MLC PR Announces New Addition

MLC PR proudly announces the newest member of its staff, publicist Howie Simon.

Howie has had over 18 years of experience in public relations, working in music, TV, film, and with authors comedians, designers, celebrity personalities and more. From experience at Warner Bros./Reprise Records working with A-list artists such as Green Day, Googoo Dolls, Faith Hill, Candlebox, Van Halen, Cher, Madonnna, and Prince to working at Shandrew PR, some of clients include or have included: Nadia Bjorlin, Susan Ward, Patrika Darbo, Kyle Lowder, Chad Michael Murray, Josh Hartnett, Lindsay Clubine, author Tom Kennedy, The Movieguide Awards, Chris Tucker, Better Than Ezra, Golf Tournament Grand Opening at Super Dome, Kirsten Storms, Gloria Gaynor, Tommy Davidson, Lila McCann, Rick James, author Scott Sedita, Kelly Moneymaker from Expose, among many others.

Howie is a great addition to MLC PR, and we are very pleased to have him on the team.

Top 5 Ways to Promote Your New Album

Top 5 Ways to Promote Your New Album
By Mona Loring of MLC PR

You’ve worked for months on your new album. Now what? Unless you have a major label, experienced management or a generous amount of investor money behind you, the ability to promote your own album is crucial. Besides the talent to make great music, promotional skills are some of the most important skills you can have as an indie artist. When you don't have the means to hire a PR firm to push the album for you, try these five steps and cover your bases. Although it is overwhelming, keep in mind that these actions are crucial to your success and the process takes the 3 Ps: planning, persistence, and patience.

1. Target the Right Audience – It is very important to know and understand who your audience is in every aspect. What age group are they? Where do most of them live? What kind of music do they like? If you pay attention to these details and come up with a list of people you want to contact, you can save a ton of time and money. Write out lists and target each relevant group.

2. Create a Press Kit/Promo Package – This process isn’t as intimidating as people assume. Think about what you need to include so that the media gets to see everything they need to know about you in a concise, yet detailed manner. For example, a press kit could include:

A press release about the new album
A succinct (one page) bio
The CD (be it a single, EP or full length)
Quotes pulled from press coverage you have had in the past, if any
Contact information
A color photo
Links to your websites (Myspace, Facebook, etc.)

Some people can get more creative, but the basics are all you really need at the end of the day.

3. Compile a Media List- Getting your contact list together is one of the most important things to do. You can write out a wish list of local and national press that you want to contact. Make sure to have emails, mailing addresses and phone and fax numbers—press contacts differ in how they want to be contacted. If you have more options, you have better odds of getting through for consideration.

4. Plan an Album Release Party- The event doesn’t need to be massive, but something needs to promote the new album. Find a cool venue that you’re comfortable at, plan a set, have merchandise available for sale and invite everyone you can—fans, media, family and friends. The bigger the crowd, the better. Invite the media to meet and greet the band, get a free CD and review the show if possible. Don’t push. If they say no, they may be willing to see a future show. Don’t press any buttons and respectfully accept any passes on coverage. Just getting your name out there does wonders anyhow.

5. Mailings- Compile a press list and send your CDs (with or without press kits, but do at least send a bio with contact information noted) to every contact. Make a note to follow up if you don’t hear back in a couple weeks. Don’t follow up if you do hear back and the journalist passes. You don’t want to be a pest, remember, there’s always later. If you come on too strong, the individual may permanently blow you off.

Good luck...

Music PR Facts to Know

Music PR Facts to Know

By Mona Loring of MLC PR

Most artists trying to break in the music industry don’t have the luxury to hire a publicist. Many have to try and do their own PR in the beginning, and it takes time and experience to learn how to work with members of the media. As weird as it may sound, music media personnel (journalists, TV show producers, radio program directors, etc.) are really—let’s just say particular. The problem is that they have different ears for music, extremely busy schedules and limited patience. Your best bet in the beginning is a local paper or a music website or ezine to write a story about you or review your new album. Stop here. If you don’t have at least a professionally put together EP, wait. Music press has certain standards. They won’t take a burned CD full of MP3s or a few MP4s off iTunes. If you don’t have the basic materials, start there before you worry about media outreach on any level. If you already have the tools needed, then go and get some attention!

Below are 5 helpful tips about music media outreach:

- Do your homework. Know what they like and dislike, do and do not review. If you position yourself in a manner that appeals to the person you’re contacting, your chances are obviously… greater.

- Never address your press material generically. If you do, your materials will be put into a large pile on someone’s desk if you’re lucky—but probably thrown in the trash. They’d much rather review the 100 other CDs mailed in a package addressed appropriately! Again.. do your homework!

- Follow-up! Every call and mailing sent deserves a follow up. Wait about a week, then call the contact and just ask if you could take a minute of their time to tell them about what you have going on… If you actually make contact, find out if they got your package/email, and if they plan to cover you in some way. Be very polite and don’t take it personally if they blow you off... these people are very busy!

- If you do get a hit with the media, remember to be very punctual and professional. Do not miss your appointment, or show up late for an interview, they do not give second chances. Again, you are dealing with very busy individuals that have many more people like you to choose from—you, do not have that luxury with media.

- Be prepared for mistakes to happen. Again these people are very busy and unfortunately, this means they may get your name wrong on air, mix your facts up in a feature, or worse, tell you they will cover you and then flake out. No matter what happens, if you want to have the chance to work with them again, you need to take it all with a grain—ok a spoonful of salt.

This is not an easy job but it’s doable. If you take these tips to heart and really put time forth working with the press, researching potential contacts, reaching out, and staying in contact with the media, you should get the initial buzz you need going.

Copyright 2008, Mona Loring

Top 10 Music PR Tips

I wrote this article for an Isound.com newsletter... I have had a number of bands and managers write me back telling me it gave them great insight on the basics of music publicity... I am glad it helped and will definitely try to write more articles to help in '08!

Top 10 Music PR Tips

By Mona Loring

Publicity is a huge driving force when you’re looking at success in the music industry. Although it’s definitely beneficial to retain a publicist once you have your music career in gear, you can still manage to create a little buzz on your own in the meantime. Below are the top ten tips for generating your own publicity as a music artist.

1. Make sure you have a press kit that includes a well-written bio, an 8X10 photo, CD and contact info.
2. Go local. Local press is by far the easiest press to get. Let them know your story and send in a CD. Shoot for the music editor or columnist and if they don’t have one assigned specifically, contact the entertainment editor.
3. Social networking sites are all about music these days. For example, Myspace’s reach is incredible for gaining new fans. Where else can you find people to listen to your music in the convenience of their own home? Make sure you are updating your music, adding friends, keeping them all posted, and updating the tour dates. There are magazines on Myspace looking for music to feature all the time.
4. Radio is a great way to share your music with the masses. You don’t have to approach the big ones—you can see success with air play on smaller stations as well. Send in your CD to local DJs and look up college radio shows nationally and see if they’ll spin your music. Online radio is picking up these days too… USA4Real.com is a great option… it doesn’t cost much and it gets your music heard.
5. Music licensing is a great way to make money and get publicity. Try contacting some music supervisors on TV shows for a start. Send them an inquiry with your information and a link to your music. If you get placed, you can use it for press—and it becomes a story!
6. Music websites and e-zines are always looking for music to review. Look up their websites and send emails to their editors. Tell them why you’re a fit for their magazine and ask if you can send in a CD. Again, try to make contact first… sending in a random package may be useless.
7. Youtube.com and Stickam.com are wonderful outlets to share your music. When done right, you can really start gaining a fan base. Try to do something charismatic and original. Reaching out to people online can do wonders. Create a music video, a video blog, sing an acoustic set, take a stab at some comedy-- anything… Just remember, first impressions are everything.
8. Be philanthropic. Charity does wonders for publicity outreach. Find something you believe in and offer to play at their event or donate proceeds to their cause. Not only does it get you out there and give you a story angle… but it feels good to help out.
9. Send your CDs to appropriate magazines for your music’s genre. Make sure you call ahead and find out the right contact, unsolicited packages get lost in the shuffle. A good rule of thumb is to look up specific writers you feel would enjoy your music and find out how to reach them.
10. Try to book shows in different towns, that way you can easily label the cluster of shows as a tour and contact local newspapers and radio stations and offer them merch in exchange for promotions/articles.

Note that PR is about being smart and creative. It’s about finding a reason for people to care about you and your music. Sure, great music and a good look are helpful, but you also need to reach out to the public and come up with stories. Think outside of the box and you’ll really benefit from the results in no time. Good luck!

Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Holiday Blog

Happy Holidays to all.

This year has been a great success for MLC PR and its clients and we know it is only going to get better in 2008.

Even though there have been bumps for everyone in the biz-- okay, one major bump (i.e. the writer's strike!), we haven't let it stop us. Clients are capable of getting just as much attention-- you just have to swing the angle a bit differently. For example, if you would normally write about your actor's new project-- now you'd have to find something else to discuss. Think creatively... after all, this is something you should do regardless of a strike. All press doesn't need to be about your clients' actual projects. Go to a home magazine and offer a story about your client's upscale living room filled with antique collectibles... don't have a client that fits that category? See what they do have. Love for pets? Pitch a spread with their fave one-eyed pup Skippy. There's always a story... you just have to dig for it sometimes.

Whether you are reading this blog as a fellow publicist, client, potential client or industry professional-- know that PR is always in your hands. It doesn't stop just because the writers have thrown down their pens... err... mouse-- mice?

We wish you a beautiful rest of the year. Thanks for your interest in MLC PR.

Mona Loring on BBC News UK

Yes, that's right....

Last Wednesday- I went down to the lovely Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to shoot a segment with BBC (UK News) regarding "the makings of a star." The piece chronicles the saga of a UK gentlemen driven to make it as a star-- no matter what it takes. They wanted to show that it is difficult to make it as a star in the UK-- but even MORE difficult in Hollywood...
I was the chosen PR expert for the piece in Hollywood, there was also an expert chosen in the UK.

The "star-in-the-making" and I sat down to discuss... well, what it takes to make it. Bottom line was-- what would it take for him to convince me to sign him to the firm and help him get famous? That's just the problem... I don't just make anyone famous... You have to have a talent... a story... something to get press!! It came down to the guy singing, dancing and then I kid you not-- stripping down to his knickers and jumping in the public pool. Still didn't work... MLC PR needs more than that!!

Too bad no one here will see it air (unless you're going to the UK in late Spring!) but I will keep you posted if I can get a clip (they told me it's hard to convert their PAL version). It will be a 6-7 million viewership in the UK... not too shabby.

Anyway, thought I would share the news as it was pretty funny. Plus, I have some friends overseas-- perhaps you all can tell me how the piece turned out!

Happy Holidays!

-Mona :)

Celebrity Defined- Brief Overview of Entertainment PR

Being a “celebrity” is quite different from working as an actor or a musician… you can do your job and even take in your handsome paycheck, but at the end of the day—you’re only regarded as “star” when people know who you are.

So what makes you stand out above the rest? And let us note that when we are talking about the entertainment industry so “the rest” is a pretty large number.

You can argue as much as you want, however, in the end-- a publicist is what makes you officially stand out. A high-caliber publicist introduces (or re-introduces) you to the public. Without the public consistently caring about you, it is near impossible to succeed as a person in the entertainment industry with celebrity status.

You are not a celebrity unless the public wants to know more about you and what you are currently doing-- and the media is the integral passageway to your desired audience.

Now it is important to keep in mind that for most talent, a publicist can be unnecessary. In fact, if a PR firm is legitimate, they will turn down prospective clients seeking their services unless that talent has a solid reason for needing the exposure. Day in and day out, publicists are contacted with inquiries from people who assume the key to instant stardom is a publicist. Sure, we do help you get there but you have to crawl before you walk. You can’t just assume we can get you featured in Vanity Fair just because you do the job that you do (no matter how well you do it). You have to have something going for you that will set you apart from everyone doing the very same job as you. Why are you original? What makes you the next big thing? Why should the world care? Any logical publicist would tell you that they cannot generate press, create appearance (red carpet) requests, or fuel public interest if the talent has nothing of consequence to report.

Most people who are at the right stage for a publicist are on the cusp breaking through to the next level in their career. That can be anything as minor as landing a small role on a hit television show to releasing an album and touring with someone who is getting a ton of what we call—“buzz.”

Now on the flip side, even though some publicists say that you have to ripen your craft prior to seeking PR representation, it is not necessarily true. If that were the case, reality stars would never acquire fame for what they do-- being themselves. They may not have much experience in the public eye, but they do have something… Reality stars have a TV show behind them which has created the buzz they need for their publicity efforts to take effect.

Coming back to the focal issue at hand-- being the term “celebrity” and all its glory. Talent and their reps need to understand exactly why it is NOT a good idea to pass on publicity. As discussed, there are times to wait and ripen yet times to seize the moment as well. You need to assess every aspect of your career.

There are a number of actors who choose to refuse PR services assuming their management can just “field the requests” and that is all they need.

Not true.

Unless you are someone like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt (who trust me, need a publicist for other reasons!) you will seldom be approached by media. Even if you’re promoting a hot new movie, there are only a handful of media outlets that will cover your project and even then—they won’t necessarily come to you for the interview. There are many people involved in a project who can comment on the experience: directors, supporting actors, producers, etc. If you want to make sure that you are noted for your achievement, you need a publicist to assist you. Taking that a step further, not only will your publicist assist you but they will make sure to do so in a way that stands in line with branding you as the celebrity you want to be. This branding comes into play with every detail of your career. Which events you attend and how often, what you wear in a photo shoot, what you decide to say about an experience, and much more are all the actions you take which come together to brand you as a celebrity.

To end, let’s take the idea further. Becoming a celebrity is different than just getting famous. The word famous is not as everlasting as the term celebrity. Sure, by definition they both mean the same concept but in theory—a celebrity should be timeless. Remaining a celebrity is an on-going job and the word doesn’t come lightly. You need a team built around you to help you stay that way.

Copyright Mona Loring of MLC PR 2007

*You may reprint this article but please properly credit the author.