Quantcast
A blog band of the month may end up packing the Mercury Lounge on their third show ever, but a few months later, after all the bloggery has gone away, they can barely fill half the room.

WHEELS & DEALS: LOVE DEM BLOGS

Being a Weasel in the Modern World Is Tricky Enough Without Having to Figure Out What’s Real and What’s Virtual Hype
By Rodel Delfin

As much as we enjoy reading some of the music/A&R blogs, although it seems like hundreds of new ones pop up every day, there appears to be a growing dislike for them in A&R circles. Several label execs shared with us that the blog hype for bands is blurring what’s real and what’s not. It has obviously helped initiate the buzz for acts like Tapes ’N Tapes and the Cold War Kids. And hey, we understand what spreading the buzz is all about—this space has been winding up deals for years. That said, the gripe we’re hearing is that a blog band of the month may end up packing the Mercury Lounge on their third show ever, but a few months later, after all the bloggery has gone away, they can barely fill half the room. In other words, as one senior label rep put it, blog hype for a band tends to create an artificial following. Said weasel further added that a lot of these bands are L.A. or N.Y. phenomena only and would probably not appeal to the rest of the country, let alone sell enough records to justify being signed to a major. Be that as it may, music blogs have become another tool in today’s brave new A&R world and, just as MySpace has become an important information source, the blogs shouldn’t be dismissed altogether… The buzz continues to build for Austin-based Oh No! Oh My! Label reps and publishers were present for the band’s recent L.A. shows, and we hear one label already has its checkbook open. Expect more weasel attendance at the band’s shows this month… Looks like the David Ferreria-repped PlayRadioPlay! is finalizing a deal with an East Coast-based major; expect a formal announcement soon… Lots of pub play for the Jason Flom-signed Virgin act Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The band is clocking some impressive sales numbers and apparently pubcos are jockeying to close it, meaning the act may well be off the pub market by the time this column streets… TILA TEQUILA UPDATE: We’re hearing that numerous A-level producers are down for doing tracks with the MySpace queen. Word on the street is that Dixie Chicks manager Simon Renshaw now represents her. And although several majors reportedly were interested in signing the songstress, we hear she may move forward by completing an album on her own. Could this be a perfect scenario to sell an LP through MyStore/Snocap? We’ll keep you posted… Meanwhile, there seems to be some misinformation concerning the Robert Reynolds-repped/Joyce Williams-managed Scissors for Lefty. While the San Francisco-based band is a free agent for North America, it’s signed to Rough Trade in every territory outside of N.A. For those who want to check them out, they will be playing Safari Sam’s in L.A. this week (9/7)… Finally, in the wake of Apple’s upcoming product announcement, more chatter of the recent rumors of an Apple + Research in Motion (maker of the BlackBerry) collaboration has resurfaced. Is the appearance of an AppleBerry device (i.e., a PDA/phone-iPod hybrid) likely? Inquiring minds want to know… BUZZIN’: Black Market and Pulse RecordingsHit me up: [email protected]

BUZZ/GIGS
BMI’S NEW NEW MUSIC NIGHTS Tues., Sept. 12, TBD, Arlene Grocery, N.Y.
OPERATOR PLEASE Tues., Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m., Pianos, N.Y.
THE EXPLODERS Mon., Sept. 18, TBD, Pianos, N.Y.
GET BACK LORETTA Tues., Sept. 26, TBD, Viper Room, L.A

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)