Ideas for promoting Hayley's new album

[Sing]

I've tried to get my friends into Hayley but with very limited success...they're all mostly into rap and rnb...something i can't really stand -it's too harsh on the ears I think it'll make me go deaf faster than I already am due to sensory nerve problems in my ears!...but my family really like her and enjoy it.... my aunts ill atm with cancer...and she's finding it really relaxing to listen to Hayley's songs..and celtic woman...
I think promotion for this new album may be a bit more difficult seeing as Charlotte Church is releasing a new comeback album in November...I think it'll probably do well simply through her very public breakup with her fiancee...especially around the UK...It seems to me that the more gossip you have about you in papers and magazines, and the less you wear...the more success you have these days...I wish more was done to promote people like Hayley- and make it about the music not private lives like she does, because I think they should be just that...People lose publicity at least in the UK if they're not constantly in papers, and magazines, when they've stepped out without make-up or something like that...people really seem to think it's amazing to see these celebrities without make-up -which keeps them in the public eye...people like Katie Price...personally I don't see what's so amazing, it's not worth talking about tbh....
I really can't wait for this album!
best wishes
Sing

[mihizawi]

Everything said here is very interesting, and I think too a closer collaboration with Bedlam/Decca in terms of promotion could be very profitous.

On the smaller, more fan oriented scale, I have, among other things, permanently written "Hayley Westenra, that lovely kiwi lady" on my messenger personal message (the so-called sub-nick). And I talked to anyone who would listen about Hayley... Now that I have facebook, I may put some of my favorite Hayley videos too from time to time...

I thought about trying to request things to the radios, and indeed I gave it a try this Christmas, however I am not a frequent radio listener, so, unless I get a direct reply to my e-mail, I will probably never know if my request was played or not. Also, I have the problem to find the best radio for Hayley: there are two Classscal Radio stations, but they are more focused on more serious Classical; also they are national-scale radios, so I guess they get many requests and it's hard to get noticed there. A more local station wouuld probably have better chances of success, but then again, Hayley's not their style of music. But then again, I am not really into radio, so maybe I should try to make the effort to do some deeper research and I will find a more suitable station for a Hayley request...

Anyway, I have also a legal doubt about radio requests... Hayley is totally iinexistent in the Spanish market, which means radio stations wouldn't probably make the effort to get her albums for a single request. So, I wonder if it is acceptable in this case to send the mp3 file along with the written request, or is there any legal problem that would prevent a radio station from playing a song received this way (like broadcasting rights)?

Michal

[Dave]

Aug 16, 2010 12:02:10 GMT mihizawi said:

I have also a legal doubt about radio requests... Hayley is totally iinexistent in the Spanish market, which means radio stations wouldn't probably make the effort to get her albums for a single request. So, I wonder if it is acceptable in this case to send the mp3 file along with the written request, or is there any legal problem that would prevent a radio station from playing a song received this way (like broadcasting rights)?Michal

Hi Michal,

I know that Spanish copyright law is less strict than in most other countries, but in general, copying a track and sending it as an .mp3 to a radio station (or anyone else) would infringe Decca's copyright. Because of this, I think a radio station would be unlikely to play it (though I can't be certain about Spain because of the unusual copyright laws there).

Cheers, Dave

[mihizawi]

I see, Dave, thanks for the reply, and then, I guess it will make it even harder to get my request on a local radio, unless of course, her new album is released in Spain too... Hmm... Maybe I should try with songs that appeared in such albums as Classical Voices, which I think are available in Spain? Pokarekare Ana and Lascia Ch'io Pianga did appear in such general albums, right?

Michal

[martindn]

Hi Michal

Aug 16, 2010 12:02:10 GMT mihizawi said:

Everything said here is very interesting, and I think too a closer collaboration with Bedlam/Decca in terms of promotion could be very profitous.

That is actually a very good suggestion. If some of us go off on our own, trying to do something to help promote Hayley, we are a bit like loose cannons. We really do need to work together, and Bedlam/Decca are the people who should be giving the lead.

OK there is a difference, since they do it to make money and we do it for nothing out of love for Hayley's music and a desire to give something back.

There are lots of willing helpers here, but if we work on our own we risk actually working against each other. We all want the best for Hayley for our various reasons, and working together could help us achieve it.

I thought about trying to request things to the radios, and indeed I gave it a try this Christmas, however I am not a frequent radio listener, so, unless I get a direct reply to my e-mail, I will probably never know if my request was played or not. Also, I have the problem to find the best radio for Hayley: there are two Classscal Radio stations, but they are more focused on more serious Classical; also they are national-scale radios, so I guess they get many requests and it's hard to get noticed there. A more local station wouuld probably have better chances of success, but then again, Hayley's not their style of music. But then again, I am not really into radio, so maybe I should try to make the effort to do some deeper research and I will find a more suitable station for a Hayley request...
Michal

Tell me about it!! I struggle to find a radio station here too that will play Hayley's music. Classic FM will sometimes play her more classical songs, but nobody at all plays her more pop, or folk, or country or musical theatre oriented stuff.

Radio 2 ought to lap up something like her brilliant Japanese Songs albums. Unfortunately, their policy is not to play music that has not been released in this country. And they seem to see her as a classical artist, not realising that she also performs the same songs that they sometimes play performed by other artists.

I don't know what we can do about that, short of starting our own radio station (now there's an idea).

Martin D

[Libby]

I've actually had a couple of ideas which I've presented to Bedlam, and they thought both were great ideas, and are seriously considering them.

The first one was for Japan:
Figure skating is very popular in Japan, especially ice shows. A few Japanese skaters have used Hayley's songs before. So I suggested that Hayley perform live at one of these ice shows in Japan. And it's not just Japanese skaters in these shows, American and European skaters are usually in them, too. So, they would get to hear her sing and even perform to her singing, and they might decide to skate to her songs again somewhere else. Hayley's booking agent replied and told me this was a great idea, and said she would contact the Japanese about this.

My other idea is for Hayley to perform some of her Christmas songs for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas show, which airs on PBS every December (in Salt Lake City, Utah). I've seen famous singers like Renee Fleming and Sissel perform for the show in previous years. I actually wrote a letter to the choir last year, but I got no response. It was probably too late, though. This year, I wrote to them again, and this time I got a response. Here's what the production secretary told me:

"I spoke with our general manager and he told me that those who make the decisions about guest artists are very aware of her beautiful voice and growing popularity. It seems that she is definitely on the list for our future Christmas plans".

I also wrote to her booking agent again, and she thought it was a great idea, too. However, she said that Hayley's schedule for Dec. is already full. She did ask me to let her know if I got a response from them or not (which I did). She hasn't replied again, but seeing what the choir manager said should encourage them to seriously consider this for next year.

So, I guess that's how I'm working with Bedlam about promoting Hayley.

Oh, and I wrote to Peter Jackson to have Hayley sing for the Hobbit soundtrack. While I did get a good response from his staff as well, the movies aren't due out for a couple years. So that won't happen for a while yet, either.

[joanne]

Wow Libby, that's some work you've been doing!! It would be so great if she could sing for Hobbit haha (I'm quite a fan of LOTR!) Guess we'll be watching out for PBS and Japanese figure skating for good news

cheers,
Joanne

[amptique]

Great work, Libby. Just the thought of Hayley singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sends chills up my spine. That would be outstanding.

Bill

[Libby]

We'll have to depend on the Japanese members to let us know about the ice shows!

[martindn]

Yes, some good ideas there Libby. Well done!

Martin D

[Joe]

I've done this before with mixed results. Many cities publish a free weekly entertainment guide that can be found in restaurants etc. There is a very good one here in the Scranton area called "The Weekender".

Why not try to contact the editor, music reviewer, etc., and see if you can submit Hayley's CD for review. They may or may not return the CD to you. Mind you, it's not guaranteed they might not publish anything at all

Joe

[Libby]

So, have you ever had good results? Once Hayley was featured when she was appearing with Il Divo in Seattle (to which I was unable to go), and I remember reading that she was going to make an album with some songs her Nana used to sing (Treasure).

Wouldn't that be best to do when her CD is first out? Even so, I doubt anything would come of it. If she comes to Seattle to perform, then maybe there'll be something.

[Joe]

Aug 20, 2010 5:46:13 GMT Libby said:

So, have you ever had good results? Once Hayley was featured when she was appearing with Il Divo in Seattle (to which I was unable to go), and I remember reading that she was going to make an album with some songs her Nana used to sing (Treasure).

Wouldn't that be best to do when her CD is first out? Even so, I doubt anything would come of it. If she comes to Seattle to perform, then maybe there'll be something.

Hi Libby,

I've only requested once to submit a CD...that was Celtic Treasure. There is a magazine called Celtic Heritage and it's published in Nova Scotia. They have a fab music section and they requested music to review etc. So I got in touch w/ the editor and she said to mail them Hayley's CD. I didn't see or hear anything from the magazine. They later said that the CD wasn't to Celtic enough

Joe

[Libby]

Well, I can kind of see why. Not many of the songs originated in Ireland. They probably just added the Celtic to appeal to the Celtic Woman fans, since she went on tour with them and performed on their DVD.

[Libby]

On Josh Groban's forum, I try to promote Hayley whenever and however possible, although I try not to overdo it too much. Of course, I started a Hayley Westenra thread in the Other Music board. I don't get many replies, but I do get lots of views. I check how many views the thread has gotten nearly everyday.
Also, in the Song Association game, I try to use Hayley songs whenever they work, and I also put a youtube video of the song in the message if I can, too. I do that with other artists sometimes, too.
More recently, I decided to add Hayley to my signature. That way, everytime I post on the forum, Hayley is advertised. Ever since, I've noticed an increase in views of the Hayley thread! Right now, I have a picture of Hayley and advertising Hayley's forum to fans of Hayley. When Hayley's new album is going to be out soon, I'm going to advertise her it in my signature.
That way, at the very least, already existing fans will be alerted to it and check it out, and other people will just wonder who she is, and maybe decide to check it out.

The idea is to make sure everybody there can't say they've never heard of her or seen her name before. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

And of course I'll post about the new album in the Hayley thread, too.