Day 1, album #3?

[Miguel]

In forming a reply to John's last comment in the BHS thread (quoted below), I decided it would go better in this thread.

I think the comments on Haley's PMJ videos have changed a lot over the past year. Early on in her involvement with PMJ a lot of the viewers and commentors were PMJ fans. Many were positive but other complained about her pronunciation or pined for more Robyn, etc. Now the views are brought in from YT recommendations, FB links, browsing (and I would guess more prominent placement of the videos on YT screens), and specific searches for music by Haley. There seems to be a greater and more consistent appreciation expressed for her, her voice, and her technical abilities. It feels more like the process of Haley emerging as a star (something beyond just being the best PMJ vocalist).

That's a good observation. She needs her third album to generate similar recognition. I'm hopeful it will. I think the theme of the album, the input of people at Concord, Haley's experience level, and the increasing recognition of Haley are factors in favor of this being a "breakthrough" album for her.

I think it has the potential to be a really special moment for me. And it has to be, because... it's the Top 3 3rd album, and it's a big deal.

I'm confident it's going to sound great. My biggest concern is the songwriting content. Is there something that's going to capture the public's attention?

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Psst, Miguel - Strings >>>

Whenever I heard the band's name in the past my focus was on "electric" and not "orchestra." So in my mind I connected them with electric instruments.

Wikipedia says,

The band's name is an intended pun based not only on electric light (as in a light bulb as seen on early album covers) but also using "electric" rock instruments combined with a "light orchestra" (orchestras with only a few cellos and violins that were popular in Britain during the 1960s).

[mercfan3]

So, is Haley definitely with Concord?

[Miguel]

So, is Haley definitely with Concord?

Nothing has been confirmed. We just know John Burk, president of Concord was at the helm of the recording session involving the composers and Haley later attended a Grammy event with him. Later, we found out from Anders that the chief engineer for Concord was editing some tracks with Haley.

Concord has a reputation as being very artist friendly so it could be they struck some unusual arrangement with Haley where they help produce and distribute the record but aren't the record label per se.

In fact, they don't seem to mind offering established artists their own imprint (or "vanity label") wherein they do just that. I'm sure Haley would find that attractive, but I wonder how it affects the promotion aspect. Theoretically, with your own imprint you can also produce the music of others.

I learned that in reviewing an interview this week with one of the artists on their roster. All of the group's previous albums had been produced under another label, but Concord offered them their own imprint. The leader of the group found that attractive, but didn't expect to produce the work of any other groups as it was too time-consuming.

I can't find that interview now, but if I do I'll post a link to it.

[john]

I think it has the potential to be a really special moment for me. And it has to be, because... it's the Top 3 3rd album, and it's a big deal.

I'm confident it's going to sound great. My biggest concern is the songwriting content. Is there something that's going to capture the public's attention?

It sounds like the album is going to have a number of covers of old songs on it, along with some original material. I think this is a good approach. We know Haley is consistently able to bring new life to old songs and I expect she will have some awesome covers on the album. A least one of these is likely to blow people away, independent of the original material, and that should draw attention to the album as a whole. For many some of these songs from the 60s will be new and her take on them will be fresh. I see that as a base, and hopefully she will have some kickass new stuff too, which will stand on its own.

[rmd1064]

I think it has the potential to be a really special moment for me. And it has to be, because... it's the Top 3 3rd album, and it's a big deal.

I'm confident it's going to sound great. My biggest concern is the songwriting content. Is there something that's going to capture the public's attention?

It sounds like the album is going to have a number of covers of old songs on it, along with some original material. I think this is a good approach. We know Haley is consistently able to bring new life to old songs and I expect she will have some awesome covers on the album. A least one of these is likely to blow people away, independent of the original material, and that should draw attention to the album as a whole. For many some of these songs from the 60s will be new and her take on them will be fresh. I see that as a base, and hopefully she will have some kickass new stuff too, which will stand on its own.

The thing is that Haley has been making the most hay in recent years with cover songs, from PMJ to CHFIL. Now, I think her original songs are terrific and both of her CDs are full of great tunes--that could/should be hits. But, to break through, she might need that killer cover that pushes her back onto the charts (like CHFIL), but with more promotion and marketing behind it.

Just think if Haley had sung CHFIL on Ellen, Fallon, Colbert or Kimmel? A label may have made that happen. Or what if she got a full court press from a label, including more promotion, radio tour/shows, advertising, etc with that song. I think it would have pushed it from the Top 30 fringe to a Top 10 song--all over the radio. Then, once she has that first big single, then a second single might break through too, and then the CD could gain even more momentum, etc. Something like what happened with Meghan Trainor...

So, if she does several covers for her "Whats That Sound" CD and a cover is the first single (and maybe Concord will want that), that might be the best approach to launch her career to the next level....

[Miguel]

It sounds like the album is going to have a number of covers of old songs on it, along with some original material. I think this is a good approach. We know Haley is consistently able to bring new life to old songs and I expect she will have some awesome covers on the album.

One of the benefits of covers is that they're more likely to be found by the public during searches for familiar/popular songs. That's presuming they see fit to put them all online. They should:

(Universal Music Group's) revenues from streaming grew a whopping 58% in 2016.

Per the company's numbers, 2016 streaming figures equated to $137 million a month. By week, the company makes $32 million, and per day, it earns $4.5 million.

This increase helped to offset steep declines in album and download sales.

Those formats have been avalanching. Album sales saw a 15% drop, while download sales also saw a 29% decline.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/02/.../#comments

Another benefit is it lets the artist/label present only the strongest original songs (or those that best fit the album's theme). I'm curious to see what the mix will be.

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The thing is that Haley has been making the most hay in recent years with cover songs, from PMJ to CHFIL... to break through, she might need that killer cover that pushes her back onto the charts (like CHFIL), but with more promotion and marketing behind it.

I think the cover approach works for PMJ because of the aforementioned built-in popularity aspect. But I don't see a cover being that promotable on television unless it's used in something that captures the wider public's fancy -- like a blockbuster movie.

[Miguel]

Haley's album is expected in May. Releases are usually on a Friday. For personal reasons, I'd obviously prefer the album be released May 5th.

A sampling of upcoming May releases known at this time:

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May 5th

Blondie - “Pollinator” (their 11th studio album will feature collaborations with Joan Jett, Laurie Anderson, Charli XCX, Sia, Johnny Marr, etc.; first single: “Fun”

Diana Krall - “Turn Up the Quiet” (noted as a best seller for pre-sales)

Patti LaBelle - “Bel Hommage”

Ozomatli - “Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica”

Chris Stapleton - TBA

Various Artists - “Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of The Story – An Album to Benefit War Child” (all-star charity tribute features Adele, Pearl Jam, Dolly Parton, Indigo Girls...)

http://www.pauseandplay.com/new-releases-may-5-2017/

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May 12th

Zac Brown Band - “Welcome Home”

Don Bryant (co-wrote “I Can’t Stand the Rain” with wife Ann Peebles) - “Don’t Give Up On Love” (the Memphis soul great/Hi Records alum’s first album in decades;

A couple more, including "Seether. Their label: (Canine Riot / Concord Music Group)

http://www.pauseandplay.com/new-releases-may-12-2017/

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May 19th

Erasure - “World Be Gone”

Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. - “The King & I” (duets album featuring... guests: Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Styles P, Lil Cease, Sheek Louch, 112, Lil Kim) Ha! I mistook Faith Evans for Faith Hill (country singer). She's actually an R&B singer who was married to B.I.G.

[/b]
Linkin Park - “One More Light”

George Michael - “Listen Without Prejudice" (remastered 25th Anniversary Edition)

http://www.pauseandplay.com/new-releases-may-19-2017/

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May 26th

Only two thus far...

Los Straitjackets - “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love & Los Straitjackets”

Mark Slaughter - "Halfway There"

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Do you think it's better to release an album the week when there are a lot of big names doing the same or to do it during more of a lull?

[Tusk]

Haley Reinhart @HaleyReinhart 11m11 minutes ago
More
All official Haley Reinhart Merch on sale now for just $10!! Shop now ---> http://haley.ae/MerchStore

New look to Haley's website

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Bio is also updated, but I tweeted her she should update her PMJ views since it's almost double what she posted now

Haley Reinhart, 26, is a singer/songwriter who released her new album, Better in 2016 – the follow up release to 2012’s Interscope Records debut, Listen Up! Both releases have garnered significant critical acclaim – Listen Up! debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200 chart, while her recent single “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” was featured in the popular Extra gum commercial “The Story of Sarah and Juan.” The single sold 201,000 units (and counting), amassed 45 million Spotify streams, and reached gold record status in Feburary 2017. Haley completed her first solo headlining tour of the U.S. in June 2016, and she will embark on her first solo headlining international tour in 2017.

Reinhart grew up in Chicagoland, born into a world of music. Singing at the young age of 7, she began to take the stage alongside her parents and their band of 30 years: Midnight. Thanks to her parents’ diverse musical taste, Reinhart became heavily influenced by a wide variety of genres, including rock ’n’ roll, funk, pop, jazz, and the blues. She hit the big stage with the Wheeling High School jazz band, which toured across Europe in 2009, performing at both the Montreux Jazz Festival and Umbria Jazz Festival. Reinhart continued to study jazz in college, forming several bands and side collaborations. In 2011, she competed on Season 10 of landmark TV singing competition series American Idol, eventually finishing in third place.

Since then, she has seen her songs featured in a variety of other TV and film projects, including James Cameron’s HBO documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, a recent Chase Bank commercial, and the film Step Up Revolution. Reinhart has built up a strong and devoted fanbase of “Haliens” thanks to live performances at festivals such as Lollapalooza and the New Orleans Jazz Fest. She has also collaborated live with some of the biggest names in the business, including Tony Bennett, Slash, David Foster, and Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz. In 2015, Reinhart premiered cover songs with YouTube sensation Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox which have amassed over 56 million video views to date.

In addition to singing, Reinhart made her voiceover debut in 2015 as a little boy named Bill in the Netflix original animated series F Is for Family, produced by Bill Burr, Vince Vaughn, Peter Billingsly, and Michael Price. The show has recently been picked up for a second season which will premiere in 2017.

[Tusk]

#Team Haley is on the Ball, we tweeted out a few corrections and minutes later they were updated.

I suggested they change the web site's "FavIcon" (the icon in the tab of a web page next to the page's title) from the default, SquareSpace one to a personalized one, and literally minutes later it was updated

[Miguel]

Nice to see thing hopping on a Friday night. Maybe it's Derek Spartz. His LinkedIn profile notes his present position is "Music Artist Digital Content & Marketing Manager."