Rhianna, “Who Ya Gonna Run To?”

It has been a LIFETIME since I have updated this site! Ok, so maybe it’s only been a few months, but nonetheless, I have missed this weekly to-do.

I have so much to cover, but let’s start with a recent music scandal that I am still astonished by.

Chris Brown turns himself in to L.A. police for domestic abuse case

The world is waiting, for Chris Brown to say something in regards to his recent arrest following a physical fight with R&B singer Rhianna. So far, Brown has zipped his lips and let his friends and family do the talking for him.

“Chris is all right. He’s a good kid. He feels very bad that something like this has happened,” his longtime wardrobe stylist Mike B. tells PEOPLE.

This is all well and good, but why can’t Brown look into the camera and say that? He is tearing apart the trust that his fans once had for him by avoiding their questions and concerns. The official Chris Brown Web site posted a message to fans Wednesday saying that an official statement will be made later on in the day. Alas, no such statement was made.

Does this situation seem somewhat similar to a case that was pounded into our brains in Public Relations 101? Exxon-Valdez maybe?

If you’ve never heard of the legendary event, I can easily sum up age-old lesson: Say you’re sorry. And here’s the kicker: Do it immediately. The longer you sit back and let the tempers brew, the worse your situation becomes.

Hopefully Brown will speak up soon, because his career and reputation are slowing slipping away.

Music fact #93475: Despite former hit songs, Chris Brown cannot always “Run It”

Backstreet Boys, “For the Love of Money”

It’s pretty obvious that public relations is a very important factor in the success of a musician. One bad move :::cough::Ashlee Simpson:::cough::: and you’re thrown to the curb.

That being said, it’s important to remember the morals you stood for before you received a multi-million dollar paycheck. If you are only in it for the fame, then step to the side because an audience can read right through that.

The most frustrating part of music public relations can be dealing with a hard-headed artist who already has everything they want. As their liason, you absolutely cannot let them slip away from the public. It may work for some to be aggressive and cocky, such as P. Diddy and Kanye West (check out his blog), but I would never take that risk with my client.

So what are some good ways to reach out to the public and go big without spending millions of dollars? Check out some excellent examples!

Check out the BSB fan blog!

Backstreet Boys

BSB is a great example of a group who takes philanthropy and their success to a new level. Each one of the members has their own charity and personal cause, which brings a huge audience to the group. Not only does this produce an immediate benefit by raising revenue and profits, but it leaves a lasting impression on the public that these musicians have higher priorities than their performance. _______________________________________________________________________________

Check out Bono's blog! The man is a saint, I swear it...

Bono, lead singer of U2

Bono is basically the King of good public relations. He heads up (RED), a charitable foundation that helps with the fight against AIDS. This campaign has been HUGE because of the amount of support from various celebrities and musicians, and in turn, Bono’s approval rating has skyrocketed. People not only see him as a rockstar, but also as a kind human being.

If you would like to read more about the (RED) campaign, check out Kendra Wheeler’s blog post. It goes all out, explaining how the campaign began and endorsement for the cause. Definitely worth a click.

Why It’s Important

All of these artists have one thing in mind, and it isn’t the mic. They are more concerned with their success as philanthropists than musicians, and as a public relations practitioner-in-training and a worldly student, I admire and respect their efforts. The public see these people as generous and kind, using their fame for a good cause rather than personal wealth. Who wouldn’t support that?

Music fact #87465: When you give, you will always receive.

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Sidenote: The time has come, dear end of semester. I will, however, continue to post on my site, so have no fear! My experience in PR Online Tactics has been quite an adventure, and I’ve enjoyed getting back into the blogosphere. It’s important as public relations practitioners to become familiar with the latest social networks and outlets because we’re surrounded with innovation.

So where am I going with this? Get out there and start talking!

Ron Clark Academy, You Can Vote However You Like

As an American citizen on November 4, I was ecstatic to see Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States.

As a music junkie and a public relations student, I knew there was something more to his win than his poetic words and catchy slogan. Take a look at these two videos:

Exhibit A:

aaaand Exhibit B:

Granted, one is a spoof of the other, but throughout the election, it was very clear that a stronger, more diverse group of musicians supported the Democratic candidate. Type “Barack Obama music video” into your YouTube search bar. As I am writing this blog, there are 52,800 results. McCain only has 15,000.

Barack Obama, 2008 President-elect

Barack Obama: Hitting the High Notes

Barack Obama is supported and endorsed by artists such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, and Pete Wentz. Basically the entire musical spectrum minus Mozart…who probably would have been supporting a “Yes We Can” button given the opportunity. ____________________________________________________________________________________

John McCain, 2008 Republican candidate

McCain: Slightly Off-Key

Now don’t get me wrong, McCain wasn’t left out in the cold—but rather, left out in the boondocks. A majority of his musical endorsements, pardon Joe Perry of Aerosmith, were line dancin’, boot scootin’, country lovin’ son of a guns. This, to some, is right at home. But some is not all. And in the US of A, targeting the “down home” American isn’t going to get you very far. ________________________________________________________________________________________

How Music Casted its Vote

Listening to the Obama songs on the radio, seeing an endless amount of YouTube music videos and watching the Bruce Springsteen concert on TV made it loud and clear– musicians have a huge part in making or breaking anyone in the public eye. We respect and admire these artists so much that as long as they have a good foundation for their endorsement, we are likely to follow suit. In hindsight, this grassroots approach was a huge success.

But more importantly, music is something that we turn to for emotional support, for guidance. When we find someone who inspires us and encourages us the way music does, it’s extremely powerful.

Music Fact #23676: When “The Boss” supports your cause, it almost counts as a swing state.

Gavin Rossdale, Love Remains the Same

Brace yourself, friends, I’m about to say something that may make some of you gasp:

Public relations isn’t everything. And, in some situations, it’s nothing at all.

Nothing is a more appropriate example than the recent tragedies of singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and nephew were murdered this past weekend. Most have been extremely supportive and sensitive to Hudson, who is going through the hardest times of her life.

But there is always that one person– the one who just doesn’t think before he/she acts. The following press release is posted on MMDNewswire.com in regards to a new bedside shotgun rack:

“Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were gunned down in their home Friday. Could an invaluable device have saved their lives? It is called The BackUp and it is a bedside shotgun rack.”

Are you kidding me? This is a terrible public relations move, trying to turn someone’s pain into a paycheck, and it taints our image of professionalism.

Here is a list: The Best Things in Life by James Huggins. He is a proving point that there are more important things in this world than getting publicity.

I guess that my whole spiel is to remind you (yes, YOU) that in the end, it will not matter how many late nights you put in at the office, or how many clients you balanced.

My father will always be my inspiration...

Family and friends, love and faith.

That’s what is worth living for, and that’s what should drive you to success, not how many figures you earn.

Music fact #34498: Never sacrifice your morals for 15 minutes of fame.

…It’s the final countdown.

Europe, The Final Countdown

We all know that feeling when something is just…over. I personally cried my tweenage heart out during the last episode of Boy Meets World, and I can’t begin to describe how upset I was when O-Town broke up.

And on November 16, we will see the end of another 90’s phenom as MTV’s Total Request Live, also known as TRL closes shop. Get details on the finale here.

It could be due to low ratings or an outgrown generation, but I am willing to bet my pet goldfish that given a year, the show will return.

Why? It’s a PR tactic to try and test the theory that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Consider this: A guesstimated majority of our generation rushed home to watch Carson Daly count down videos, interview musical superstars, and wave to swarms of screaming girls in Times Square. It was practically the apple of our adolescent eyes, so how could we not watch the final countdown to the number one video?

Instant rating hike.

A few months down the road, all of a sudden, “TRL is back by popular demand!”

Another hike and another generation of youth to focus on.

But then again, this may not happen. TRL may truly be past its prime. I can’t blame the network for making this decision, given the success of reality dramas such as The Hills and Paris Hilton’s new series, My New BFF. It’s the new style of MTV, and although music videos will still air and bands will be featured, they won’t be considered high priority.

In the meantime, check out the final episode of TRL on November 16 and maybe, just maybe, paint one fingernail black in memory of Daly’s ridiculous manicure fashion and good humor.

Music Fact #98475: Fans go crazy for an encore…

It’s time for a change”

Three 6 Mafia, Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)

With the 2008 Presidential election right around the corner, it’s impossible to miss a mudslinging commercial or see anything but McCain/Obama coverage on FoxNews. And with good reason–this election has a huge impact on the next stage in American history, and everyone from John Mellencamp to P. Diddy has taken the opportunity to endorse either candidate to their fanbase.

So is that ok? Should the entertainment industry get involved with Washington?

It’s semi-campaigning, but I doubt that Barack or John is shelling out big bucks for a few name drops. And although I don’t necessarily mind having celebrities and music superstars telling me to “Rock the Vote“, I’m sure that many fans are peeved that they spent $60 for a ticket to the McCain show. They came to be entertained, not informed.

On the other hand, the musician isn’t being held at gunpoint by either candidate to make their spiel about voting–I give props to these artists going out and promoting voting in any way. Of course they are going to be biased, they’re human. But I would rather be annoyed with someone talking about global warming in between sets than see another election with low voter turnout.

It’s a national campaign to get youth to see the importance of their vote, and I haven’t seen a more responsive PR tactic in a while. Youth vote is higher than it has been since the 60s, and students everywhere are finding their inner CNN.

Hans Reimer, Washington director of Rock the Vote, said it best through an interview with FoxNews:

“Musicians can create a sense of culture around the politics…If musicians are politically engaged, then young people are going to be politically engaged.”

Music fact #39398: If Mike Huckabee can rock a serious guitar, there’s still some hope left in our political scene

New Kids On The Block, Tonight

So this past weekend I did something that many would consider embarrassing. Now before you judge me, let me throw out a disclaimer:

I am a sucker for boy bands.

I had spent the last 3 months defending my ticket for the New Kids On The Block concert because many consider them old. And in fact, 40 may never be the new 20, but I will openly admit my excitement that they were back.

All of this frenzy over Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg got me thinking: When you are the PR person for a boy band that was popular 20 years ago, whom do you target? Their songs are still peppy and played on Top 40 radio stations, but do aim for the crowd you pleased in 1990, or do you try to focus on today’s tweens?

In an interview with The Plain Dealer, the boys commented on their fanbase:

Q: Who comes to the shows?

A: Definitely lots and lots of old fans. . . . Also younger fans [who] have seen our videos and stuff on VH1 and MTV and heard the stuff on the radio.

And old fans who are married now, their husband and their brothers are coming. Before it was very uncool for a male to come to our show. Now, people are more mature and grown-up, where they don’t have to be as cool, really. They can say, “Hey, I like the guys. Whatever. I’m going to the show.”

And it was while I was surrounded by soccer moms and 7th graders that I knew: the New Kids on the Block had successfully done both. The show was a mix of old and new, which appealed to both audiences. They still had that boy-ish charm to them, and at one point even busted out some of their old wardrobe. And fact: Joey McIntyre is still absolutely gorgeous in a smiley face leather jacket.

The boys are back, and the way they have attacked the music scene is something to note. Working with modern music superstars such as Akon, the Pussycat Dolls and Ne-yo, the guys have taken their old school appeal and kicked it up to 2008.

And at the end of the night, while wearing LeBron James jerseys and waving their arms in the air, New Kids On The Block closed the show with “Hangin’ Tough”–a classic that both young and old have found a special place in their heart for.

Music fact #94509: It’s perfectly all right to admit your small fetish for teeny bopper songs.

Kid Rock, Fist of Rage

According to recent research, iTunes has become the largest retailer of music in the United States, passing up Wal-Mart.

According to Kid Rock, he can live without it.

The artist kept his new album, “Rock ‘n Roll Jesus” off of iTunes because he feels that it’s crippling overall sales. Other artists are following suit and keeping their songs out of the Apple store. You can read more about the story here.

Why It’s Important

Although this isn’t a complete blow to the stomach for Apple, it may be the start of a new trend for artists who are sick of minimal profits. Songs are locked at 99 cents, and 30% of the profit is pocketed by iTunes, so rather than make money through the cyber business, artists are losing it.

In addition, fans are only buying hit singles rather than entire CDs, so profit is only made on a few tracks rather than a loaded disc.

Apple’s iOptions

So what does Apple do about all of this? It can’t really be categorized into a “crisis, call the press and sound the alarms” sort of situation, but definitely needs some action. You want to maintain the relationships with those particular artists in order to keep peace with all of them, but at the same time, if you tweak the price on iTunes songs, the public is going to flip.

My advice?

Keep the prices as-is, but rather than hoard 1/3 of the profits, cut that down to 1/4, maybe even 1/5. Apple, you have more than enough money, and in order to keep both customers happy, you have to be willing to crunch. If the artists see that you are willing to adjust in order to help them, they will keep their tracks in your store to help you. It’s a pretty simple tactic.

In the meantime, I wouldn’t worry too much about Kid Rock taking his songs and hitting the road…I still can’t get over the fact that he rhymed “And we were trying different things,” with “We were smoking funny things.”

Music fact #89834: You shouldn’t rhyme the same word. Ever.