Ever heard of Nevershoutnever? That’s understandable if A) ‘re older than 16 and B) don’t possess a vagina. However, the group, led by 19 year-old Christopher Drew Ingle, is popular with tweens that like earnest acoustic emo-pop, and is currently on the Warped Tour. What’s this have to do with metal? Well, Ingle (who goes by Christofer Drew), has a metal side project called EATMEWHILEIMHOT! It’s likely a joke band, for several reasons. First of all, the band name, which is almost as bad a band name as Nevershoutnever. Secondly, the declaration on their MySpace page that “this is a joke that only we are in on.” Thirdly, all their songs have straight edge titles, like the download below, “xBurritox.” As far as the music? Not bad, actually. It’s little more than a breakdown, but it sounds vaguely Sumerian-esque, and if Psychostick, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza and Iwrestledabearonce can be taken seriously as bands, this kid’s likely got a shot at a second career.
EATMEWHILEIMHOT! – xBurritox [Download Mp3]
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While internet radio company Pandora has been steadily gaining in popularity in the States, many European music fans have been getting their online music fix via Spotify. The service, which offers 8 million tracks, has been met with glowing reviews due to its interface, accessibility, and ease of use. Many music fans were looking forward to later this year, when the service was set to debut in the United States. Except now, that might not happen. According to Billboard.biz, the company’s negotiations with the major labels have broken down.
It’s a familiar chorus for Spotify. They were initially supposed to launch in the States last year. At issue is the current European model of the service. Users can stream unlimited music for free under an ad-supported model. No other service currently offers that. Of course their goal is to get users to upgrade to the paid version, which has no ads and has easier mobile access. It seems like that model is going to have to change to get the majors to play ball with Spotify though, which has been valued at $250 million. According to Billboard, CEO Daniel Ek has moved to New York to close out the label negotiations. For the company to launch in the United States in 2010, like they’ve promised, will take some serious bargaining, but Billboard’s sources claim that the company is open to short term deals that will allow a basic version of Spotify to launch by the end of the year that could evolve to match the wishes of the major labels.
Lazarus A.D. is giving fans a chance to direct and make a video for the song “Last Breath.”
Linkin Park will debut a new song called “The Catalyst” in a trailer for the video game Medal Of Honor. The video, directed by the band’s Joe Hahn, will be streaming online beginning August 1.
Roadrunner U.K. is offering fans a free download of Black Label Society’s new song “Crazy Horse.”
John 5 has uploaded a tour poster for Rob Zombie’s upcoming Fall tour with Alice Cooper and the Murderdolls.
Regardless of genre, radio airplay is still one of the key steps of marketing a band. It creates awareness and drives sales, and hopefully finds fans. Of course, being a metal band creates interesting waters to navigate through.
Iron Thrones received a radio promotion campaign as part of winning the No Label Needed contest and series. On a marketing level, radio promotion compliments a PR campaign very nicely. It’s all part of the puzzle to see a band online or in print and then to be able to hear the songs on the radio.
The first obvious hurdle is to find out which radio stations play metal. There is only one 24-hour radio station that plays metal, but there are plenty of college and commercial radio stations that play metal in blocks. Commercial stations will usually have one show per week, like KROX/Austin, for example. College radio stations may have block shows, include metal in their regular programming, or both. And of course, there are national outlets, like SiriusXM’s “Hard Attack” and cable service Music Choice that play metal all the time as well.
Similar to a PR campaign, you need to know who your fanbase is and be available to them. Metalheads know where to find music – whether it’s on on the internet, magazines, clubs or the radio.
Getting your music played on the radio isn’t an easy task, but it’s one that you can take into your own hands by learning who the DJ’s and music directors are in your town. You can find out as easily as going into shows or calling the radio station. Everything starts in your home market. For Iron Thrones these stations would be commercial stations like KXXR (93X) and college stations like KFAI and WMCN
As you tour the next best step is to promote your band in the markets you’re playing. Club promoters can often help as they work with many of these radio stations to promote their shows. In addition to attempting to get airplay, you can also try to do an interview to promote an upcoming show and possibly give away tickets. As with every facet of promotion, every fan you make from promoting yourself at radio should come with you on your career as a band.
In the interest of full disclosure, Metal Insider’s parent company, The Syndicate, has had a radio promotion division for over 12 years and uses all of the techniques described above.
You might not have been able to see Heaven & Hell’s tribute performance to Ronnie James Dio at London’s High Voltage festival, but now you can listen to audio of the entire set online.
Mushroomhead has revealed the cover artwork and track listing to their new album Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children, set to be released on September 28 via Megaforce Records.
Headbangers’ Brawl is a weekly column where Metal Insider’s Bram and Zach take a moment to debate and analyze two opposing sides of a topical issue occurring in the world of metal and/or the music industry.
Hits Daily Double is reporting based on one day sales that Avenged Sevenfold’s new album Nightmare is estimated to sell between 160,000 to 175,000 in its first week and is a strong contender to beat out Eminem to claim the top of the charts. But we’re not debating the band’s deserving success in the first edition of our new column Headbangers’ Brawl. Rather, Bram and I will be going head to head to discuss what we think are the main reasons for Avenged Sevenfold’s extraordinary sales.
Zach: Avenged Sevenfold are one of my favorite bands of all time, and would like to think that it’s the music that drew out the fans. However, I can’t help to think that the untimely death of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan had a hand in the album doing so well. While the single “Nightmare” has been well received, it didn’t actually premiere online until May 18 (and the video for said song didn’t make its debut until two weeks ago). The band has only done two concerts so far, and both of them were within this past week (the only major touring they have planned is this year’s Uproar Festival). With such little promotion done so far, I have to believe that their recent tragedy has made either their loyal fans make an extra effort to purchase the album or has attracted new fans.
Bram: Yeah, that’s probably got something to do with it. It’s the same reason a lot of people went to see The Crow, and the reason Biggie Smalls did so well with Life After Death being released two weeks after he died (wow, child of the ’90s much?). But I think their current fill-in drummer might have had something to do with it too. Dream Theater fans are pretty much geeks, and I mean that in a good way. If they’re not hanging out at a Guitar Center doing sweep pentatonics and paradiddles, they’re out supporting their favorite musicians’ endeavors. The last Dream Theater album sold 40,000 its first week. I’ve got to imagine some of the 160,000 that buy the album next week will be Mike Portnoy fans that never would have thought about buying an Avenged Sevenfold record `til now. You’ve heard the album, do you think the musical growth (or lack thereof) is pushing new people to buy the album?
Zach: I have heard the album, and will openly say that I love it. I’d also say that it’s a major step forward from their 2007 self-titled release (though City Of Evil remains as one of my all time favorite albums). However, I admit that Nightmare probably won’t convert listeners who never cared for the band. Hence why I feel that though Mike Portnoy may have attracted a few prog-nerds who were jamming to Rush’s “YYZ” in their basement before going out to buy the album, I can’t imagine it made too much of a difference. Avenged Sevenfold is a band many either love or hate. As much as I (a lover) was impressed with Nightmare, I ‘m not sure it’s an album that will win over haters. Avenged Sevenfold’s loyal fans are just that: loyal. Many hardcore fans felt extreme pain from The Rev’s passing. The album probably would have been a success either way, but the heart ache fans have been feeling has made them even more supportive of the band.
Bram: Well either way, this is a win for Avenged Sevenfold, Dream Theater, Metal, and pretty much everyone but Eminem. No one’s going to mistake me for the world’s biggest A7X fan, but Waking The Fallen was an amazing album. Since then, I feel like they’ve just kind of coasted, but they’ve gotten even more popular. And make no mistake, they’re a metal band. The dual guitar harmonies, musicality, and overall vibe of the band is way beyond the generic goat-rock that most active rock radio plays. And for any band to sell more than their previous album in this day and age, it’s a minor miracle. The last Avenged album didn’t even top 95,000, so if it sells what Hits thinks it might, everyone wins.
Posted by Bram Teitelman on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 11:31 am
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