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Post by xanadu66 on Feb 1, 2011 12:25:55 GMT
Not sure if this is the right place for this but replies to my last question have got me wondering. It was suggested that Hayley will be discussing her future direction with her new managers. Just suppose YOU were part of her new management team. What direction would you like her to take in the next year or so?
I accept that you all want her to tour in your own region but, for the sake of her ongoing success, where would you think she should go? Which markets should she target? Should there be a change in her musical direction? What type of television programmes should she appear on? Should she collaborate in some way with another artist? If so, who? And so on.
Like I said, I am just wondering what YOU would suggest.
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Post by nicola on Feb 1, 2011 12:50:25 GMT
I would rather she had more control, but I would take her to Asia and base her career over there, rather than here, which doesn't pay much attention to her anymore. Without the scandal and willingness to flaunt to the press, she is unlikely to regain attention. I think she is already bigger in Asia than she is here, so goodbye UK.
Musically, I would encourage her own song writing and let take the lead with it.
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Post by comet on Feb 1, 2011 15:32:42 GMT
Like I said, I am just wondering what YOU would suggest. Hayley, just record every song that tickles your fancy, Just keep making recordings, The songs will find their own place eventually, no matter what people think of them at the moment. And try and make sure you have personal ownership of the recordings.
The surface of the planet is
s-p-l-a-t-t-e-r-e-d
with people who have lost the rights to their own work |
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Post by Elliot Kane on Feb 1, 2011 15:57:49 GMT
I think London is still the best base for a Kiwi who wants worldwide success. Hayley doesn't need to move, she needs to be marketed more aggressively, which means a better web presence and a campaign to improve her visibility. She needs to be guest singing on programs like Britain's Got Talent (preferably) or The X-Factor that are watched by millions of people who are actively looking to hear something they haven't heard before.
I think she needs to overturn the current industry expectation that Classical Crossover is a very niche genre, so it's not worth aiming at a large audience. She has the talent to do that, but if the majority of people never get to hear her, it's wasted.
The sad fact is that Susan Boyle has done more to boost Hayley's popularity in recent years by pure accident than her team has by design. That's not good. If you doubt me, look at the YouTube clips of Hayley singing I Dreamed A Dream - or more particularly, look at the comments underneath.
So I guess my main advice would be: believe in your talent, hunt your audience. Make sure there's no place in the world that does not know the voice of Hayley Westenra. Be pro-active.
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 1, 2011 18:13:56 GMT
I think London is still the best base for a Kiwi who wants worldwide success. Hayley doesn't need to move, she needs to be marketed more aggressively, which means a better web presence and a campaign to improve her visibility. She needs to be guest singing on programs like Britain's Got Talent (preferably) or The X-Factor that are watched by millions of people who are actively looking to hear something they haven't heard before. I think she needs to overturn the current industry expectation that Classical Crossover is a very niche genre, so it's not worth aiming at a large audience. She has the talent to do that, but if the majority of people never get to hear her, it's wasted. The sad fact is that Susan Boyle has done more to boost Hayley's popularity in recent years by pure accident than her team has by design. That's not good. If you doubt me, look at the YouTube clips of Hayley singing I Dreamed A Dream - or more particularly, look at the comments underneath. So I guess my main advice would be: believe in your talent, hunt your audience. Make sure there's no place in the world that does not know the voice of Hayley Westenra. Be pro-active. Hi Elliot I agree with some of your ideas; but I think the main stimulus to attaining exposure in the U S is money. Americans respond to saturation promotion. Unless that happens she's never going to make it here. I was listening to Walking on Air and I think Hayley could do well with some of the tracks on that c d. Classical/Crossover won't make it in the states. I think Hayley should pick either pop or country to make inroads here. Larry |
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Post by spiderman on Feb 1, 2011 18:52:21 GMT
[I think Hayley should pick either pop or country to make inroads here. Larry Pop wouldnt work larry; there are too many pop singers in the states as it is. honestly, i think if she wanted to make it in that market, she would have to do something different/ unique. otherwise, she's just competing with emily [etc]. its a big mistake to try and compete with large numbers of anything; we have a similar issue with video stores.... had too many/ now have one... the spiderman |
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Post by Elliot Kane on Feb 1, 2011 18:52:38 GMT
Larry,
I think unless a performer is an American themselves, it helps to have a really strong support base in other countries if any artist wants to crack the States, so if I were going to try it I'd make sure I was a known name elsewhere first. Probably in Britain, as it's the one place outside of the US that Americans pay some attention to, musically. Most of the rest of the world, in fact, pays attention to the US & Britain, which is why so many artists choose to base themselves in (Usually) London or New York.
You're completely right that it takes saturation and massive exposure across the whole nation to get anywhere in the US. Largely that seems to be done by radio and through radio tours, and it's definitely something that has to be repeated every once in a while unless the artist is huge.
This, I think, is where a great internet campaign can really help. The US is the most connected nation on Earth and YouTube can make a minor sensation into a worldwide event. Even the radio tours are not so ubiquitous as YouTube, with something like 98% of US households being online.
So the best way to lay the groundwork is to get your internet team up to top gear in aggressively promoting you. Official YouTube channel, plenty of concert footage, etc. Anything to get the point out there that there really is no better female singer on planet Earth than Hayley. It's relatively cheap promotion and can pay off stunningly if you do it right, or if you're lucky, or both. Add in an appearance on BGT or AGT and you start the storm front rolling...
I don't think Hayley should change to Pop or Country, though. Not knocking either type of music, but the US has a massive audience who like Classical Crossover, as evidenced by the popularity of people like Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and Susan Boyle. The big problem for Hayley is that that audience doesn't seem to know she exists. Solve that problem, and I think the rest will follow.
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Post by spiderman on Feb 1, 2011 18:58:39 GMT
Not sure if this is the right place for this but replies to my last question have got me wondering. It was suggested that Hayley will be discussing her future direction with her new managers. Just suppose YOU were part of her new management team. What direction would you like her to take in the next year or so? that question would be a mistake.... better is "what direction are you thinking of going in?" or variation on the theme. a good manager will ask you what you want to do to develop; not tell you hayley knows what she wants to achieve; and probably has some ideas on where she is going... if i where her planning her year, i would want: 1) artistic control over what im singing 2) ownership of the songs, and there copyrights 3) a tour other than UK. cos i need to see new places, bringing me new fans, extending my influence to a wider audience 4) some charitable stuff for unicef/ those war people etc 5) i want to extend my music in some new directions, so i can learn new things. 6) the US would be nice, but i want them to embrace me, not someone else; i have soo much to offer them, but they need to see it pardon me for ghostwriting, but thats the easist way to do it. the spiderman |
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Post by martindn on Feb 1, 2011 20:54:58 GMT
I have always said about Hayley that she only needs one lucky break. She needs to be heard. She doesn't need to follow the herd with her music, she is fresh and original, and if her music and her voice are heard, they will sell themselves.
She needs to work on doing more of her own original material I think. That means developing her songwriting talent. She should not be afraid to try out new ideas and do different things. Her versatility is a wonderful attribute, so she doesn't need to be put into a box becuase a particular genre is thought to be popular in particular countries. Being popular means they have enough artists in those genres already, but there is only one Hayley, and that is her appeal. That is what they need to sell.
Her record company must learn to accept this. And her management too, above anything else they need to work on getting her properly promoted in as many markets as possible.
A large proportion of those who know of Hayley think that she is the best they have ever heard. Very few say she is "quite good", some don't get her at all admittedly. To me, that means the number one priority is to get her heard, and that is primarily up to her management and record company.
Why is she so popular in Asia, and especially Taiwan? It is simple, she appeared on a very high profile TV event, the opening of the World Games last year. She could, I believe, do exactly the same anywhere in the world if she was given that sort of exposure. How about the opening of the 2012 Olympics? Or the Royal Wedding? Not too far for her to travel, and they will have audences of millions all round the world. One lucky break lke that could do the business, and once it starts, it will snowball I'm sure.
So I don't think it is up to Hayley's management to tell her which direction to go. Her present direction is just fine, and she should stay in control. Their job is to get her noticed, so I think they should be concentrating on that, not trying to contain her as an artist.
With many, perhaps most singers, it is the music that sells the artist. With Hayley, it is her voice that sells the music, so what the music is isn't really that important.
The fact that they may have stamped on the distribution of her NI DVD does not impress me though. Surely allowing such things to be sold can only help spread the word.
Martin D
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 2, 2011 4:02:25 GMT
I have always said about Hayley that she only needs one lucky break. She needs to be heard. She doesn't need to follow the herd with her music, she is fresh and original, and if her music and her voice are heard, they will sell themselves. She needs to work on doing more of her own original material I think. That means developing her songwriting talent. She should not be afraid to try out new ideas and do different things. Her versatility is a wonderful attribute, so she doesn't need to be put into a box becuase a particular genre is thought to be popular in particular countries. Being popular means they have enough artists in those genres already, but there is only one Hayley, and that is her appeal. That is what they need to sell. Her record company must learn to accept this. And her management too, above anything else they need to work on getting her properly promoted in as many markets as possible. A large proportion of those who know of Hayley think that she is the best they have ever heard. Very few say she is "quite good", some don't get her at all admittedly. To me, that means the number one priority is to get her heard, and that is primarily up to her management and record company. Why is she so popular in Asia, and especially Taiwan? It is simple, she appeared on a very high profile TV event, the opening of the World Games last year. She could, I believe, do exactly the same anywhere in the world if she was given that sort of exposure. How about the opening of the 2012 Olympics? Or the Royal Wedding? Not too far for her to travel, and they will have audences of millions all round the world. One lucky break lke that could do the business, and once it starts, it will snowball I'm sure. So I don't think it is up to Hayley's management to tell her which direction to go. Her present direction is just fine, and she should stay in control. Their job is to get her noticed, so I think they should be concentrating on that, not trying to contain her as an artist. With many, perhaps most singers, it is the music that sells the artist. With Hayley, it is her voice that sells the music, so what the music is isn't really that important. The fact that they may have stamped on the distribution of her NI DVD does not impress me though. Surely allowing such things to be sold can only help spread the word. Martin D Hi Martin But what kind of music should she write. The classical-crossover that we like or music that is not just for a niche market. Larry |
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 2, 2011 4:15:31 GMT
Larry, I think unless a performer is an American themselves, it helps to have a really strong support base in other countries if any artist wants to crack the States, so if I were going to try it I'd make sure I was a known name elsewhere first. Probably in Britain, as it's the one place outside of the US that Americans pay some attention to, musically. Most of the rest of the world, in fact, pays attention to the US & Britain, which is why so many artists choose to base themselves in (Usually) London or New York. You're completely right that it takes saturation and massive exposure across the whole nation to get anywhere in the US. Largely that seems to be done by radio and through radio tours, and it's definitely something that has to be repeated every once in a while unless the artist is huge. This, I think, is where a great internet campaign can really help. The US is the most connected nation on Earth and YouTube can make a minor sensation into a worldwide event. Even the radio tours are not so ubiquitous as YouTube, with something like 98% of US households being online. So the best way to lay the groundwork is to get your internet team up to top gear in aggressively promoting you. Official YouTube channel, plenty of concert footage, etc. Anything to get the point out there that there really is no better female singer on planet Earth than Hayley. It's relatively cheap promotion and can pay off stunningly if you do it right, or if you're lucky, or both. Add in an appearance on BGT or AGT and you start the storm front rolling... I don't think Hayley should change to Pop or Country, though. Not knocking either type of music, but the US has a massive audience who like Classical Crossover, as evidenced by the popularity of people like Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and Susan Boyle. The big problem for Hayley is that that audience doesn't seem to know she exists. Solve that problem, and I think the rest will follow. Hello Elliot I don't agree that the U S has a market for classical crossover. They may be able to appreciate it but it's not enough to break into the U S. No offense but I think if you don't live in the states you can't accurately predict what they like. Of course there is a small majority that would support it , but far from being enough to help Hayley.. Americans like movie themes, pop, ballads, country, and rap. I don't understand why the Brits can't seem to comprehend that fact. Check the charts in the states and that will give you a pretty good idea of what is popular here. I actually think Hayley's new album may contain some pop songs. Larry |
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Post by Libby on Feb 2, 2011 4:40:09 GMT
The TV shows/appearances I would recommend for Hayley in the U.S. are:
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual PBS Christmas production from Salt Lake City, Utah
Oprah (very unlikely, though, since her show is ending this year)
Live with Regis and Kelly
The Ellen Show
Good Morning America
Today Show
The Early Show
The View
The Talk
I would also recommend an appearance at a televised Ice show in Japan, since skating and Hayley are both very popular in Japan. But skating is more so; that is why Hayley would do well to perform where skating fans (and there are many) will have a chance to see her.
I agree somewhat with Larry's statement that the US doesn't have a market for classical crossover music. While many Americans enjoy the classical crossover artists that have been mentioned, the classical crossover genre is not widely recognized. If you mention it as a type of music you like, nobody knows what you're talking about. While Josh Groban is very popular here, he is still not popular enough that everyone you talk to knows who he is. They don't. Or they might have a vague idea; after all, his Christmas album was the best-selling album of 2007. And now there's Jackie Evancho. However, many people consider her genre to be opera, since that's what she sang on the show, and they've never heard of cc. So, there really isn't much of a market for that genre, sad as it is. But popular cc aritists' programs are shown on PBS stations, so anyone who watches that will stumble upon the genre somehow or another.
I think Hayley is more known among the CW crowd than anyone else. They do sing cc songs, of course.
However, Larry, I do not agree that Hayley should turn to pop and/or country. She's already said before that the U.S. has tried to pull her towards pop, and "that wasn't me", so we can all forget that. Pop, the kind of pop that's most popular here, would not do justice to her voice or talent whatsoever. Country I could halfway see, since she seems to like more folkish songs, like Summerfly, Jolene, etc. But not the type of country that seems most popular at the moment. That's Carrie Underwood, not Dolly Parton. And right now I can't see her settling exclusively on any one genre. That's why she fits the cc genre. I love hearing her sing a variety of styles, and I would be sad if she only did one genre.
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 2, 2011 4:44:11 GMT
[I think Hayley should pick either pop or country to make inroads here. Larry Pop wouldnt work larry; there are too many pop singers in the states as it is. honestly, i think if she wanted to make it in that market, she would have to do something different/ unique. otherwise, she's just competing with emily [etc]. its a big mistake to try and compete with large numbers of anything; we have a similar issue with video stores.... had too many/ now have one... the spiderman Spidy I couldn't disagree with your analysis more. Look at the number of country artists that were out there when Taylor Swift broke in. Celine Dion was unheard of till she did the Titanic bit. After that Caesars Palace built a multi million dollar show room for her. You have to realize how big the U S is and you can't use your countries as a comparison. Pop singers pop up here like dandelions in the spring. Many are successful. It's the same with actors. New actors are constantly coming on the scene. However Americans are very predictable and they won't accept what they don't like. Susan Boyle will be in the dustbin of music very soon. She is just a novelty that will soon go away. Larry |
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Post by Libby on Feb 2, 2011 4:47:42 GMT
Umm, actually I heard of Celine before Titanic. Power of Love, anyone? Because You Loved Me, maybe? Yes, it helped. So that proves the point that Hayley should sing the soundtrack for a major film. Like The Hobbit, of course. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifIt's a little harsh to imply that Americans don't, or won't, like Hayley. If they actually had the chance to hear her, they would. And they do. Celtic Woman fans most certainly do. Now, if she could just be known for more than just her CW days, she might get somewhere. |
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 2, 2011 4:58:31 GMT
I sincerely hope I haven't offended anyone with my posts tonight. But I think it's just not possible for anyone who doesn't live in the U S to make assumptions about what will fly and what won't.
Most countries consist of a homogeneous population; but the U S population isn't in that category Even from one section of the country to another. We are a multi cultural society. So if you can figure out what we like you're ahead of me and I've been here all my life. More than sixty years.
Larry
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