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Fan Base: Archived: Taylor Swift (#1)
Member Since: 8/27/2012
Posts: 8,678
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Originally posted by castle13
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Member Since: 4/9/2012
Posts: 1,916
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Swift Super-Serves Radio and the Fans
This week at MusicRow The Taylor Tribune, we have the understanding that Big Machine Label Group doesn’t do anything halfway. Case in point: no-stone-unturned, full-throttle launch of Taylor Swift’s fourth album Red, which hit stores Oct. 22 and will undoubtedly shift a mind-boggling number of units in the process.
To aid Red’s launch on the radio side, Big Machine hosted a unique remote broadcast event on Friday (10/26) that was designed to super-serve Swift-friendly markets with a whole batch of exclusive content and prize giveaways (guitars, food, etc). Surrounded by a gorgeous panorama of downtown Nashville on the 21st floor of the Pinnacle Building, a total of 72 radio outlets were selected for the broadcast. Many of the usual suspects were present, including Mike Hammond from Knoxville and Captain Jack from Las Vegas, but there were also stations present from such far flung locales as South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Germany.
During the afternoon session (half the stations did their remote broadcasts in the morning), 36 stations operated out of makeshift cubicle studios appointed with red accent lighting. The lounge furniture was also red, as were the floral decorations in the catering area. Brand partner Papa John’s had its wares out on the tables, and company founder John H. Schnatter was milling around. Moving from station to station to give five minute interviews were Swift, Borchetta, Papa, and Swift band member Grant Mickelson.
At every turn there was a video screen or plaque celebrating Taylor’s many successes, and in the corners of the Pinnacle building were some of the elaborate costumes from her stage show. Visiting stations had access to a row of net-ready computers for show prep. Nearby, BMLG staffers were uploading the recordings of every station’s interviews so they could be used immediately. It was a whole turnkey experience for those stations lucky enough to participate.
Whether or not Red will be Swift’s second consecutive first week million-seller will bear out soon enough (all signs point to yes, and then some), but the masterfully executed marketing campaign is worthy of mention. Look at the timing: one week prior to the CMA Awards (where she is nominated for Entertainer of the Year), primed for holiday shopping season, and almost six years to the day since her 5x-Platinum self-titled debut album was released. These things don’t happen by accident.
One interesting facet of this gigantic rollout and promotion is that the first news of Red’s release happened on August 13, followed by single debut of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” That’s a very short time ago, and yet there was virtually no chatter leading up to the announcement. According to Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta, Swift had been working on the music for several months and felt it was important she make the announcement herself.
“We try to stay quiet between records as much as we can,” says Borchetta. “With someone who’s so dynamic it’s really hard, but it’s a lot more fun for all of us [having] the moment where she announces when the record is coming. That way she’s talking directly, with all due respect, to who’s most important: the fans.”
On the retail side, Swift and team carefully assembled brand partnerships that fit her personality and image. Cover Girl, Target, Keds, Papa John’s, and an innovative “store within a store” concept for Walgreens are all key components of the campaign, and representative of the Taylor brand. “You won’t see her name and likeness on hundreds of items,” notes Borchetta. “She only puts her mark on things she really believes in and likes.”
Borchetta feels confident that Red’s first week sales will eclipse those of Speak Now, which set the bar with a lofty 1.047 million debut week units in 2010. That didn’t deter the Big Machine team in the slightest, if anything it probably encouraged them, and the release has been delivered with gusto. Swift will also embark on a huge tour to support it, and co-host the Grammy Nominations Concert in Nashville.
“You have to understand what the market is, what it will bear, and where is she right now. Last time around with Speak Now, to some extent, it was like, ‘Oh you guys again,’ and it’s like, ‘Yeah, us again.’ This time it’s like, ‘Let’s get out of the way and let Taylor have her moment.’ The fact that everybody understands the magnitude of her and the brilliant record she’s made to back it up, we almost have an open lane right now.”
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http://www.musicrow.com/2012/10/swif...-and-the-fans/
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Member Since: 12/13/2011
Posts: 26,638
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http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.ph...ge=21#comments
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I'm pretty disappointed about this album. It contains a lot of tracks which are similar, boring and meaningless. I was expecting more of a country style then pop which would make this album stand out. I always valued her ability to write songs but here the lyrics don't shine. There are few songs that actually stand out, like: '' Sad Beautiful Tragic '', which shows how talented this girl is. Overall '' Red '', is weak and typical which would be liked by younger generation. It's an overdone album which is a shame because Swift is capable of something much greater than this. 4/10
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With this album, Taylor Swift has proven that she has become a niche artist. Where once, she walked the line between country and pop, Swift has shifted almost completely to the latter. What has always been her strength is her songwriting, which has made up for a complete lack of original material. In this bloated album, the number of times her lyrics shine through is at a minimum. Tracks like "22" and "Starlight" are bland and empty seeming to follow more the likes of Ke$ha and Cher Lloyd than any of Swift''s previous tracks. The bright moments, few as they were, remind us of what she could be and in particular, "All Too Well," "I Almost Do," "The Last Time," and "Sad Beautiful Tragic" stand out. Otherwise, it is an overdone, under-executed album, which is a shame because Swift is capable of much more.3/10
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I was a huge fan of Taylor Swift's first three albums. I thought she was an incredibly talented young kid on her first album, and with the releases of her second and third albums, I was convinced she was turning into a genuinely great artist. I still think she can be. She has released some beautiful songs. However, with this new album, she has taken the naive perception people have of her music and her lyrics, and completely gave into that. This album seems to have been made just to make money. The songs seem to have mostly been chosen due to their commercial appeal, while I thought her first three albums demonstrated genuine artistry. Not one of these songs is emotionally powerful, thought provoking, or musically interesting, all of which I could have said about her first three albums. Even the help of hugely talented artists such as Lori McKenna, Mark Foster, and Ed Sheeran didn't really shine through. There were some cute songs on here, but I'd say the only real highlights are The Last Time, featuring Gary Lightbody, and Sad Beautiful Tragic. Nothing else is worth mentioning, but the album overall is cute, and entertaining in the moment. It caters right to the teen and pre-teen female audience, where I felt her other albums catered to them, as well as adults who genuinely like real musicianship and artistry. That was severely lacking here. 5/10
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Always the complainers that have the most to say.
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Member Since: 7/22/2012
Posts: 18,064
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Originally posted by Icannot
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Mess
They can remain pressed!
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Member Since: 12/13/2011
Posts: 26,638
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Their sarcasm is ****ing ****** and disgusting.
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Member Since: 7/22/2012
Posts: 18,064
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It caters right to the teen and pre-teen female audience, where I felt her other albums catered to them, as well as adults who genuinely like real musicianship and artistry. That was severely lacking here. 5/10
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Oh please! Exactly all they're doing is complaining they're acting as if she's an older artist who has extremely went backwards to a younger crowd she is still young!!!
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Member Since: 11/9/2011
Posts: 12,849
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capable of something much greater than this
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Sure. But also keep in mind, she's a ****ing 22 yo woman. She's still on the phase to LEARN from others as much as possible. 
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Member Since: 3/31/2012
Posts: 43,847
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A couple more hours before we know the final numbers. I'm not ready. 
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Member Since: 7/22/2012
Posts: 18,064
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Originally posted by castle13
A couple of hours more before we know the final numbers. I'm not ready. |
I'm going to bed soon
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Member Since: 3/31/2012
Posts: 43,847
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Originally posted by olympiccairways
I'm going to bed soon |
Vote here before you go to bed. 
Red: Album Survivor
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Member Since: 12/13/2011
Posts: 26,638
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That Sputnik review is a whole lotta nothin'. Pile of **** tbh. For all the talk about her need to mature and grow into adulthood, the reviewer failed to mention/acknowledge some of her best and most sophisticated written songs to date.
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Member Since: 11/9/2011
Posts: 12,849
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“Joni Mitchell has this amazing quote, ‘They’ll crucify me if I change and they’ll crucify me if I stay the same, so I’m going to change because it’s more fun.’ ”
Our Lord has the best mentor. I fear nothing now. 
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Member Since: 7/22/2012
Posts: 18,064
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Originally posted by castle13
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Just did 
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Member Since: 11/15/2010
Posts: 6,478
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When Will The Final Numbers Revealed?
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Member Since: 3/31/2012
Posts: 43,847
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Originally posted by olympiccairways
Just did |
Thanks!
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Originally posted by thediscomonkey
“Joni Mitchell has this amazing quote, ‘They’ll crucify me if I change and they’ll crucify me if I stay the same, so I’m going to change because it’s more fun.’ ”
Our Lord has the best mentor. I fear nothing now. |
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Member Since: 3/31/2012
Posts: 43,847
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Originally posted by johnrm
When Will The Final Numbers Revealed?
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HDD: Today
Billboard: Today or tomorrow.
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Member Since: 12/13/2011
Posts: 26,638
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So Red went silver in the first week of release in the UK?
Singles: Silver 200,000; Gold 400,000; Platinum 600,000
Albums: Silver 60,000; Gold 100,000; Platinum 300,000
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Member Since: 11/15/2010
Posts: 6,478
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972K?
I Thought it will do 1.3M?
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Member Since: 8/27/2012
Posts: 8,678
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Quote:
Originally posted by johnrm
972K?
I Thought it will do 1.3M?
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Still 30% retailers remaining.So it may go upto 1.2M
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Member Since: 8/27/2012
Posts: 90
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