Your career is over when you are putting ads on your CD packaging. Way to go Mariah - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-04-2009, 01:00 AM

Artists have been name-dropping brands in their songs and placing products in their music videos for years, to their financial benefit.

So that's why Mariah Carey's latest move is not that surprising -- and still, yet, irritating.

Advertisements from Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Métier de Beauté and the Bahamas Board of Tourism will appear in the CD booklet to Mariah Carey's "Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel," according to Billboard. It is intended to be a mini-magazine in conjunction with Elle magazine.

"The idea was really simple thinking: 'We sell millions of records, so you should advertise with us,'" said Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group, a unit of Universal Music Group. "My artists have substantial circulation -- when you sell 2 million, 5 million, 8 million, that's a lot of eyeballs. Most magazines aren't as successful as those records."

Carey is one of that label's biggest artists, but they're also mulling similar or even bigger deals like this for Rihanna, Bon Jovi or even Kanye.

Album sales have been sliding down double digits almost every year for a handful of years. Becoming a No. 1 artist doesn't require selling as many copies any more, but every sale is harder than ever. Record labels took large part in this decline, and now, more than ever, they are seeking methods to subsidize the astronomical costs of putting albums out by money-pit brands like Mariah Carey.

And she is a brand. A big brand. Carey is one of the most enduring faces and voices in pop music and it takes a lot of money to keep that up. Art and commerce have to marry in the music business for superstars to exist.

But this is another instance where a valid question comes up: Where do you draw the line? Is money and return all that matters? How much can fans take until they dismiss you, take you less seriously or quit buying into your brand, as it strays further away from art and performance?

A lot of people are about to buy a Mariah product come Sept. 15, and will be paying, in part, to be advertised to. As a consumer, I find myself annoyed spending my money on that -- whether its the commercials before the movie in the theater or logos sewed onto the outside of clothing or the first 25 pages of fashion ads in the front of a magazine. But it's all in the effort to keep those trains chugging; some are just more expensive to upkeep than others.

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-...e-now-with-ads

Schmoopie · 08-04-2009, 02:11 AM

Like she really needs more money. Give me a break!

SBTB Geek · 08-04-2009, 02:49 AM

No. It's called smart marketing. Doing so gives her the opportunity to create a grand, better than average album booklet. Since albums sales are so low, this gives casual fans an incentive to purchase the disc.

browneyes106 · 08-04-2009, 05:49 PM

^I agree.

HuntingtonM15 · 08-10-2009, 02:29 PM

I missed this thread, but what an irrelevant article.

08-04-2009, 01:00 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Your career is over when you are putting ads on your CD packaging. Way to go Mariah Artists have been name-dropping brands in their songs and placing products in their music videos for years, to their financial benefit. So that's why Mariah Carey's latest move is not that surprising -- and still, yet, irritating. Advertisements from Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Métier de Beauté and the Bahamas Board of Tourism will appear in the CD booklet to Mariah Carey's "Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel," according to Billboard. It is intended to be a mini-magazine in conjunction with Elle magazine. "The idea was really simple thinking: 'We sell millions of records, so you should advertise with us,'" said Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group, a unit of Universal Music Group. "My artists have substantial circulation -- when you sell 2 million, 5 million, 8 million, that's a lot of eyeballs. Most magazines aren't as successful as those records." Carey is one of that label's biggest artists, but they're also mulling similar or even bigger deals like this for Rihanna, Bon Jovi or even Kanye. Album sales have been sliding down double digits almost every year for a handful of years. Becoming a No. 1 artist doesn't require selling as many copies any more, but every sale is harder than ever. Record labels took large part in this decline, and now, more than ever, they are seeking methods to subsidize the astronomical costs of putting albums out by money-pit brands like Mariah Carey. And she is a brand. A big brand. Carey is one of the most enduring faces and voices in pop music and it takes a lot of money to keep that up. Art and commerce have to marry in the music business for superstars to exist. But this is another instance where a valid question comes up: Where do you draw the line? Is money and return all that matters? How much can fans take until they dismiss you, take you less seriously or quit buying into your brand, as it strays further away from art and performance? A lot of people are about to buy a Mariah product come Sept. 15, and will be paying, in part, to be advertised to. As a consumer, I find myself annoyed spending my money on that -- whether its the commercials before the movie in the theater or logos sewed onto the outside of clothing or the first 25 pages of fashion ads in the front of a magazine. But it's all in the effort to keep those trains chugging; some are just more expensive to upkeep than others. http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-...e-now-with-ads
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-04-2009, 02:11 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Like she really needs more money. Give me a break!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-04-2009, 02:49 AM	#3
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	No. It's called smart marketing. Doing so gives her the opportunity to create a grand, better than average album booklet. Since albums sales are so low, this gives casual fans an incentive to purchase the disc.

08-04-2009, 05:49 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	^I agree.

08-10-2009, 02:29 PM	#5
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	I missed this thread, but what an irrelevant article.