Why
do Elvis fan clubs and Elvis websites keep on giving BMG FREE
publicity?:
EIN
responds to Sid Shaw
In
his latest Elvis Cyber newsletter, Sid Shaw of Elvisly
Yours comments:
"
It amazes me that Elvis fan clubs and Elvis websites
keep on giving BMG FREE publicity. Elvis fan clubs struggle
to survive and what has BMG or RCA ever done for the fans
and the fan clubs? They have made $billions off the fans turning
out Elvis compilation after compilation, the same thing year
after year. If Elvis fan clubs and websites stopped running
FREE advertising BMG would have to pay. BMG have hoodwinked
the fans for years. It is about time they started to help
the "hand" that feeds them and pay for advertising in Elvis
fan club magazines, newsletters and websites."
While
Sid makes some interesting observations EIN doesn't fully
agree with him. We agree fan clubs and websites give BMG tens
of thousands of "free" promotion each year. However,
there are realities for Elvis fan clubs and web sites.
Reality
#1: they (we) need the information as fans want it. Can
you imagine a fan club or website that didn't promote BMG's
Elvis releases? News about BMG's Elvis releases is "core"
(or "key driver") information for any successful
club or site.
Reality
#2: it is highly unlikely you could ever get all the fan
clubs and website to boycott BMG news. And if you did would
BMG pay for promotion in club newsletters and on websites?
We seriously doubt it. With the exception of the FTD label
releases, BMG Elvis product is targeted at the general market
(which includes Elvis fans) and normal point of sale and other
marketing would be quite effective. Perhaps not as effective
as also having the synergy of club and site promotion but
effective nonetheless.
Reality
#3: BMG is not as bad as Sid suggests. The Coalition of
Australian Elvis Fan Clubs, formed in 1998, has enjoyed a
very positive relationship with BMG Australia. In England,
Todd Slaughter's British fan club has also had a very long
positive relationship with BMG as have sites in the US such
as Worldwide Elvis.
(News/Comment,
Source: Sid Shaw/EIN)
|
