Odyssey -- why the slow roll-out?

[stevemacdonald]

I noticed that "Odyssey" will be released in Germany in April 2006. That seems like an awfully long time for them to wait, especially since it's been available elsewhere since last summer! I 'm sure there are some very solid marketing principles at work here, so I'm not second-guessing the business side of this decision, but just the same, GOOD GRIEF!

Why can't they make this amazing CD available worldwide at the same time for everyone?? Hayley's music unites us globally as fans; her label would just as soon divide us in terms of timely access.

[roger]

Hi Steve,

It does indeed seem a long wait for our German friends to have to wait. As it happens, an April release date coincides with Hayley's appearances with Il Divo in Berlin, Hamburg and Oberhausen. However, I don't think that's the reason.

In general, worldwide release dates are never likely to coincide as Hayley cannot be everywhere at once and it is preferable that she should be in each country at the time of the release for promotional reasons. But that doesn't explain a delay of this length.

I suspect that time slots are earmarked for Hayley's availablility in various parts of the world and for certain activities long before any schedule is announced. It may have been recognised many months ago that she would not be free to go to Germany until April due to other commitments. I don't know; I'm guessing. Does anyone else have any ideas?

Roger

[Richard]

Hello Roger and Steve!

I also think that release dates around the world are staggered to ensure that Hayley is available to promote her album in each country when it is released. Hayley certainly likes to be busy, so her diary will always be pretty full many months in advance. Although it might not seem like it to many of us now, Hayley is really still in the early days of her career, and is not as well-known everywhere as she deserves to be. Once she is more firmly established everywhere, which will hopefully be quite soon thanks to her tour with Il Divo, the release dates around the world for future Hayley albums could possibly be closer together.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[roger]

Hi Richard,

If by that you mean it will not be quite so necessary for Hayley to make personal appearances for promo purposes at the time of the release, yes, I agree.

Since my earlier post, I have had another thought even though two in a day is not good for me! .....

Pure was released significantly later in Germany than it was in other countries. Consequently, it *might* have been judged that to release Odyssey there at approximately the same time as it was released in NZ, the UK and US was a little too soon. The record company would want to get as much life out of the earlier album as possible before risking flooding the market. (?)

Roger