Bluebird Music Promotions, LLC: Blog

“So expensive to tour! Just had a rather depressing meeting with tour manager. Record sales low (across the industry) really impacting me.”
-Imogene Heap, RCA recording artist and Grammy Winner (from her Twitter account)

I keep reading that many artists are ok with file-sharing and illegal downloading because the money is in touring and selling merch. In fact some artists have improved their careers and increased their fan-base by giving away music. Lady Gaga says she is ok with “free” music because the money is in touring. Maybe for the “small” percentage of “big” artists this is true. But if Imogene Heap is making a statement like this one, is there any chance of smaller indie artists getting a tour that doesn’t put them in the hole? How will indie artists sustain their music careers? Would it be cheaper to put three artists on the road in a van with minimal equipment, sharing publicity costs, driving, and tour manager duties; [...]

I mentioned "Purple Cows" in Vermont in my previous blog. Two more "Purple Cows" (meaning remarkable artists) are Anais Mitchell and Grace Potter. Both have had the good fortune (if being on a record label today is good fortune?) of being signed to their respective labels (Grace on Hollywood Records and Anais on Righteous Babe Records). Anais just came out with a new record and Grace will release her new record in June. I have had the opportunity to hear the first track off Grace's record, "Tiny Light", and watch the video for it. Totally awesome! She hits a high E in chest voice. And to think that once upon a time the industry thought no one could hit a high E in chest voice except Christina A. Not so. I saw Grace in the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret as a senior in high school. Even then (which was not that long ago) she took command of the stage. I can't help but think her choral work and her theatrical work in high school propelled her forward. I can't wait to hear the entire album. [...]

I live in the Green Mountain State of Vermont where there were once more cows than people. Not any more. But you can still see a few Holsteins or Jerseys out in the fields. I actually grew up on a small dairy farm in Vermont. I only milked the cows once but I threw bales of hay every summer. I had muscles back then. Now that I am building a new biz, I have been reading lots of books. I recently read Seth Godin's book "Purple Cow". The book is about transforming your business or your product by being "remarkable". He even notes Vermont's own Ben & Jerry's as an example of a "Purple Cow". And I have to agree. I find it hard to eat any other ice cream now, although Island Ice Cream is a close second. Vermont has many Purple Cow products, businesses, authors, and artists--both visual and musical. I like to think the Vermont-based singer/songwriters that I work with are Purple Cows. And Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont. Please take time to check them out. I think Chris [...]