Celtic Woman Christmas Special

[Stephany]

To get back on topic, this Celtic Woman Christmas Television Special will be broadcast on PBS.
It will also be available on CD & DVD in October 2007 ! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[geralynnk]

Thanks everyone for all the great info. I will definitely check into it. I am so excited!!!

Geralynn

[comet]

Hi Folks.
I specialise in off topic. I get warnings if I'm on topic.
There may be another reason Hayley is not recording her Christmas songs with Celtic Woman.
It may bring joy to Hayley fans everywhere,
But I do not know this reason for sure.
So I am saying nothing..... So there.................

comet

[Dave]

martin said:

geralynnk said:

Hi everyone,

It's too bad that Hayley won't be doing the Christmas Special with Celtic Woman. I would have really looked forward to seeing all of them together again. I don't believe I have ever heard Hayley sing any Christmas songs. Stephany, has Hayley ever done a Christmas Album? I hope I am not off topic here.

Geralynn

Hi Geralynn
If you want to hear Hayley sing some wonderful Christmas carols then I think their is a link here under the Christmas Presence thread which is a recording of a concert last December in Cardiff, Wales.

Martin

... and that concert (Christmas Presence, Cardiff, 2006) was being considered for a possible DVD release in time for Christmas this year. I do not know if any decision has yet been made on it but I hope it is, as that concert (highlights were televised) includes some of the most beautiful live performances that Hayley has ever done.

To keep us on topic, the Christmas Presence Cardiff thread is here

Cheers, Dave

[meldy]

Can't wait for the Christmas Special!! But maybe...Hayley will be in the audience

[Stephany]

meldy said:

But maybe...Hayley will be in the audience

I hadn't think about that....But hey, why not after all?

[george]

Hi Stephany

Thanks to your information and link to the Celtic Woman site we are the lucky owners of 4 complimentary tickets to the Christmas Special on 18th July! Thanks so much. I thought I would just give it a go and was very surprised at the number of responses I received from John Flanagan of Celtc Woman. He has been so helpful.
For interest, it is to be filmed at The Helix in Dublin, which John informed me was where the original Celtic Woman DVD was filmed.

Thanks again

George

[meldy]

Wow that's awesome George! Complimentary tickets! So it's going to be filmed at The Helix, cool

Meldy

[Stephany]

Hi George,

I'm so thrilled for you - wow, Celtic Woman in Helix again, that will be fantastic!!
Don't forget to smile when they film I'll try to spot you & your family in the audience when I have the DVD, haha

Best wishes from France,
Stephany

[Stephany]

The CW Christmas Special is filmed next week - I hope you have a great time in Dublin at the recording, George.
Who knows, Hayley might well go and say 'hi' to the girls
Anyway, there was an article that mentioned this Christmas TV Special in 'Billboard magazine''s latest issue so here it is.

Best wishes,
Stephany

MAKING THE BRAND: THE POWER OF TV AT CHRISTMAS
The Home Screen Is Key To Raise Awareness For Holiday Releases
By Michael Paoletta
14 July 2007
Billboard
Copyright 2007, VNU eMedia Inc. All rights reserved.


For Celtic Woman, it really is Christmas in July. The Manhattan Records act was recently in Ireland, filming a new pledge special for PBS. The holiday-themed show will kick off PBS' annual December pledge drive, which will coincide with a new Celtic Woman DVD featuring footage from the PBS show and fresh material.

With Celtic Woman, Manhattan demonstrates what many labels prepping for holiday releases are learning: namely, that you need to rely on the power of TV—in this act's case, direct-response ads and appearances on shows—to reach your target. "TV is a great way to reach adults," Manhattan VP of marketing Josh Zieman says. "And there are times when you need to readjust schedules to make things happen."

The label hopes the PBS platform will help sell its 2006 CD "A Christmas Celebration" and a forthcoming DVD by Celtic Woman—whose star role in a similar PBS campaign last year showed direct results, to the tune of 316,000 copies of its holiday CD sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Leading up to the holiday season, and as a way of increasing public awareness for holiday releases during a time of year when labels put out their priority acts, a TV presence offers excellent value, Zieman says. "It's a moment when people's eyes and ears are especially attuned to possible gift ideas," Zieman adds. "It's our job to be smart about reaching them."

And, if a holiday-leaning TV special is airing in the fall, communication between the act's label and/or manager and the appropriate talent bookers and/or music supervisors needs to begin weeks—if not months—in advance.

"When you have music in June and July to play for your partners, they get excited and motivated," RCA Music Group executive VP/GM Tom Corson says, referring to music supervisors and agency creatives. Such a proactive time line enables a proper marketing and promotional platform. "You want to leverage the assets from both sides," Corson adds.

And Corson is not alone in his thinking. Consider these holiday plans:

To introduce Josh Groban's first holiday collection, produced by David Foster and due in late September, Warner Bros. Records is securing a "thematic event" for TV or online, according to label executive VP Diarmuid Quinn. This will pave the way to appearances on morning TV shows like NBC's "Today" as well as Christmas-themed specials.

Last year, Razor & Tie saw a direct correlation between Twisted Sister appearances on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and VH1 Classics, and sales of the rock band's 2006 album "Twisted Christmas," says Michael Krumper, senior VP of marketing at the label. The disc has sold 69,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In the coming weeks, and based on the success it had last year with TV, the label will begin confirming more such appearances (for November and December) and direct-response TV ads for the band, which will be promoting "Twisted Christmas" as well as its new DVD, "A Twisted Christmas Live."

Razor & Tie also understands that it's not just adults that need to be reached via TV. Kids, too, are a captive audience, Krumper says. On this front, the label's successful Kidz Bop brand returns this year with its third seasonal disc, "Coolest Kidz Bop Christmas Ever." Direct-response TV and an October-commencing inaugural tour will surround this release. "Direct-response TV works well with the Kidz Bop brand," Krumper says. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Kidz Bop's 11 CDs (including two previous holiday-themed sets) have collectively sold 7.8 million units.

Multiple impressions are key, William Morris Agency head of contemporary music Marc Geiger says. But he has other other suggestions: "Bundle and piggyback with other Christmas brand and retail campaigns. If you want to cut through the clutter at Christmas, do a Nokia deal and give away your artist's album for a dollar or two. But nobody's going to be smart enough to do that."

[Stephany]

Hi George,

How was the Christmas Special 'Celtic Woman' ?
I bet the girls were thrilled to sing at Helix again.

Stephany

[george]

Happy Christmas everybody

Hi Stephany

The concert was amazing! Where do I begin?
We arrived in Dublin early Wednesday morning and after checking in to our hotel and sampling a couple of Guiness's we set off to the Helix. We knew there were going to be a few earlybirds from the US from their forum entries on the CW site. We arrived at 5 pm, the doors to the box office were closed. We were the first people there! Within ten minutes the first of the CW forum members arrived. They were a wonderful bunch of people. The time passed very quickly as we all chatted about Celtic Woman and in particular our interest in Hayley. They had all seen the concerts in the US with Hayley and all loved her. We mentioned the confusion over the UK tour and all seemed certain that there was no problems with the tour going ahead.

We entered the theatre in groups of twenty to be seated (all tickets were unreserved). When the DVD is released you will hopefully see us on the front row. Amazing seats directly in front of the stage.
The girls were all in long dresses in a mixture of pastel colours. Lisa in yellow, Meav in purple, Chloe in pink, Orla in turqoise and Mairead in silver. All slightly different styles. No photos at all I am afraid, there was a complete ban on any photography.
The stage set was Christmas themed. A winter scene in blue/grey/silver with white Christmas trees.
The choir, dressed in black and orchestra seemed to be mostly the same artists as at Slane castle. There was also a thirty plus choir behind the solid back drop and they were only noticeable when they lit the area behind them.
They sang a variety of Christmas songs, mainly from the Christmas CD released a couple of years ago. All the girls were amazing, especially when they all sang together. Really hard to explain how fantastic it all was. I recommend purchasing the DVD when it is released.

George

[Stephany]

Hi George,

Thanks for your fantastic review.
Looks like you had a smashing time at the concert.
I look forward to seeing the DVD, especially the first row!
The European tour is going ahead, then? Very confusing.

Stephany

[Stephany]

Hey George,

Mr John Flanagan from CW Management replied to a fan about ths Christmas Special.
That should interest you, or anyone hoping to buy the DVD (link).
Did you take any pictures there? It's so nice that you got to meet other CW fans. Did the US fans knew about Hayley before CW? It's interesting to have some feedback from other fans!

Stephany

Friday 20th July 2007

Last Tuesday & Wednesday Celtic Woman recorded their Christmas Special in Dublin for PBS television. I think that all who attended the show (including many from America) left in a happy mood after a very polished performance by the ladies. I thought the additional 80 piece choir added to the occasion.

I understand that the DVD of the show will be available in October. Further details will be put on the soon to be revised website www.celticwoman.com. It will be possible to purchase the DVD through the Celtic Woman store www.celticwoman.shop.musictoday.com/ once it is released or through all good record stores.

Celtic Woman are planning to return to the US in Feb 2008. Once venues and dates have been confirmed they will be posted on the website.

Have a good weekend and thank you for taking the time to email. We appreciate when those who enjoy the music of Celtic Woman write/email to say thank you.

Regards

John Flanagan - Celtic Woman
Dublin, Ireland

[george]

Hi Stephany

Thanks for the info regarding the DVD. I will certainly be waiting to purchase a copy.
The fans from the US were lovely. We spent about three hours in the queue with them. Most of them were members of the forum and had flown over for both nights shows. Some had made it into a holiday to travel around Ireland.
They all loved Hayley but don't think they knew her at all before the US tour.
Photos were strictly banned inside the Helix. I asked to take a pic of the stage setting and was told no!
I have one of us outside and a couple of the fans from the USA.





George