Marketing Hip-Hop Online

The good, the bad and the embarrassing

Posts Tagged ‘ press releases ’

If your song is new, and you are sending it around to DJs and bloggers and anyone else who might listen, because so far, it’s not been on the radio, not been played at clubs, not appeared on any mixtapes and not had a video circulating…

It is not a “SMASH HIT”. It is not an ANYTHING hit. It is not a hit. A hit, can’t be a hit, until it is a hit. If the DJs and bloggers you wish to reach, have not already heard of it, and their role is to know about the hits, why are you telling them it is a hit? A SMASH hit at that? They know it’s not. You sound like everyone else who claims their fresh-out-the-frying-pan song is a SMASH HIT. Kinda dumb.

Hype is good. Good copy writing is one of the cornerstones of promotion and advertising, but stop with the SMASH HIT, CERTIFIED BANGER, HOTTEST SHIT IN THE CLUBS, hyperbole.

Convince me, without making it obvious that you are just talking shit.

fightback_michaelsteeleimage11

Michael Steele

Michael Steele, you are a jigga-jigga-genius!

The recently elected token president of the Republican Party states that he wants to “convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings,” with a plan to implement a PR campaign to update the GOP brand that will be “avant garde” and “will surprise everyone – off the hook.”

Steele believes that “Republican” is seen only as the party of the deep-South and red states, and that to turn around their catastrophic failures in the last few years, they simply need to “reach beyond” their comfort zone, out to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” appealing to “young people and moms” and the all-important voting bloc of “one-armed midgets” (yes, yes he did say “one-armed midgets”).

Doing so, he reasons, will show “who we are for the 21st century.”

He’s right! After all, the Republicans chose a totally unqualified and out-of-touch woman to be their VP candidate, probably simply because she is a woman, to counter the enormous effect that women voters had for the Democrats, thanks to Hilary Clinton. That candidate went on to embarrass herself and her party with her nonsensical statements to the press, proving not only her own ignorance, but the stupidity of the Republicans for putting her there in the first place, and fueling the suspicions about the ulterior motives behind her nomination.

It’s the same party that chose a totally unqualified and out-of-touch black man to be the GOP leader, probably simply because he is a black man, to counter the enormous effect that black people had for the Democrats, thanks to Barack Obama. That party leader went on to embarrass himself and his party with his nonsensical statements to the press, proving not only his own ignorance, but the stupidity of the Republicans for putting him there in the first place, fueling the suspicions about the ulterior motives behind his nomination.

Oh wait. That second one was Michael Steele. [More]

bclogoOK, so not necessarily Hip-Hop related, but relevant nonetheless…

[As seen on HipHopPRWire.com]

A Team of Seven Women Launch A New Publication

Brooklyn, NY, 1/22/09 (Hip Hop PR Wire) — Visionaries Teneille Craig, Shaina Lampkins, and Camillia are the founders of new publication Boys+Clothes Magazine. It is set to launch Sunday February 1, 2009. Boys+Clothes Magazine was executed with the support of four more NYC fashionista’s who each brought their own unique elements to the table. The remaining four women are Sofia Farquharson, Shana Jeannot, Patrice Floy and Christine Hamblin popularly known as “Cee the Photographer”. This team of seven from all walks of life and each possessing an entrepreneurial and inimitable spirit has met the challenge of publishing their first print magazine. Editor-In-Chief, Teneille Craig says “It’ll take much more than a resume to stand out in the job market in this economy. So we created our own opportunity to prove our worth and determination.”

Boys+Clothes Magazine is a tri-annual publication which aim to cater to the stylishly rebellious urban fashionista and her nosey boyfriend. Conceptualized to read as a girl’s diary it is filled with cutting edge and straightforward content. It’s an opportunity for women to read and relate on non-conventional fashion and lifestyle content and for others to become familiar with this young modern woman’s likes and dislikes.

On January 26th, Boys+Clothes Magazine will have a pre-launch event at an intimate venue in New York City called Mixx Lounge. It is located on 84 7th Avenue south between Bleecker and Grove Streets from 7pm to 10pm. The unveiling of the first cover will be at 7:30pm. It will be an opportunity to meet the faces behind the publication. If you are interested in attending the event please email jeannot.shana@gmail.com by 1pm on January 26th . Boys+Clothes Magazine can be found at selected locations in NYC and online.

###

Press Contact:
Shana J
Email: jeannot.shana@gmail.com
646-637-4141

Now, I am twitter-acquaintances of some of those involved with this publication, and applaud anyone attempting the VERY difficult task of launching a PRINT mag these days. But ladies, please accept a couple of quick thoughts:

  1. The day after it happened, I noticed the launch party being twitted about. To be fair, I’m not sure by who exactly, but they mentioned the B+C launch party. Because I like to keep up on new ventures, especially in journalism, I clicked the twitter profile of the poster, who was obviously a part of the mag. No info about the mag, no hint as to the full name of the mag, and most noticeable, no website link! My split-second span of curiosity was gone, and I moved on.
  2. Today, when looking through the press wire, I saw the headline of the press release. Not sure why I opened it, though I suppose it is a curiosity-inducing enough headline. I read the release, and realized that this was the same mag. But again, no website. Not even a “coming soon” page with a quick email collection link “to be alerted” when the mag is available.

Advice? Remember that EVERY touch with someone must be thought of as a potential grab of attention. Twitter profiles must have some indication of your venture, a website address, etc. Twitter is a swirl of bits of info, but those who would “overhear” your conversation with another, might be interested enough to check in on you, but not interested enough to contact you directly. These folks are called ‘lurkers’, who observe more than interact, but their attention is as vital as any others.

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