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[daveofficer]

Originally Posted by Ibid

Mind you, the further West you go, the more diverse the music scenes get. While Aberdeen has a lot of great bands, it's a little limited in diversity.

how so? granted there's large amount of punk and metal bands but there is also a diverse range of other music in aberdeen.

[jester1470]

If ypu want things like the Press and Journal, Evening Express to do a peice on local music then get the music to them, invite them to gig, send them press releases when something big happens, phone them up when there's an event. Sometimes you'll get success, sometimes you won't. These people will not come for you, you have to go to them !! I've managed to get quite good coverage for the act I manage including several pieces, and even a full page interview in the Evening Express. It's about approaching them and doing it professionally, send out your demo with professional photo's and a well written press release. Don't treat them like the bad guy's because they don't show do a piece on your band, they won't do everything, but they might do more. Maybe the reason that sometimes they're not doing a piece on every band is because they don't see something newsworthy about every band, they won't do a piece on your band unless there's a reason for it !!

Cheers

Stuart

[Afro Droid]

Originally Posted by jester1470

If ypu want things like the Press and Journal, Evening Express to do a peice on local music then get the music to them, invite them to gig, send them press releases when something big happens, phone them up when there's an event. Sometimes you'll get success, sometimes you won't.

More often than not, you don't. I contacted both the EE and P&J when Psycho A Go-Go toured with The Wildhearts (who had a top 20 single around that time), and they weren't interested. Ditto when Neil Leyton has been in this country.

EDIT: And I was working as a press officer for RGU at the time, I knew all the journalists, they just simply weren't interested in covering anything other than the blandest AOR and cover acts.

[jester1470]

Originally Posted by Jonny Lucifer

More often than not, you don't. I contacted both the EE and P&J when Psycho A Go-Go toured with The Wildhearts (who had a top 20 single around that time), and they weren't interested. Ditto when Neil Leyton has been in this country.

EDIT: And I was working as a press officer for RGU at the time, I knew all the journalists, they just simply weren't interested in covering anything other than the blandest AOR and cover acts.

I wouldn't classify Jo as bland AOR and she isn't a cover act but she has got coverage, she was covered when she played with Marillion, when she played with Midge Uere and an interview. I also knew the journalists at the Jpurnals and have never had a problem getting coverage, it may be that the music bothe the Wildhearts and Psycho a Go Go were playing isn't generally the kind of music that they perceive the readership of their publications listening to, that's not a dig at you but they wioll paly to their target market. I've never had too much problems getting them to listen, you don't always get a response, but soemthimes you do, and thats the only way to do it, keep trying. If you hit them just before they go to press you may get a piece too as it gives them something to fil;l the space. We've not had luck with every press release we've sent to the P&J, but I'd reckon we've had about 1/3rd success rate which is pretty good comeback so to say they're not interested isn't true !

Cheers

Stuart

[Afro Droid]

Originally Posted by jester1470

I wouldn't classify Jo as bland AOR and she isn't a cover act but she has got coverage, she was covered when she played with Marillion, when she played with Midge Uere and an interview.

Argh - don't get me wrong, I wasn't suggesting she was, I think she's great.

it may be that the music bothe the Wildhearts and Psycho a Go Go were playing isn't generally the kind of music that they perceive the readership of their publications listening to, that's not a dig at you but they wioll paly to their target market.

You've probably got a point, but top 20 single ya know?

[daveofficer]

wether people have had success in the past is surely irrelevent. do we all agree that more coverage for aberdeen bands is a good thing and indeed is something that the p and j should be doing anyway as a part of it's local coverage remit? yes. good then we can continue with trying to persuade them that regular coverage is needed then.

Originally Posted by daveofficer

how so? granted there's large amount of punk and metal bands but there is also a diverse range of other music in aberdeen.

There is indeed, but, do you ever see them on here? Or cover acts? Rarely because the scenester hynenas give them such a hard time that they fuck off.
The site name is Aberdeen Music not Aberdeen punk and metal. I personally have never seen a folk artist on here or a jazz player. And cover acts are treated worse than paedophiles on here.

[daveofficer]

maybe the jazzer's aren't interested in posting on here? i dunno. you get some hip hop folks posting occasionally. i don't think it's because of any kind of ostracisation that you see more punk and metallers posting on here than folk or jazz musicians i think it's probably just cause the kids and the younger people are mainly into punk and metal and theyr'e the ones that have the time and inclination to sit and post on messageboards all the time. plus maybe the folk and jazz musicians just don't know about this site.

i've never seen any actual agression against cover's acts, it's a way to make some extra cash innit? but i do think they should be seen as lesser bands than ones who create their own music. but that's a whole other discussion.

[jester1470]

Originally Posted by daveofficer

wether people have had success in the past is surely irrelevent. do we all agree that more coverage for aberdeen bands is a good thing and indeed is something that the p and j should be doing anyway as a part of it's local coverage remit? yes. good then we can continue with trying to persuade them that regular coverage is needed then.

Yes and No, I agree that some extra coverage is good, but the problem is there are a lot of bands who aren't as good as others that feel they'd deserve equal billing with the bands that are out there doing things like the late PAGG or Jo. I agree that to miss out on coveriung some of the best local acts and to cover things like the article in question is stupid but it's lazy journalism and it's not just an Aberdeen Journals thing, when was the last time that the Daily Record covered an up and coming band, it's a general journalism thing. I also do think that if people are coming up with something interesting enough and are part of the 'target market' that the journals is aimed towards then they will get mentioned. I do think it's bad that bands like PAGG's tour with the Wildhearts wasn't copvered, but I'm hardly surprised, They may have been a top 20 act, but the general public doesn't know who they are, the rock buying public do.

Maybe the reason we've had success is we only ever send out press releases when we have something genuinely interesting to the general public, not just to our fanbase. You can't expect coverage for every gig, but when you get a decent tour, I think it's fair to expect something, but it must be something you've earned if that makes sense. I think ots important the bands realise that.

Cheers

Stuart

Originally Posted by daveofficer

i've never seen any actual agression against cover's acts, it's a way to make some extra cash innit? but i do think they should be seen as lesser bands than ones who create their own music. but that's a whole other discussion.

i dont know why the jazzers wouldnt come on here, a lot of people have a lot of respect for jazz and folk music, i respect some jazz artists i.e. the more inspirational ones, those hwo are perfectionists-and dare i say it: those who dont improvise 90% of their set
as for folk music, i love folk music, there is a great folk jam in the blue lamp every monday which i go to regularly, its truly beautiful music

as for cover acts, i think a lot less of them, i see why they do it, but im an elitist music snob and therefore i am