NEED EVERYONE HELP HELP

[MBrevard]

Hi, Caryl! Just stopped by to see if anyone was here and I caught your wonderful message.

Oh, no, I NEVER meant that emailing should stop. I apologize if my last message was unclear on that. Emailing is absolutely VITAL to the success we hope to have this week. In fact, for people like myself, who are outside the country, sending emails to radio and TV stations is about all we can do to help, aside from finding people here who might be interested in purchasing the CD now, instead of waiting for the US release!!

So, no, please don't misunderstand me. Emailing remains number 1 on the list of things we all need to do when we can. And thank you SO much for putting this list together for us. This is exactly what many of us were begging for last week. It's going to be an invaluable resource for everyone!! Great to have it!!

Instead, what I was referring to was actually for the UK fans--putting our heads together to see if we could come up with new ways for fans to get out there and help get more exposure for CHSIB. We've already had wonderful ideas such as the posters and people, like Chris, playing it in his shop for 13 hours straight!! Or people seeking out their record shops to try to get them to play the single while people are shopping. OR showing the video in the shop!! As I think I mentioned before, that's an instant sale, if someone sees it or hears it and wants to get it!! It's gone!!

Sin has had many wonderful ideas. I'm still thinking about her Text messaging she mentioned earlier today. And I love her idea of taking it to places like the fair she went to with her kids and trying to get them to play it. Sadly, they didn't, but it was a great idea!! Also we have people driving around their towns playing the song on their radios loudly!!

These are all terrific and clever ways to get people to hear the song (and obviously, want it). But I'm sure that there are some we haven't thought of yet. And that's what I was thinking of in terms of a strategy session.

Naturally, not everyone will do everything on the list. The joy of having a list is that all fans can pick out exactly what they want or are able to do and that will be their contribution. Every fan is important that way. Everything they are able to do counts!!!

Uh oh. I just peeked and hadn't seen your latest message, Sin. Sorry 'bout that. I am intrigued with the Text idea and have been thinking about it since you first mentioned it. There MUST be a way we can figure out how to make it happen.

Anyway, I've got to get back to my family, but I'll check back again later, when I can. Thanks again, Caryl for adding such a valuable resource as that list is going to be this week!! Very much appreciated!!!!!! Wait 'til Mariella sees it! She's going to love it, because that's what she's been looking for, too!

Take care, all. See you a little later!!

Love ya!

[CarylB]

MB said:
Oh, no, I NEVER meant that emailing should stop ......

I didn't assume that. I just queried the need for a "strategy" as such and think we continue doing what we're doing and sharing ideas for other things. And the key is imo airtime, so as many ways of achieving that seems to be the simple way forward.

Caryl

[CarylB]

We're adding a link on ROL's Route page to a page of urls and email addresses people can use to lobby for UK airtime. Any additions to the list I put on the board here earlier would be appreciated. Just email them to caryl@republic-of-loafdom.com

Perhaps others with websites/pages could do something similar? Between us all we get considerable traffic from Meat fans. Let's get this danged CD played and played and played!!

Caryl

[ChoccyBat]

[quote="David M. Driskell"]

Originally Posted by SteinBat

MBrevard - what is there to congratulate about? 31 is a very dissapointing entrance.

Pretty damned good showing considering the single was only available in limited locations.

*grumble*

Gotta love the STEINinfluence on that post.

Yeah, that had been bugging me for a while now so have changed it. The choccy part is to do with my current job.

[tbuck]

Wow, what a bunch of troopers here. Haven't posted much, or at all, to this thread. Just been reading and doing, as my wife Jules has been posting (well and doing). I think everyone we know is going to get CHSIB for the next present occasion, LOL.

But here's a couple of thoughts I don't think I've seen mentioned in particular, if so excuse the repetion. There are several message threads on BBC Radio 1 and 2. If anyone if registered and has posts under their belt I think that carries more weight, please post. Not to say newbies shouldn't post, but a bunch of first posts looks like a spam campaign.

The important thing I noticed about Radio1 is that it is where the charts are listed. They also list new releases there, the CHSIB album release is not listed for Monday! There have been posts on the message list about this, if you have posted before, add your comment! If not, either post or better, email them about this disgraceful slight.

Radio 2 has a good thread on Meat's appearance on Johnny Walker. I've seen some from here post, hope everyone else who is registered will also. My next post will be a couple of funny samples and the direct url.

T
This is big time...see the sparks fly

[tbuck]

Here's the link to the Johnny Walker message list-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/h2/h2....johnniewalker&

You might have to cut and paste with that length. If you are registered at Radio2 please post. If not check out the posts and see how many are new posters, I don't think we want it to look like a spam campaign with all newbies, but a few new posters can't hurt, esp. from the UK. Here's a few funny quotes-

"really enjoyed the Meatloaf Drivetime Show and his special guest Johnnie Walker. Well done Johnnie for just letting him just get on with it."

"I heartly agree with the above comment. Great show, I was suppose to be working but downed tools just to listen - brilliant music and banter.
That man is exhausting - does he have any friends left?
Well done Johnnie - I'll have some more of that."

Had to share that with the troops here, cracked me up!

These last 2 posts of mine were just intended to help scout out more avenues to get the word out, hope it helps.

T
This is big time...see the sparks fly!

[mariella]

Caryl! Thank you, thank you. this may have been 'easy' for you to get on the forum, for me, being so stupid with these machines, it's very hard to even get these links here. So thanks you so much for making it so much easier to mail the BBC again. Now everyone will know WHERE to send these mails to. I trust they will also try and find local stations aswell.

Today I would really like to know if the shops in the UK are open. Also to watch the ALBUM-release!! Yes, finally. Dottiegirl, get yourself a copy!!

Going to check out the same here in Holland, the single is supposed to be out here today, but when I called Polydor about it last week, they said it will be in the shops tuesday. But with the opcoming concert in Amsterdam and airplay the song already has (from what people told me) in Holland, that will work out fine, I hope. Still the people at the Dutch forum also know about this, hope they are going to be activly involved in getting Dutch-airplay too. Know Guppie is. She's been mailing the Dutch media! Thanks!

Great day to you,

Mariella

[MBrevard]

Happy Monday morning to everyone!!! It's 2:30 a.m. California time/10:30 a.m. in the UK! I overslept a little today. Too much charting yesterday, I guess!

How is everyone doing?

Terry!!!!! I can't tell you how nice it is to have you here at this thread! Both you and Jules are invaluable to the ML community and I don't know how anyone else feels, but I love you both to death!!! Welcome aboard!

Thanks for the BBC radio message board info. I signed up yesterday for the Playlist board at BBC1 and complained that CHSIB wasn't there. Haven't been back since to see if anyone else responded. So, a little later, I'll be heading that way to check out all the other boards, as well!

You're right, T. It never occurred to me that it would look 'suspicious' with too many first-time posts on this subject! I'll try to add what I can to the older ones...

By the way, Meat DID seem to have a good time on Johnnie Walker's, didn't he?! He didn't want to leave!!! Our guy always cracks me up!! How can one not love him??!!!

Hope you won't be a stranger, T. Come on back, any time! And the same to Jules, of course!

Mariella! Go, girl, Go! I just KNEW you were going to love that list!!! It's great to have it, isn't it?! Going to help my emailing, I know!!

Don't worry about having to go to work or about not being able to be here the next day or two. All of us certainly understand you'll be getting ready for the ML concert in Amsterdam!! I'm SO excited for you! And Tim, who was here yesterday said he was going, too! Is Michel going? Haven't written or heard from him for awhile. Probably, huh! Who would miss such an opportunity? A full concert and a M&G!!

Mariella, is this a standing venue or a seated one? (Don't know if you're still out there to answer.) I was just curious. Never been to a standing concert before, but we just signed up for one here in late June. I was wondering what they were like....I don't mind standing during Meat's music. It's harder to sit still than to be up and 'dancing' around!

Well, I'll be around my computer for much of the day, dear friends, working for Meat's sake, if y'all want to talk. Just be away from time to time, taking care of my folks.

Keep up the great work, everyone. We have a LONG week ahead of us. But, we can do this thing!! CHSIB is heading for the Top Ten, if we have anything to say about it!! And, we do!!!

Love you all...

[dottie]

HMV Hounslow managed to get copy of Album Yipee!!!!!
At present they have 7 only in stock - a spokesperson said they had underestimated the demand for the single and album - more copies of the single will be out around Wednesday/Thursday - - Anyone who still wants this single should pre-order o.k.

[MBrevard]

Way to go, Dottie!!!!!! You see, you helped create that market and demand for MORE albums and more CDs!!! Way to go, girl!!!!! We're proud of you!!

It's been a rough road in your area!! Let's hope this will be the start of better days.

Anyone stopping by here from there, go get 'em while they're hot. With only 7, they're not going to last long!!!!

Great start to the day, Dottie! Thanks for the good news!! Keep us informed on how it's going there. Okay?!

Love to you!

[SueW]

Top OF The Pops

The bad news is that this week there were 13 new entries in the Top 40 and CHSIB was the third lowest (it's still outside the Top Thirty).

The good news is that out of the whole chart, only one song moved up - all the others either dropped places, stayed the same or were new entries.

The other straw to clasp onto is the fact that Meat Loaf has already recorded a performance for TOTP so maybe.....!

Sue
http://www.KasimInfo.com

[MBrevard]

Hi, Sue! Good Monday morning to you! Nice to have you here again!

Yes, it was a very rough first week for CHSIB in nearly every way possible, wasn't it?!!

As you said yesterday, look at the competition he had--all the others who had these new songs come in at the same time--Madonna, Robbie...it was TOUGH competition. And here's a man who hasn't had a single in a number of years...everything against him--except, of course, the love of thousands and thousands of people there! Granted, it was NOT the best of weeks to start, combined with all the CD distribution problems...

You know, I think it's a miracle he did as well as he did! And I'm pleased with it, under all the circumstances, believing he'll do even better this next week.

With the TOTP performance in the can, so to speak, there's always the possibility of it. Right? I mean it's their tape. They're not going to throw it away?? Does a song only stay viable for a few weeks, in terms of getting an appearance on there? Just curious...

I think you have just provided all of us here with that little bit of extra incentive to work even harder than before to make this thing happen!

Let me ask you something, if you don't mind. Being Number 1 on the Rock Charts: Does that not mean anything to Meat? Is it only the Pop chart which is important to him right now?

I've been trying to find this out, but no luck so far!

Thanks, Sue, for the news and the ray of hope! It's a quarter to 4 in the morning, California time and I could use all the rays I can get! Appreciate it!!

Take good care!

[CarylB]

For anyone coming new to this thread, you can help Meat get airtime for his new single by going to:
Go to:

http://www.republic-of-loafdom.com/W...CHSIB/Help.htm

for a list of urls and email addresses. Let's hear it for the big guy!!

Caryl

[original sin]

Caryl omg you've done it again fantastic Do you think this link should also be posted as a seperate thread. so it can be picked up quickly and easily by all? just a thought

[CarylB]

Rainer

Could we start a thread, but right at the top of CHSIB message so it's the first thing people see on which we put JUST BRIEF descriptions of things people can do to help promote the CD?

A lot of ideas are getting swamped by lengthy posts, chat, congratulations, encouragement etc .. and whilst these may be helpful to this group, as far as fresh visitors are concerned I suspect only the staunchest will wade through all these pages trying to find the ones that simply and clearly tell them of practical things they can do to help promote it for Meat

But I think it needs to be at the top or stand out in some way so as to catch the eye. And a strict rule of BREVITY, key actions, liks to useful lists of info etc
Caryl

[CarylB]

Original Sin just rolled right off the damn chair when I hit "see your message" and saw what you'd written :) At the exact same time I think I was writing mine to Rainer .. lol ..

My concern is that it must be limited to brief, practical ideas .. perhaps with a note at the top saying Discuss on .. This thread is being kept just for practical advice on things you can do to help Meat, and I think it needs to be positioned so it's the first thing that catches the eye .. and we need Rainer's help with that

Caryl

[SueW]

Originally Posted by MBrevard

Let me ask you something, if you don't mind. Being Number 1 on the Rock Charts: Does that not mean anything to Meat? Is it only the Pop chart which is important to him right now!

Has anybody heard about how Meat Loaf regards being #31 in the charts?

Before I get started, let me just point out that the following is MY interpretation of the facts (MY opinion and nobody else’s).

Personally I don’t think that #1 in the rock charts is anything to get too excited about. It’s good that he’s #1 there but the song that is #2 in the Rock Chart (Linkin Park – Somewhere I Belong) is only #35 in the Singles chart and the song that is #3 in the Rock Chart (Def Leppard – Long Long way To Go) is only #40 in the charts. The rest of the Rock Chart aren’t even in the Top 40 Singles chart which should put this in some form of perspective.

If you’re saying “yipeee, he’s #1 in the rock charts” then, IMHO you should equally be saying “darn, he’s not in the Indie chart” and “darn, he’s not in the Dance chart” and “darn, he’s not in the R&B chart” and so on. All of those are just charts for totally different genres of music.

It’s the Singles chart that matters the most. (Incidentally Madonna’s new entry debuted this week at #2. Robbie Williams at #4 and Blur at #5.)

Personally I dread to think about how badly CHSIB would have done if it hadn’t been for Meat Loaf’s plea on this board. I imagine that loads of fans have bought more copies than they would normally have done so (I personally know a couple of people who have bought 20 or more each) and it still *only* got to #31 – not even in the Top 30.

I know that there were dreadful distribution problems but I wonder how much actual airplay CHSIB received? I have the radio on in my salon 11 hours a day 7 days a week and I keep switching around the stations but, other than once (on Virgin), the only time I’ve heard any station play the song has been when Meat Loaf has been in the studio (I’m in the London area).

Again, this is just my opinion but I think that most Meat Loaf fans will probably now have bought the single so it’s time to try to get non-Meat Loaf fans to buy it. The only way to do that is for it to get loads of airplay.

It’s just a suggestion but I think that we should concentrate this week on e-mailing and telephoning radio stations asking them to play it (say that it’s #31 in the Official Singles charts and #1 in the rock singles chart).

I know that most people on this board like the song just because it’s by Meat Loaf but if you actually listen to the song, it’s strong in it’s own right. Unfortunately in some circles some people will discount the song because it’s by Meat Loaf so that’s something else that the song has to get above.

A lot of radio stations are listed near the bottom of the front page of http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/ but does anyone know of any other sites that list more?

My two locals stations (London) are programming.enquiries@heart1062.co.uk and Studio@magicradio.com Also Virgin have a free phone number 0800 30 1215.

Sue
http://www.KasimInfo.com

Again, I’d like to reiterate that all the above is just my personal opinion.

[CarylB]

Another thought .. We're happy to host a section of practical ideas to promote the CD .. if people send theirs to me we'll get them on a page or pages .. organised so people can find their way about. Perhaps we could have links from other Meat sites, including this one, direct to that special section?

You can all see the section direct on:

http://www.republic-of-loafdom.com/W...CHSIB/Help.htm

It has no ROL promotion (apart from having to have keywords in the url of course) It's quick to load and easy to use.

Caryl

[CarylB]

Sue W you're absolutely right about airtime and the need to get this CD heard by people other than the most comitted Meat fans.

We'll start a page of links and phone numbers for Local Radio stations in the UK, and I'll add yours if I may.

Caryl

[Dave]

Originally Posted by CarylB

RainerCould we start a thread, but right at the top of CHSIB message so it's the first thing people see on which we put JUST BRIEF descriptions of things people can do to help promote the CD

This is an open forum. If you feel the need for a new thread, start one.

[Shane]

I think Caryl was talking about starting a new thread and making it a sticky one, so it always stays at the top. Us non-mods don't have the ability to do that.

[MBrevard]

Hi again! Welcome Caryl and Sin. Nice to have you both back!

I think that the separate thread of links and helpful ideas for the CHSIB campaign is an excellent idea! Why don't you go ahead and start it, Caryl! That way, people just coming to help the fight can get an immediate sense of what they can do. And then this thread will serve, as it has, for everyone to come and share what they're doing, encourage others, get encouragement if they reach a point where they need it, that is! This one has certainly always had a more 'family-feeling' to it, and I think that's been very useful and comforting so far. But as the fight continues and hopefully new folks join us, the idea of having a separate thread with campaign plans and strategies, links, etc. Is a great one. Go for it, Caryl!!

Now, Sue, I understand what you're saying. In fact, that's exactly what we were talking about late yesterday. Emailing and phone calling have to remain the center of this struggle. Airplay is our friend and, from what you were saying, our enemy! So, YES!! Absolutely right! Everyone MUST keep contacting and requesting CHSIB be played!!

Thanks for the link, too, Sue. I just checked it out and it's wonderful! Going to be a BIG help for everyone!!

And with that, I'm off to get to work, emailing!!

Take care, everyone!

[CarylB]

Exactly Shane which is why I asked Rainer :)

Caryl

[CarylB]

MB Before starting a new thread I'd like to have Rainer's response .. as I said just one more CHSIB thread at the bottom won't be that much of a help imo, so I'd rather Rainer started it with some guidelines on keeping it an informatioin giving rather than a discussion thread .. or I can see it winding up just as unwieldy for the newcomer as this one must be.

Some things are effective initiated as soon as the thought strikes .. some are better set up carefully and right imo. This proposed tbread is just such a case in point.
Caryl

[Shane]

Does anyone have a spare $20,000 US?

That is roughly how much we'd need to get the single to gold status (5,000 copies) in New Zealand. That's of course, if the single gets released here. Of course, not all number ones (or songs placed further down the singles chart) necessarily get gold or platinum status, so to get a number one in New Zealand might even be less than that. But I'm just guessing here.