-10,000 units total and that's for a top name act. A top of the line Freestyle compilation (like a Bad Boy Joe cd and that's an exception)could do anywhere from 50 - 100,000 units after spending a ton of money in promotion & marketing. A not so good one would sell less than a 1,000 pieces. It's not as easy you'd think.

John Parker
Robbins Entertainment
 
Thank you for enlightening me on this subject.

I would still like to when ads are being placed, are they being placed in non freestyle markets away from the club scene?
 
Yes, I Agree thats the price just isn't right for Freestyle Music, But I also disagree on putting adds in like DMA, this Maginez isn't read by the Music fans that go and shop Mainstream, and there are LOTS!! of local magazines, and Stuff that are way more Populur that DMA.

So, they not be Nation Wide like DMA, So... Who Cares its not like DMA can sale any Records anyways. Don't get Me wrong, DMA is a good magazine, but your everyday person doesn't go out and buy DMA, infact I doubt 50% of the people on this board buy DMA.

I dunno, I could be wrong?? Sorry If I Am, it just the way I Feel 🙂
 
Delicious D,

I can only speak from my experience and tell you that DMA is an excellent tool in getting out the word about new commercial dance music. The local stuff (magazines, fanzines & newspapers) might work as well but if you tried putting an ad in all of the cities that you'd need to cover you'd be spending more than the national ad would cost.

I like DMA as they get right to the mainstream dance music buyer. And if anyone hasn't checked the magazine out, you should.

John Parker
Robbins Entertainment
 
Brit'Fan:

I have an old Black Beat magazine from '97 that features a Jocelyn Enriquez Bio. She talks about her influences (Chaka khan, Annie Lennox, & Debbie Harry) and why doing a song in her native language, Tagalog, was so important to her and was her favorite track from the album. It was a nice color pin-up poster that I still have somewhere. I can't believe someone else remembers that magazine! Lol! But those interviews were good for publicity.

More labels should promote their freestyle artists in magazine interviews, reviews, page ads. Not just some dance magazine, but in a mainstream magazine like Rolling Stone, Vibe, or Spin. Like Tommy Boy did for TKA in Vibe. I was pretty much under the impression that Tommy Boy paid Vibe for the TKA review. But It was a good idea, i'm sure some sales of the album were due to that review and publicity.
 
some good answers have been coming thorugh.

Exactly what type of adverting is being done by the labels now a days in regards to freestyle albums & singles. For example TKA, Safire, Cynthia, Rockell, Johnny O & Kenny Freestyle etc...

Are record companies using mainstream magazines as mentioned above, or just dnace oriented magazines, Radio, Posters, Flyers, in shop posters?
 
I can only speak on behalf of my label Rhythm Drive Records. We have this Malyssa album being released in September 24th, and the main challenge in getting word out about it is "BUDGET."

I think it's safe to say that any indie label pushing dance music is on a limited budget. At Rhythm Drive, we rely on word-of-mouth and our relationships we've built with store managers, distributors, one-stops, mixers and radio programmers. We make sure every dollar spent is spent in a way that will increase our artist's equity.

For the album release of Malyssa, we're currently weighing options on where to spend money in advertising. DMA is a great outlet so look for us in the Freestyle File in August/September issue. We focus more on the dance-oriented publications because getting mainstream mags is a challenge. As a dance label, we're going up against the onslaught of hiphop - there is hardly any demand for dance music - so it's up to us to create that demand and a lifestyle that mainstream can connect with.

For example, I loved seeing Dirty Vegas in that Mitsubishi commercial - it gave a dance record a chance to be associated with a lifestyle.

Anyway, that's my take. Wish I could talk more - I could talk forever about this. Hopefully this spawns more valuable conversation.

🙂

-Reno Ursal
President
Rhythm Drive Records
 
rhythmdrive

You should check out trying an add in VIBE magazine. They always have dance music reviews in EVERY issue as well as dance artist ads. It's a magazine that caters to all flavors, races, & lifestyles. It's pretty much an open forum for MUSIC period, whatever the flava is!

I mean how many people actually know what DMA magazine is?
 
Thanks!

VIBE is something we have already started pursuing. Thanks for the recommendation. This is great - this is what this forum is for.

True, DMA is not mainstream, but it does focus on uptempo dance music market, so it can't be ignored and is important to dance music promotion. Vibe is more mainstream of course, so if we can get print in Vibe, it would be huge!

Wish us luck!
 
Kool, Good luck Reno!!! I'm with you on, if you can get in on VIBE GREAT!! that would be off the hook!!!

Okay, John, if DMA works for you, then great!! I just don't see DMA making any kind of noise anymore, I could be wrong. A few mounths back we wentover this whole magazine add thing on Glenn's site.

The way I See it, "buys" shouldn't been a label's first aim in an add, but I could be wrong. I know its hard for an indie label to get around to the buyers, but that what We use to to at WEA.

When an artist is on a promo tour, we would also visit all the buyers that we could, driving the artist from office to office.

there are magazines out there that cover lots of things, movies, sex, night life, and Music!!!

anyways, whatever works for your labels. To tell you the truth, i got a pet project of my own, so I'm also seeing whats up.
 
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