During my music career I have had managers, labels, radio promoters, radio promotion managers at labels blah blah, and anytime I asked them about why I wasn’t on radio the typical stockpile answer they would give would be to the effect of, “It is really hard getting on radio. You have to have a big single on radio, be on tour, have a video, lots of press blah blah blah”.
It was a strange answer to say the least. I need to have a big single on radio to be on radio? What? Is this the chicken or the egg question?
I have just realized a big pattern though. Anytime I was on radio it was because of something we in the band did, not something the pros did. The most recent example is when I was interviewed by Paul Cavalconte on WRXP.
I had met Paul months earlier at a James Taylor event and he had caught my attention because of his vast knowledge of music, bands, jazz, and recording techniques bands had used. So, I reached out to him to keep the dialogue going. There was no motivation on my part to be on radio. It was much more innocent. Like when you meet a kid at school who is interested in the same things as you.
Anyway, as it turns out we ended up getting together to hand out early last December. The first thing Paul said to me when I met him in the lobby of the radio station that snowy day was, “Let’s get something to eat and then after I want to interview you for a new segment I am doing called Vinyl Virgins.
Paul and I ended up talking about all sorts of cool things after lunch and he recorded everything I said. If I die in a plane crash tomorrow Paul is the man to see about my vault of interviews! Most importantly Paul got what he wanted which was a snippet of me talking about Radiohead and I, in turn, ended up on the radio the following week.
Moral of the story, in my opinion, is that radio people are just like other music lovers. They are people who do what they do because they love music and musicians. Reach out, be true to yourself and your art, and treat them like people rather than vehicles for your success.
So far I have had the pleasure of meeting Paul, Matt, and Leslie at RXP, and they are just very nice people. I hope all radio people are this nice and if they are not then their loss.
Thank you RXP
Tags: Buddahead, James Taylor, Paul Cavalconte, Radiohead, WRXP
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About a month or so ago our ever energized manager, Jim DelBalzo, invited Simon and I to lunch at Dallas BBQ. Jim had a revelation to share, an idea of gargantuan proportions.
“Here is what I’m thinking we should do with Iranian Democracy. We put together a concert or maybe a whole bunch of concerts for Iranian Democracy. I was at Colombia records when Geldof decided he was going to do Live Aid. You know what he did? He just called people. He sat there and he just called everyone he knew. So that is what you are going to do. I mean, I could call people, but you are the one who has to sell the idea. It is your passion for the cause that is going to convert them. So, what I want you to do is go home and start calling everyone you know and see if you can make this happen.”
That is how the idea was born. Over the next couple of days I compiled a list of everyone I knew in the music industry and have now started to contact them individually. Pulling this off still seems a little out of my reach and ability, but as they say where there is a will there is a way!
Tags: Bob Geldof, Buddahead, Colombia records, Concert for Iranian Democracy, Dallas BBQ, Iranian Democracy, Jim DelBalzo, Live Aid, Simon Gibson
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We are confirmed to play at Arlene’s on September 19th @ 7pm.
The whole line up Raman Kia, Toby Evers, Simon Gibson, Rich Scanella, and Bryan Smith.
Tags: Arelene's Grocery, Bryan Smith, Buddahead Live, Raman Kia, Rich Scanell, Simon Gibson, Toby Evers
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It is overwhelming to see the amazing response to our Press Release announcing the release of Iranian Democracy. The response is much more than a bunch of people just re-messaging a PRWeb press release, it is individuals across twitter spreading the message that Iranian Democracy is coming. Thank you all!!
twisted4u, luciogalluzzi, PERSIA_NEWS, DominiqueRdr, CAFalk, tehranweekly, zorinsmom, edwand, iranlaya, iran_news, SkyNewswire, prudentpress, Reriani, tekhelet16, NedaIsOurVoice, …there are so many more, but we have to stop somewhere!
Tags: Buddahead Iranian Democracy, CAFalk, DominiqueRdr, edwand, Iranian Democracy, Iranian Democracy is coming, iranlaya, iran_news, luciogalluzzi, NedaIsOurVoice, PERSIA_NEWS, prudentpress, Reriani, SkyNewswire, tehranweekly, tekhelet16, twisted4u, zorinsmom
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Hi All,
We loved making the Sour Grapes video. It was just a compilation of the top google rank images for Iranian Election. It was fun, easy, and really effective. Now we want to make a video for Burning Out, the other single on the Iranian Democracy EP.
What we really want though is your involvement. Submit any photos that you have taken or have seen that you think are a good fit for this song. We will look at them all and then choose the ones we like and make the video out of them. If we choose a photo that you send us we will definitely credit you for it.
Also, we will choose five people who we think submitted the best photo and send them a copy of Iranian Democracy and a copy of Ashes signed by all band members.
Here are the lyrics. You can listen to the song on this site or our myspace page.
To submit a photo just email it to buddaheadmusic@mac.com
Tags: Buddahead, buddahead ashes, Buddahead Burning Out, Buddahead SOur Grapes, buddahead video, Burning Out, Iranian Democracy, Iranian Democracy EP, Iranian Election, sour grapes, sour grapes video
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Cover Artwork for Buddahead Iranian Democracy EP
Hi All,
We are excited to announce the release of Iranian Democracy, available now on Itunes and most other online digital music stores.
For more information please read the official press release
Tags: Buddahead, Buddahead Iranian Democracy, Iranian Democracy, Iranian Democracy Released
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Youtube screwed us. Is it time to move on to vimio?
So, it seems as if the view counter on the buddahead Sour Grapes video of my video is stuck or frozen. The video had a very quick 358 views on the first day and has been stuck since then. From what I can figure out using the youtube forums sometimes youtube freezes counters when it thinks a bot being used – one was not being used here.
But, why, oh why, is there no technical support email (or at least not one that can be found in 30 minutes) anywhere on youtube? This is very frustrating.
There are tons of people who seem to be having this issue and many of them are asking the same question: Is it time to move on to another platform?
Youtube are you listening? YOU NEED TO BE ENGAGED. YOU NEED CUSTOMER SUPPORT. FORUMS ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH!! YOU MAY HAVE THE UPPER HAND NOW BUT IT ONLY TAKES A FEW PEOPLE TO CAUSE A RUKUS FOR LONG ENOUGH BEFORE THE FEW PEOPLE BECOME A MOVEMENT.
Tags: Buddahead, Buddahead SOur Grapes, vimio, Youtube, youtube technical support
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