Lady Gaga’s “ARTPop” album last fall certainly didn’t give Universal Music Group any pop.
Gaga’s fourth-quarter flop helped cut Universal’s revenue in the period 9.3 percent, the company said in a report Tuesday.
The tough Japanese economy — which accounts for 25 percent of global music sales — also hurt Earnings before interest, tax and amortization, or Ebita, was off 11.1 percent, or 7.8 percent on a constant-currency basis. The tough quarter cut profits for the year by 2.9 percent, to $702 million (511 million euros). They were up 1.4 percent on a constant-currency basis, the company said. Full-year revenue rose 7.5 percent to $6.7 billion (4,886 million euros) or 12.8 percent when adjusted for currencies. For the year, Universal Music’s best-selling albums were from EMI’s Katy Perry and Interscope’s Eminem. Read more…
From Camille Paglia/ The Sunday Times
Lady Gaga never saw it coming. After a relentless, mammoth, publicity extravaganza for her new album, ArtPop, she was upstaged by a comet seeming to swoop in out of nowhere — the release of Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2. Eminem’s sales boomed big, while Gaga’s embarrassingly fizzled, leading to quick deep discounts to keep ArtPop on the charts.
Eminem, now 41, did few interviews and personal appearances for this formidable double album. As with Adele sweeping the Grammys two years ago, his instant commercial triumph demonstrates the readiness of a discerning world public to respond to power and passion of voice rather than to manipulative gimmicks or exhibitionistic stunts. CONTINUE READING
We frankly hear the line “I am authentic” from artists like Lady GaGa and other celebrities. Are they authentic or calculated personalities?
In fact, marketers and social networking coaches are preaching that to succeed on Facebook and Twitter, we must all “be authentic”.
A proposed panel at next year’s South by Southwest interactive conference promises to teach attendees “how to be authentic and human without embarrassing yourself.”
Artists, politicians, reality television stars, and celebrities are obsessed with authenticity.
“What you can’t do is be told by a social media guru to act authentic and still be authentic,” said Jeff Pooley, an associate professor of media and communication at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. He said authenticity today is more accurately described as “calculated authenticity” — a k a stage management.
““The best way to sell yourself is to not appear to be selling yourself,” Professor Pooley said. Politicians do it. Celebrities do it. And you, reader, do it every time you tap out a status update on Twitter, Facebook, Google+. ”
Nicki Minaj, the hip-hop singer has adopted theatrical alter egos with names like Roman Zolanski and Nicki Teresa.
“I’m definitely playing a role,” Ms. Minaj explained in BlackBook magazine. “They don’t pay to see me roll out of bed with crust in my eyes, and say, ‘Hey guys, this is me, authentic.’ They pay for a show.”
Key Track: Just Don’t Matter
The Story: 19 year old pop artist Nicole Ferris hails from New Jersey and just finished recording two tracks with The Jam (Lady Gaga) in Los Angeles. The track ‘Just Don’t Matter’ quickly became a Kings favorite.
Contact: nicoleferris92@gmail.com
Key Track: Fever
Placements: MTV’s “The City,” ABC Family’s “Greek,” “Ten Things I Hate About You,” and “Make It Or Break It.” The song “Fever” is also going to be featured in the upcoming summer blockbuster “The Darkest Hour.”
Production: Kate Linne, aka The Spin Silhouette produced her own recordings in her home studio. She has worked with mix/remix engineers Chuck Alkazian (KC Battaglia), David Z (Prince, Lipps Inc.) and Jon King (Throwing Gravity, Darling Parade).
For fans of No Doubt, Garbage and Britney Spears.
Contact: danny@ctkmgmt.com
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