Subject: pay attention to the opening line of your bios
Time: 11:24:34 PM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Quiet
Music: Jordan Rudess
I get notes from Bob Doerschuk, who wrote Melanie's bio this season. His notes are industry relations as he's staying in touch with publicists on his availability to write bios.
However he offers advice in the bios on how to do the gig. Here he advises to pay attention to the opening line (also known as a LEDE) of the bios. You want to give a great angle on how the media could present the artist.
Bob writes:
Consider this my calling card -- a fairly representative selection of links to artist bios I've written that can be accessed online.
This is really only just a selection; there are many -- Art Garfunkel, John Hiatt, Garbage, NIN alumnus Chris Vrenna, smooth jazz icons Fourplay (twice), Broadway diva Melissa Errico, Grand Ole Opry favorite Neal McCoy, the Irish Tenors, and several dozen more -- that I couldn't track down online. And others -- from the Doors of the 21st Century, Christian singer/songwriter Fernando Ortega, New Orleans rocker Mike DeLaCerda, R&B harmonizers J'Adore -- are yet to be posted or printed over the next few weeks.
But there's enough here to make the case that over these past three years I've written the best bios in the business for performers at every genre and level of fame.
Most of these bios reside at artist or label pages. Others were pasted onto and remain at concert booking sites. Almost all these links take you directly to the bio; in a few cases you have to make one more click to get to the copy. (For example, to read my Wyclef Jean bio, you need to select the "Know" option on the main page.)
I would ask you in each case to pay special notice to the opening line or paragraph. As a former music magazine editor, I know that the story has to get the reader's attention instantly, at the top of the page. There are different ways of doing this, but in every case it's about keeping it short and taking an unexpected focus. IMO, based on nearly three decades in music journalism, very few writers appear to understand this or to be able to pull this off, though it is the Prime Directive of bio writing.
Do these bios work? I have a gold record from Weezer hanging to my right, plus acknowledgment in their credits for Maladroit, that says yes. Plus, I've got a pocketful of testimonials from your peers, which I'd be happy to forward at your request.
There are other projects on my plate these days, from book editing and writing to plain, old-fashioned music journalism. (Last month's Relix included my cover story on Keller Williams, and the upcoming issue of Keyboard will include another one of my pieces on the cover too.)
But I've always got the time to tackle a bio for you and your artists. My turnaround is fast. My rates will fit your budget. And you'll like what you get.
Rodney Atkins
http://www.rodneyatkins.com/?inc=about&CID=bfddd80f5d93e03c3f7c361621288146
Beu Sisters
http://www.s-curverecords.com/beusisters/bio_frames.htm
Cary Aria
http://caryaria.com/bio.htm
Shelley Campbell
http://www.nettwerkamerica.com/artistpage.jsp?artist_id=1045&mode=bio
Melonie Cannon
http://www.commotionpr.com/melonieCannon.html#melonie_bio
Larry Carlton
http://www.bluebirdjazz.com/artists/artist.jsp?id=150398#bio
Donovan Chapman
http://www.donovanchapman.com/bio.htm
Cold
http://www.musicphase.com/artist/cold/
Counting Crows
http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/c/counting_crows/
Amy Dalley
http://www.amydalley.com/
Emerson Drive
http://emersondrive.dreamworksnashville.com/bio.HTM?CID=26ae72b6b09d6df6b1791bd71a5f2358
Feel
http://www.msopr.com/mso/feel.html#feel_bio
Gene Loves Jezebel
http://genelovesjezebel.com/bio.html
Lisa Germano
http://www.highroadtouring.com/hrtbin/artistpage?artist_id=133&page=biography&printable=1
Sophie B. Hawkins
http://www.sophiebhawkins.com/bio.php
Gary Hoey
http://www.garyhoey.com/frame_content/bio.html
Wyclef Jean
http://www.wyclef.com/
Johnny A.
http://www.kayosproductions.com/kayosSite/Clients/johnnya/bio.html
Mad at Gravity
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Mad-At-Gravity-Biography/7168F935A2B9374E48256C54000CFEB0
Melissa Manchester
http://www.melissa-manchester.com/biography.html
Mando Diao
http://www.mute.com/mando_diao/biog.html
Melanie
http://www.melanie-music.org/crazy/melanie_web_site_002.htm
Ramsay Midwood
http://www.vanguardrecords.com/ramsaymidwood/bio.html
Steve Miller
http://www.stevemillerband.com/
moe.
http://www.moe.org/index2.htm
Shana Morrison
http://www.vanguardrecords.com/Shana/Biography.html
Nickel Creek
http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/catalog/pagemaker.cgi?0014
North Mississippi All Stars
http://www.nmsallstars.com/about.asp
Ours
http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/o/ours/
LM Pagano
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/lmpagano.htm
Papa Roach
http://www.dreamworkspublishing.com/frontdoor/artistsbio.cfm?wid=103252
Pewter To Platinum
http://www.pewtertoplatinum.150m.com/about/index.htm
Pitty Sing
http://www.pittysing.com/news.html
Plumb
http://www.plumbinfo.com/
Michelle Poe
http://www.michellepoe.com/index.php?content=bio.php
Bonnie Raitt
http://www.bonnieraitt.com/bio.php
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
http://www.bighassle.com/a_robert_randoph.html
Chris Robinson (Black Crowes)
http://www.msopr.com/mso/Chris%20Robinson2/bio2003.htm
Selah
http://www.selahonline.com/aboutus.htm
Mark Selby
http://www.markselby.com/
Todd Sharp
http://www.toddsharp.com/frameset.htm?bio.htm
Daize Shayne
http://www.daizeshayne.com/bio.htm
Vonda Shepard
http://www.icmtalent.com/musperf/profiles/70145.html
Smash Mouth
http://www.smashmouth.com/bio3.html
Splender
http://www.splender.com/movie.html
Stagga Lee
http://www.stagga-lee.com/whosstaggalee.html
String Cheese Incident
http://www.scifidelity.com/utn.site/template.bio.sci.html
They Might Be Giants
http://www.frontgatetickets.com/event_detail.php?id=1219&SNIX=c6e75
Randy Travis
http://www.randytravis.com/music/rise_and_shine/biography.html
Greg Trooper
http://www.gregtrooper.com/subset.htm
Tuck & Patti
http://www.tuckandpatti.com/chocolate_pressrelease.html
Unloco
http://www.unloco.com/bio.html
Unwritten Law
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,538499,00.html?artist=Unwritten+Law
Suzanne Vega
http://www.universalmusic.it/web/artisti/index.php?id=113&def=N
Sean Watkins
http://www.seanwatkins.com/bio.htm
Jimmy Wayne
http://jimmywayne.dreamworksnashville.com/bio.HTM?CID=b4683e5785626707f750b2c50e2d53c7
Weezer
http://www.weezer.com/info/bios/bio.html
Gillian Welch
http://www.gillianwelch.com/press/index.htm
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| 
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: NY Daily News-5/5/04-how'd these get to be stories?
Time: 9:43:07 PM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Hopeful
Music: the NBC TV special of FRIENDS, before my regularly scheduled episode of LAW & ORDER
In the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, May 5, 2004, we have a variety of pieces.
PAGE 5: Who do you think placed that article about PICASSO in there? What else between page 2 and 8--THE HARD NEWS SECTION of the DAILY NEWS do you think a publicist helped with placing?
PAGE 24: Let's talk about LLOYD GROVE's column and THE BRIEFING section which includes a mentionof Ray Liotta!
FYI--take a peek at Wednesday in New York..... and tell me who is now editing that column. Find it in the paper, I won't tell you what page it's on--that column has different editors every few months.
PAGE 80: Section is TELEVISION--INNER TUBE: How'd BACK TO COLOMBIA plus how did the full length article of THE PRACTICE get in there?
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: How did these become stories?
Time: 12:09:57 AM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Anxious
Music: something on the college radio band **ask me what I mean by "college radio band"
I hope you bought the new TIME OUT NEW YORK. It has the 8th Annual Eat Out Awards, and is dated April 29-May 6.
Do bring it to class on Monday.
Here are the stories I want you to try to figure out how they got into the publication. Did a publicist do some work to hyping them or did a writer just seek out the artist. You may want to do websearches on some of the artists mentioned in the magazine to see how they present themselves to the public.
page 4: LEOTARDED by Jennifer Romolini --she writes about her experience auditioning for the Rockettes. Let's figure out how she got to try out for the gig.
and hey, please do me a favor, if you feel like voting on the survey question ON page 4 with the Rockettes story, please vote NO. The question is Should dog owners be required to carry liability insurance for their pets? As a dog owner, I can tell you there are plenty of expenses for our pets that are more important like food and vet care. This bill proposed by Peter Rivera, Bronx, will add to animals that are abandoned or dumped at the city shelter.
(Can you tell that Anne is doing some public relations on this one?)
Page 12: there is an ad for PEARSON'S TEXAS BARBECUE. Let's talk about that in class, when publicists can get involved with other promotions. Maybe you have some suggestions?
Page 129: The music critic Jordan N. Mamone did a review of two albums--Glenn Branca, a man who has been playing guitar for at least 25 years in the scene plus Rhys Chatham, also well known. The reviewer opens the piece by saying both players are "flip sides of the same modernist coin." Who's choice was it to review the albums and put them together? Let's theorize. Remember about the placement we discussed in class on the fashion spread in the recent issue of the NEW YORK POST?
Page 172: Are there any radio stations you're unfamiliar with? Please spend some time listening to them on the dial between now and NEXT class-- May 10. If you can do that by May 2, fantastic. You're ahead of the game.
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: imitation is flattery and helps you grow your media list
Time: 1:58:22 AM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Mischievous
Music: Led Zeppelin
If I were working with Kingdom Come and they were absolutely a new band, I'd make sure all the guys' hometown media knew about their album.
But I'd also follow up to media outlets that covered bands they were trying to be like. I'd do a websearch on one of the current popular hard rock bands like THE DARKNESS and also look up a classic rock band that they reminded me of--Led Zeppelin. I'd want to find out what reporters have recently done pieces (interviews, reviews, profiles) on these artists plus writers and radio people who enjoyed their music. Little by little I'd build part of my media list by contacting those reporters.
My challenge for my students (and friends, colleagues) who check out this site would be, how do you track down some of the reporters that you'd like to get to cover your artist?
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: be like Jerry McGuire
Time: 12:23:57 AM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Happy
Music: The Darkness
I just re-read my April INSIDE CONNECTION piece about working the room. There's a line that mentions how publicists are sometimes the most standoffish people in the business, that publicists don't act like they should be of service to people.
Publicists should always be of service to people, even if it's to say "there is no comment." We are the customer relations people in the business, the folks who bring good chair to reporters and clients.
I just put a link to the Random House books site about an interesting new release called THE FRED FACTOR. The gist of the book is to help people get a leg up in this world. I think the more good cheer that we spread to people, the better off they'll be. In addition people will regard your work with fondness.
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: sleeping with the tv on
Time: 12:18:10 AM EDT
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Chillin'
Music: the Cosby show is on TV
I love working with some sort of media outlet playing in the background. During the day I'm in my office, and my TV set is on in the bedroom. So I can hear some dialog happening. If something sounds really interesting--maybe a famous actress like Julia Roberts or Julia Stiles on the OPRAH SHOW or a report on a news channel about the economy--I'll listen more strongly to the segment and even go to the bedroom and pay close attention to the broadcast.
When I'm not working the phones I like to have the radio on--there are many stations in New York City. A lot of them broadcast syndicated shows that are heard throughout the United States.
I listen to a variety of shows on the radio and TV, because there are thousands of potential media outlets for my clients and also the artists that my friends work.
I encourage publicists to turn on one channel and keep it going all week. Try the major news networks like CNN, FOX NEWS, MSNBC, CNBC and also C-SPAN. I recommend New Yorkers also check out the CUNY TV channel, News 1, local cable channels if they have News12 or local cable access.
On the weekends, try sleeping with the TV set on. For one month listen to the Sunday morning broadcasts on CBS, then tune in NBC and ABC. At night listen to newscasts on Channel 9 or 11 or 5 for a week, then alternate.
Once you listen to all the news channels, try some of the arts & entertainment channels like BRAVO, DISCOVERY and THE LEARNING CHANNEL. Try Animal Planet.
There's a lot of media out there, and some of it is right for the project you're working.
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
Subject: The Syllabus of Entertainment Media Relations
Time: 10:36:33 PM EST
Author: leightonmedia
Mood: Anxious
Music: I'm actually listening to the television set. I'll tell you why I listen to TV next entry.
This is an abridged version of the syllabus.
The prerequisite for this course is to speak and write in English. You'll develop the ability to visualize and set goal, plus phone and writing skills.
Our text: How to Get Publicity Without a Publicist by comic and World Record Holder Fran Capo. $23 c/o FRAN CAPO, BOX 580272 Flushing, NY 11358.
Publicists should have computer, fax, online access. It is mandatory to have a telephone and typewriter.
Here are the topics for each class:
April 19
Introduction to Publicity. goal setting and planning. Tools. Media versus press.
Assignment: media evaluation, find a client
April 26
Discovering and connecting with ALL media.
Due: media evaluations, oral discussions of your clients
bring in one to three outlets appropriate for your client-- be prepared to show us why they should be in there.
May 3
Diplomacy and carrying out campaigns. Although you might go to the same people, in general each campaign is different. Finding work, letters of agreement.
Due: Oral, but use written notes: angles of press release
May 10
Finding the publicity job. Creating an event for press.
Assignment: bring in angles of press releases, to do: press releases. start work on bio. How are those media outreach plans doing? Pitch the Prof due May 24.
May 17
writing, rewriting. Presskit and press campaign workshop. Angles. Discussion of public service (announcements, events, campaigns).
Due: press release, bio draft. This week mail press release to Prof and place a follow up phonecall before next class. Media evaluations.
May 24
Angles, Point of views. Making things easy for journalists.
Due BY today: Pitch the prof, bring drafts of your final project.
Find some TV morning and cable shows that are right for your artists. Practice your marketing pitch on your most cynical friend and-- of course-- your client.
June 7
Presskit workshop, Last minute discussion on next weeks event. Analysis of superstar press campaign. Artist relations. television media.
Due: rewrites of anything Ive asked from you!
June 14
This is event day! Your final report will be a written and oral presentation on how you would publicize PROJECT X. We will ask you some hardball questions on publicity theory as it relates to your desired account. We will have s
Written by
leightonmedia
Permalink
|
Blog about this entry
| Add to del.icio.us | digg this
This entry has comments:
Add your own
