Billboard predicts we might/might not see a sales increase for Kelly Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor May Get Inauguration Sales Bumps
by Keith Caulfield, Los Angeles | January 19, 2013 5:30 EST
Four years ago, a surprise performance by Beyonce at President Barack Obama's Neighborhood Ball became arguably the most talked-about musical moment of the inauguration festivities.
At the Jan. 20, 2009 event -- broadcast on ABC and watched by 12.6 million U.S. TV viewers according to Nielsen -- she serenaded the newly-elected president and first lady Michelle Obama with a cover of Etta James' "At Last."
Video clips of the performance went viral on YouTube, other TV networks played it repeatedly, and sales of the song immediately surged. Beyonce's already-released cover version earned a 1,318% sales gain according to Nielsen SoundScan in the tracking week ending Jan. 25. The tune sold 31,000 downloads that week -- up from just 2,000 the week previous. (Her version of "At Last" had been released late in 2008 on the "Cadillac Records" soundtrack. She co-starred in the film as James.)
Obama Inauguration Music Guide
Beyonce is back again for Obama's second inauguration, though this time she'll be performing at the Ceremonial Swearing-In Ceremony on Jan. 21. Also on hand for the ceremony: Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor.
Obama's first inauguration was a major TV event. The Jan. 20, 2009 ceremony was watched by 37.8 million U.S. TV viewers -- the second-most-watched presidential inauguration after President Reagan's first in 1981 (41.8 million). Leading up to that were an array of concerts and balls, broadcast on HBO and Disney Channel, all of which earned many millions of viewers and boasted A-list talent.
This year, however, no plans have been announced for a full TV broadcast of any of the three official inauguration concerts and balls -- the Kids' Inaugural (Jan. 19), the Commander-in-Chief's Ball and the Inaugural Ball (both on Jan. 21). However, both the Kids' Inaugural and Commander-in-Chief Ball will be streamed live via www.2013pic.org/live.
Because of the lack of a full broadcast on a TV network, the sales impact from any particular performance during those three star-studded shows could be muted. Though, there's always a chance something could go viral and take on a life of its own -- much like Beyonce's show-stopping "At Last" performance.
Presently, it seems as if the acts who could benefit the most from the inauguration weekend will be Beyonce, Clarkson and Taylor -- as they'll have the most guaranteed video coverage. ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, will carry the swearing-in ceremony, starting at 11:30 AM ET on Jan. 21.
The inauguration was predicted to only be watched by about half of those that tuned in for Obama's first term as it was much more historic. I'm not expecting much of a sales bump for any of them tbh. Let's be real. This isn't another Super Bowl performance. It's just going to keep their names out there, and it's an honor.
So kellycfan4ever on the KCE posted some details about KC's inauguration rehearsals today. He/she is the one that broke the news to us way before it was official as they're sort of involved with the inauguration. Here it is:
Quote:
UPDATE:
SOOOOOO sorry I am just getting to post now, as I just am getting back home. First, the bad news...THEY DID NOT ALLOW ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OR MEET/GREET/AUTOGRAPHS!!!!!! ZERO ZILCH NADA RIEN
Apparently, our people didn't want to push the issue of taking the time at the end of the rehearsal even though in prior communications they had alluded to the fact that it would "probably be ok". In the end though, when the session was finished, there was no opportunity or invite for any of us (most importantly super fan me!!! lol) to meet Kelly They also acted as though Kelly was apprehensive for photos etc. because she didn't have her full hair and makeup team there, which sounded ridiculous because I thought Kelly never cared about that?!!? But my feeling it was more of her people/handlers saying that and maybe not directly from her? IDK though...so...I was truly heartbroken but some of my bosses and operations people said there still might be a chance tomorrow.
SO, now the details, if I can remember them all (and I am sorta tire and ready for bed!):
Kelly was on time, which is not usual for big stars and she just came in happy as ever and very excited to be a part of this whole thing. She had a small entourage with her, but I only actually "recognized" Jason and Brandon (yes, he was there!) AND SECURITY!!! He was in a little carrying case thingie and I only saw that at the very end when one of our people offered to carry him out of the bldg. There were several sound people there, we have our own sound engineers, but she seemed to have brought 2 other guys, and then there was a girl there too, maybe THAT was Ashley?!?! IDK though I think only 5-6 people total.
She was very humble and actually very nervous, well, she sounded GREAT and AMAZING but she kept saying she was nervous and how great the Band sounded and how she was excited. There were a few run throughs/rehearsals of America and then they put her into another room to lay down her vocal track and the Band stayed in the main rehearsal hall and then they did several recordings of the piece. It was sad because she was only in the main room for about 20 min and then she was out of site for the rest of the session laying down her vocal track with a monitor so she could see the conductor that way. It was really interesting because the pop world is so different than the classical world and she needed to adjust to having a conductor there keeping time instead of a click track or her band behind, etc. Jason was there acting as her metronome and cuing her the first few run-throughs, it was kinda cute So many colleagues that said they didn't like Kelly or could take her or leave her really found a new admiration of her, and then there were all sorts of people who came out of the woodwork and were super excited and saying they were kelly fans! Who knew?!?!? lol She definitely impressed vocally, but I think colleagues were more impressed by her humility, modesty and attn to detail to really put out a great product. There is such a stereotype with most famous people, pop starts, movie stars, etc. that they were surprised that Kelly didn't fit the mold. It was a joy to have people I work with see what I already knew about her.
At the end, after she listened to the completed tracks in the recording lab, she came back and said great job to everyone and how excited she was (she kept saying how "pretty" the Band sounded, which I just thought was so funny and cute). This was the only time that I was like 3 feet from her, which was so cool, but I never did get that chance to formally meet her. Maybe tomorrow!! She really just was so sweet and impressed a lot of nay-sayers.
What else what else?!??!!? I can't think anymore! haha She definitely is nervous about this performance though, which makes ME nervous. I wonder if she is more nervous than the superbowl?? Way more people watch the superbowl, in reality, but still, this is a much more auspicious occasion (as our fine director said earlier
Anyhow, that is all for now. I'll try to fill in any gaps tomorrow! What a day though, still was just amazing to be there, it was different than going to a concert, you know what I mean??
So am I reading that wrong or does that make it seem like they're making her pre-record her vocals? This would be the first time ever, right? Or was it just run throughs? It wouldn't surprise me at all if it had to be pre-recorded for time constraints, etc. but she's never done that..
Or maybe they are going to release the song on Itunes... Kelly said she would never lip-sync. Idk. If she is going to lip, than I would imagine it would be because of the cold weather.
I think a lot of times with orchestras they prerecord the performance as part of rehearsals just so the singer can get a better understanding of what they sound like with all the different components
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly - statistics
1 year and 3 days old
63,619.015 views
346.970 likes (98,53 %)
5.177 dislikes (1,47 %)
Signed as favorite video: 240.090 persons
Number of comments: 57.254
3 Grammy nominations + 1 nomination as pop album of the year
The most selling “Idol” track ever!
Couple of weeks #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100!
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly - statistics
1 year and 3 days old
63,619.015 views
346.970 likes (98,53 %)
5.177 dislikes (1,47 %)
Signed as favorite video: 240.090 persons
Number of comments: 57.254
3 Grammy nominations + 1 nomination as pop album of the year
The most selling “Idol” track ever!
Couple of weeks #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100!
Update from that kellycfan4ever on the KCE regarding whether she is singing live or not:
Quote:
All I know is that Kelly is determined and wants to sing live. However, in events like this, she may not have the final say, she can't call all the shots because there are many other powerful people making decisions :/ She made it clear she wants to sing live, but the song was recorded with her vocals in the extreme case that it couldn't be done live. I think others, not Kelly, are worried that the pitch of the band will be quite flat (lower in pitch) due to the cold weather and her vocals may not match just right if she is right on key. The cold could affect her too, who knows, but I think she knows that the Band will be affected by the weather and still wants to do it live. Don't freak out yet though, her plan is to sing live and I think they all want it to be live, so hopefully that is what will happen. Everyone cross your fingers!
I almost think I would rather they play the pre-recorded version for this. Remember the last time Kelly sang in extreme cold like this?
I think only 5-6 people total. 
So many colleagues that said they didn't like Kelly or could take her or leave her really found a new admiration of her, and then there were all sorts of people who came out of the woodwork and were super excited and saying they were kelly fans! Who knew?!?!? lol She definitely impressed vocally, but I think colleagues were more impressed by her humility, modesty and attn to detail to really put out a great product. There is such a stereotype with most famous people, pop starts, movie stars, etc. that they were surprised that Kelly didn't fit the mold. It was a joy to have people I work with see what I already knew about her.
SO AWESOME, she turned haters into fans
can u guys vote in this poll? thanks a ton!
