TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
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November Question of The Month: Promoting “24 Hours?”
Saturday, November 1st, 2008We will write about Friday’s show and post a photo tomorrow. Now, it’s the 1st of the month, it’s late and we have to be up at the crack of dawn to take ourselves and some Friends Through Tom to a rally for a presidential candidate. So, we’ll talk later. Meanwhile, here’s the question:
24 Hours is being released this month and we all want it to be a smash. So our question is:
If you were put in charge of promoting the CD, what one, single thing would you do to get it noticed?
November 1st, 2008 at 12:48 am
Sugar Daddy. Or I’m alive. No. Sugar Daddy. Wait… I’m alive ! No, wait..
November 1st, 2008 at 2:39 am
To promote Tom’s new CD, I’d put posters in every café, news-agent, railway station, doctor’s surgery and anywhere else I could think of throughout Wales,pointing out I’m Alive!
November 1st, 2008 at 3:05 am
Doh ! Misunderstood that question.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:09 am
If I was in charge… well how about interviewing women all over the world, of all generations, and ask them why they love Tom. Then put that clip up on YouTube and everywhere else…
In real life, I know the producer of one of the main musical shows on national TV. So I’d probably pester him to play a clip on his show. Come to think of it I’ll do just that!
November 1st, 2008 at 3:19 am
I’d arrange to have Tom appear on Oprah. It wouldn’t have to be for an entire show. I’ve seen her showcase musical guests recently who have done a number and that’s it. He wouldn’t necessarily have to be interviewed, but that would be nice. But right now, in my opinion, Oprah is the place to go if a person wants almost immediate overnight success with a book, song, or whatever.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:42 am
I have already contacted Oprah and others have to. Well to start the Season to be jolly is right around the corner…I would give the CD as Christmas presents to all my family and friends. There are a lot of people out there that never even heard of Tom Jones.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:16 am
Marco – hahaha now that’s funny and I’m with you and cannot make up my mind – Sugar Daddy no wait I’m Alive -lol- I know that wasn’t the question – Ellen sorry please erase my post
It’s the pre-concert madness kicking in 
)))
November 1st, 2008 at 9:39 am
Total market saturation by booking him on every TV show from Ellen Degeneres to Tyra, Oprah, Dr. Phil, all the morning shows, to Leno, Letterman, Conan O’Brian, etc. Make sure he interacts with the females on the show. We saw from the old Diane Sawyer clip how giggly she got. If Tom were live on these shows and had some direct contact with the female interviewers and females in the audience, it would be amazing. Need to keep it classy – no underwear baloney, no pantie cake cutting. But there’s no hiding Tom’s charisma — and the songs sell themselves.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:49 am
Radio play, radio still helps people discover new music. Once people discover the new music, they will likely use the internet to learn more about the music or to download the music. Utilization of the radio, whether it’s traditional radio, satellite radio or internet radio will provide the ability to target a particular audience or age group. I believe that in the case of Sir Tom’s new CD potential buyers could be in any age group or audience. I truely believe that if Sir Tom’s music gets alot of radio play a huge new audience of younger people will be brought on board. It is all about Sir Tom’s very unique voice and his ability to use it. The time is now for a massive promotion of Sir Tom Jones. I realize Sir Tom has a huge, very loyal fan base, but if this promotion is done correctly 24 Hours will be huge. A lot of the new singers that sell big can’t sing they are nothing more than gimmicks. I am absolutely convinced that if younger people who are generally attracted to the above mentioned new singers are exposed to 24 Hours they will be fascinated by Sir Tom’s voice and vocal ability. To reiterate, with the music industry being full of people who have no voice, no vocal ability, no chrisma, no stage presence just a gimmick, the time is now for all age groups to have the opportunity to enjoy the greatest vocalist in the music business. It’s the right time, the time is now, for a proper promotion of the VOICE.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:31 am
All of the above assuming Tom wants to do it. But do you realize that if all this happens it is going to be much harder for us to get good seats at his concerts?
November 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am
I think Tom is already doing a very fine job of promoting the CD. The only fly in the ointment is his current 2 week Vegas gig. That wastes the 2 most important weeks of promo just before the release, instead of Vegas he should now be on the US talk show circuit. But I understand, he has prior commitments. Promoting the CD is a very big job, it’s very difficult even for an international superstar like TJ. Just imagine how difficult it would be for an unknown artist with no money?
November 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Sharon: We were surprised to see this from you because usually you write from what appears to be a stronger knowledge base. But, here you are very, very wrong. Perhaps it is because you cannot get here, but Las Vegas is very valuable for several reasons. He plays to people from all over the world here and they take the knowledge of his music back to wherever they came from. Also — and important even to people like you who cannot see him here — he and the band get to rehearse, to try out the show and to finalize a set list. The second night, for example, was different from the first.
Also, he will be doing talk shows — has already taped a couple of interviews and, perhaps, a concert that will be seen soon — and has 10 days after the Las Vegas gig before the CD and the single come out in the US.
Finally, we hoped people would come up with positive ideas, not trash a gig that has brought Sir Tom millions of dollars over the last 40 years and enabled untold thousands of people to see him who, had they waited for him to play their hometowns, might never have had that pleasure. That is also how to promote a project. Criticism is fine and very welcome, but criticism without knowledge is kind of meaningless.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Moderator:
I totally agree with you. Given the huge buzz Tom already has going on the new CD from his promo work in the UK, the run at the MGM is great! Lots of people seeing the show perhaps were not even aware of the new CD. They will hear the new music, get excited, pass the word. The fans who are aware of the new CD will be even more jazzed, ready to buy and spread the word.
Also as you said, Tom can fine tune the set list to include the new songs before he hits the talk shows, etc., to promote the release in the U.S. Since Vegas is so close to LA can’t imagine doing tapings would be a problem should he need to pop over to LA to do them.
Sharon: You lost focus. Your comment about the “unknown artist with no money” had nothing whatsoever to do with the question.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Oprah.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
If Tom’s people can’t get to Oprah’s people, they should have Tina’s people talk to Oprah’s people on Tom’s behalf. And there is no excuse in the world why Tom’s people can’t can’t to Oprah’s people directly. Absolutely no excuse. I’m sure she would be very interested in his stories about how he crossed color-lines.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Marisa: We do have to bear in mind that to promote this CD they are/should be reaching out to a new non-Oprah demo — Gen Y, Gen X and the Rolling Stone crowd. So, while Oprah would be great, maybe Tina’s crowd and an appearance on 30 Rock would be very cool and beneficial. Good idea.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I vote for Oprah!
November 1st, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Moderator, does anyone know if he has ever been invited on Oprah?
November 1st, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I suppose it would be to appear on a highly rated tv show. The number 1 show last week was “Dancing with the Stars.” But, that probably wouldn’t work since he was on that show last season. Then I would say, half-time at the Super Bowl, but Bruce has that covered…unless Tom stopped by to sing “The Hitter.” Just have to watch out for wardrobe malfunctions. Ha?
November 1st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I would like to see him on Oprah. I think the exposure would be an excellent way to expose him to a new generation who may of never heard his music. I also like the thought of a Super Bowl half time show. Like all of the music from the new cd. Patiently waiting for the release date!!!! Thanks ladies for all you hard work!!!
November 1st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I, for one would be thrilled to enter a major media store and see a large promotional poster for the new CD that would say something like “Experience 24 Hours with Tom Jones”. Anyway, something to that effect. I think a big splash in the media dept. of stores this time of the year would really grab the attention of holiday shoppers who may not have heard about the release of the CD. Come to think of it, I would like to also purchase that poster too! I think another thing we can do is to call or email our request to hear songs from 24 Hours to all our favorite radio stations. I did that last year at Christmas time to request Baby It’s Cold Outside. The DJ told me he was not aware of the song, so I told him where to find it. He asked if I new of any other TJ holiday songs, because he said he gets many requests for them, but unfortunately I had to tell him that there are only a few and not readily available for air play.
November 1st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Aside from the more traditional promotional initiatives like UK TV and radio, impending U.S. talk show appearances and some of the great ideas above, Sir Tom needs to promote the new CD via more innovative means: Internet banner ads, satellite and internet radio shows, 15-30 second TV commercials highlighting the new CD during highly-rated prime time network and cable programs, a song from the CD included in prime-time shows with an attribution at the end of the program (i.e., “music from tonight’s show included…”). If you are going to promote the heck out of this CD, then as Dave said above, you need to effectively saturate the marketplace.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Love all of the ideas from Audrey M. and Jim A.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 am
I think like most people here that Tom needs to do as much radio and TV promotion as possible. Getting expsoure to a national audience is crucial. The other crucial element that many artists find hard is radio play, which focuses too much on what’s young and hip. I know from experience here in New York that NY radio absolutely stinks!!! It feels like it’s the same 10 songs every hour!! Legendary artists like Tom don’t get their fair share and it’s a shame!! On another note, did I read correctly that there might be a recent concert released?? That would be great!!
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
I have always thought Tom on Oprah would be a great, assuming he wanted to do it of course. She has showcased all kinds of superstars on her program and she would approach it in a way that I think would be respectful, yet fun. Yes, the Superbowl, great idea!
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 am
I would have him do several of the large syndicated radio shows that go all over the USA as well as the usual talk shows I also agree Oprah would be a good show as well as the popular Ellen DeGeneres show and he has to do Rache Ray since she is such a huge fan
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I would put in a call to Tony Bennett’s son/manager, ask what his master plan was, and then go from there.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
If this has not been mentioned, post it in the regular ad flyers in the Sunday paper, with a full page of Tom in it. Also, a lifesize cardboard figure/image of Tom standing in the “Hot Releases” section of the record store, along with all his CDs and DVDs the store might have. Another option, those cities that have Radio Request lines, and we would have to really make a blitz of calls.
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
With all due respect, O Magazine, Online and TV has grown it’s 18-34 year old audience 19% in the past 5 years. It now reaches 3.9 million women in the 18-34 year old demographic.
That means 3.9 women ages 18-24 just read about RCA’s new 4 disc history of The Nina Simone Story in 3 sentences on the bottom pg. 48.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
What did everyone think of the Target ad with Dolly Parton singing on it? I saw and heard that ad so much, that song crawled into my brain like a cockroach and just went round and round and wouldn’t go away. But I thought it was a very clever marketing ploy. And I really like Audrey’s suggestion “Experience 24 Hours with Tom Jones”. What a great line!!! I can hear it now–”Experience 24 Hours with Tom Jones at Target”. That would really make me want to shop there all the time.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I got thinking about it. I would love to see at every venue “where possible”, how about setting up an hour of time and having a meet and greet? Have an autograph session. Buy the new cd, meet Sir Tom. After the show at MGM. I know when he packs the house in Vegas there would be people lined up.I know he is famous for the work he has done. Just the promo alone would be awesome exposure. Not to mention, all of us who have followed him threw the years to have a chance to say hello, thank you for all the entertainment.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I really like the idea that Kel put forward about people having an opportunity to meet Tom. I was at the show in Vegas this past week and as wonderful and magical as it was I expected Tom to interact with the audience some,and sadly, he did not. I would not have been close enough to experience it myself, but there was plenty of opportunity for him to do so with those right in front. In addition to that magnificent voice there is that charisma that Tom has that not too many other stars have. I have always enjoyed watching him interact with his audience on the TV shows and from what I have heard from those who have attended his shows in the past that was a large part of what made hit so much fun.
I also loved Dragonlady’s idea about interviewing women all over the world and putting it on YouTube and Audrey’s idea about “24 Hours with Tom Jones.” As Denise said it’s a great line! Gotta love Tom Jones dontcha!!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
If I were going to promote 24 Hours, I would try to get on every television station in the US. Especially late night television shows such as Jay Leno and David Letterman. I would also try to get on The View. Women love this show. They usually give the audience free CDs. Men seem to squirm because these women do not hold anything back. Knowing Tom he would have these women awed.