Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Essential Reading - The Science of Email Timing


As I’ve posted here before, your email list is one of the most powerful marketing tools that an artist or band (or a business or brand) can have. Recently some data courtesy of Dan Zarrella and Pure360 has shown that there is a definite science behind the timing of sending your emails, just as there is for posting on Facebook and Twitter. Here are some tips and tricks for getting your email timing just right. Remember that all times are Eastern Standard Time.

Before sending an email, consider:
6AM to 10AM: The second most prevalent email opening time is at the the beginning of the working day.

10AM to Noon: Consumers are not opening marketing emails, choosing instead to focus on work.

Noon to 2PM: Consumers are unlikely to open emails during their lunch break, choosing instead to spend their time on news and magazine alerts.

2PM to 3PM: Right after lunch consumers remain focused on work, responding mostly to email offers related to financial services.

3PM to 5PM: Consumers start thinking about their personal situation and as a result, more emails relating to property and financial services are opened during this time period than any other.

5PM to 7PM: Consumers tend to open business to business (B2B) promotions during this period, but also open more holiday-type promotions during this period than any other.

7PM to 10PM: The time period when recipients are most likely to respond to consumer promotions is when they get off work.

10PM to 6AM: This is an email dead zone, as most sent during this period are ineffective.

Here are a few other timing issues to consider:
  • Bounce rates are highest in the morning.
  • Open rates are highest during the weekend by 45%.
  • Open rates are 53% higher in the morning.
  • Click rates are 10% higher on the weekend and early morning.
  • The most effective sending frequency is 1 to 4 per month.
  • Conversely, the unsubscribe rate is higher at 1 to 4 per month, but levels off at 8 to 31 per month.
  • The highest unsubscription rate occurs among those who have been subscribers for less than 10 days.
  • The highest click-through-rate (CTR) is with those who have been subscribers for less than 10 days.
A common question after reading the above tips is, “What if my fans are spread out in different time zones?” This one is easier than you think. All email services like iContact, Constant Contact, Mail Chip, etc. provide the ability to segregate your mailing list into groups and schedule your mailings. Simply divide your list into the various different time zones and schedule your email blast accordingly.
To sum things up, don’t send those promotional emails out without first thinking about the timing. It could mean the difference between your fans reading it or not.
For more on Music 3.0 music promotion techniques, visit the Music 3.0 blog.

This is a great article and these principles can be applied to your marketing strategy whether you are in the music business or just trying to get your product out there.

Sally Jackson Freeman

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Marilyn at MOMA



Looking through some of my pictures from 2011 and here is a Marilyn Print by Andy Warhol that is hanging in MOMA, NYC. I would highly recommend a visit to this art gallery. They were very relaxed about taking photos - so all copyrights belong to MOMA for this image. Happy New Year!
Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

The Correspondents at the Hi Fi Cub Leeds by Bill Moody

Love live Music welcomes new music blogger Bill Moody to our blog. Bill reports on his night out at the Hi Fi Club in Leeds.

I’m still trying to piece together how many musical genres are mashed up into this act and ‘act’ seems more appropriate in the vaudeville sense rather than ‘band’. Scat vocals, ragga chanting, lindyhop styles, a soupcon of jazz get a powerful backbeat which is just as eclectic. Mr Bruce is a longer skinnier Cab Calloway from the Golden Age of cinema. Mr Chuckles is master of the darker deck arts and makes it modern.
Brilliantly off beat and original they make the mash of 20s swing and Amen Break powered jungle a far more likely marriage than first thought. If Bertie Wooster was fed a litre of Lucozade this is how he would dance the Charleston. I don’t know what he’d have to be fed to make Bertie hang off a ceiling girder and stage dive from there but that’s what we got. Who knew that bluebottle iridescent leggings and Tudorbethan jacket and architect’s round glasses would work either? I’m lying about the leggings. I only saw those on YouTube. The dancing was so frenetic and the crowd were so tightly packed I ouldn’t see much but a blur of fringe and a big grin. Everything is so mixed up it can’t be given a genre. I’m not even going to try or I’ll end up with a word like Tesco. Techno/disco/90s. Remember? Answers on a robopigeon telegrammymail please.
The Hi Fi Club Leeds is a tiny basement (like trying to perform “on a skateboard” according to Mr Bruce) and the atmosphere is great. They have a fantastic mix of music with the emphasis on fun and funk. I haven’t been here since Marva Whitney and Osaka Monoaural about 18 months ago but you get the idea about the variety just from seeing Marva and these guys in the same review.

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Jack Jackson: Rhythm and Radio Fun Remembered - Thank you Stephen Garner


Last Thursday, 27th October 2011, BBC Radio 4 Broadcast the following programme about my grandfather Jack Jackson and his legacy to our family. It was great fun making the programme and celebrates the musical and artistic legacy that he has created within the family.


If you have a spare half hour, have a listen on iplayer. International listeners can access the link too:


Here is the BBC Radio4 Programme description:

Exploring the legacy of musician and broadcaster Jack Jackson through the lives of three generations of his family.
Kenny Everett said of him 'He was the first person to have fun on radio', and although he inspired many broadcasters and musicians it is the incredible impact Jackson still has on his family over thirty years since his death which proves the most fascinating.
This programme uncovers another Jackson dynasty overflowing with musicians, record producers and artists all striving to preserve his memory and make their own impression on the world. His two son's established a recording studio, used by artists such as Elton John, Tom Robinson and Motorhead. His daughter is a successful artist and designer and several of his grandchildren are forging effective careers in the music business - one of which co-founded production group 'Bimbo Jones' which has taken numerous number ones to the top of the dance charts. His great grand children are all encouraged to be musical.
Jackson's career in entertainment spanned fifty years and he is recognised today in the Sony Radio Hall of Fame.
Jackson formed his band in the thirties and was a regular at London's Dorchester Hotel. He became a disc jockey in 1948 on the BBC Light Programme. His innovative programmes featured a mix of linking his voice with comedy clips and popular music. According to his grandson Marc he was the first broadcaster in Britain to introduce the technique of sampling and to present a "clip show" programme.
He is also cited as the man who gave the BBC the nickname 'Auntie' and the first voice heard on ITV.
Jack Jackson died in 1978, but over thirty years later his spirit is very much alive in the daily life of generations of Jacksons.
His memory has touched every branch of the Jackson family tree and as this programme reveals they all respond to his influence in a variety of interesting and different ways.
The programme is produced by Stephen Garner.

Thursday, 6 October 2011

R.I.P Steve Jobs - So what did you achieve in the last ten years?





Having had a restless night, I am in the middle of an 18 date music festival right now Oxjam Chorleywood and am fueled by adrenaline and caffeine in equal measure, I carelessly checked my twitter feed to find that in the early hours, Steve Job lost his battle to Pancreatic Cancer. 


So very sad indeed. 


On reading through the Financial Times blog early on Thursday morning, I was reminded of some of the amazing things that Steve Jobs achieved in the past ten years. I micro blogged these in to my twitter feed and as stand alone statements.


To say that this guy achieved a lot in the past ten years in an understatement. 
My mantra in life is "Anything is Possible" but I do think Mr. Steve Jobs has taken this to a new level. 
Thank you Steve for your incredible productivity, for caring about form as well as function and for delivering to our generation the most sexy product that do amazing things.


This is a copy of my twitter feed - you might need to start at the bottom to get the events in order: 




Jobs loses battle with pancreatic cancer at 56, thank you for your huge contribution to technology & the way we listen to music #RIPSteveJobs
7 hours ago 

Apple's board, which Mr Jobs now chairs, signals its confidence in 50 year old Cook by awarding him one of the largest stock grants in history
7 hours ago 

25/08/11 - Jobs resigns as Apple chief executive 7 months after going on medical leave & asks the board to name Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook as his successor.
7 hours ago 

August 2011 - Apple briefly passes ExxonMobil to become the most valuable company in the world by market capitalisation.
7 hours ago 

March 2011 - Jobs appears at an event announcing the iPad 2. Apple's stock rose 2% in the minutes after Jobs began speaking
7 hours ago 

January 2011 - Jobs tells Apple employees that the company has granted him a medical leave of absence, he continues as chief executive
7 hours ago 

2010 Jobs unveils Apple's the iPad. Apple sells 4.2m of the devices in three months. Apple's stock market value soars to $180bn
7 hours ago 

2007 - Apple introduces the highly-anticipated iPhone, the company's first foray in to mobile phones
7 hours ago 

Jan 2006 - Walt Disney acquires Pixar for $7.4bn. Jobs, who founded Pixar takes a seat on the board & becomes the company's biggest shareholder.
7 hours ago 

Sept 2005- Jobs launches the iPod Nano. iTunes downloads top 500 million. 1 million videos are sold from iTunes, 19 days after video iPod launch

Just a few amazing statistics from Mr. Steve Jobs and his life in the past 6 years....

And the last thought from Mr. Steve Jobs:







'Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.'


- From Rob Lawrence's blog: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8be9856424a6d34ad5bef7297&id=499ff5b28e



Thank you Mr Steve Jobs, you poured yourself out for us and encouraged us to follow our hearts and do great things as ultimately we have nothing to lose. If I have can have a tiny part of that courage in my life, I will be doing well.

R.I.P Steve Jobs

6th October 2011

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Ariel is coming to London and it's FREE - don't miss out!


Ariel Hyatt’s Artist and Manager DIY - PR ROADSHOW - RETURNS TO LONDON
Come network and learn from the world’s leading DIY PR Specialist.

If you go to one seminar this year, choose this one. A couple of years ago I paid for this seminar and learnt more in a couple of hours than in the previous 6 months. I sound like a cheesy advert but it's true! Can't quite believe Ariel is giving this away so do come along - will be the best evening of your musical career and set you on a path to monetising your music and creating a sustainable life for yourselves and family. 
I am eternally grateful to Ariel and the CyberPR family for all that they have so freely shared and given to me, so don't pass this up and come along to the world famous PRS house to hear NYC's finest Cyber PR Guru.
Sally Jackson Freeman
Director of Love Live Music UK

Ariel Hyatt - Director of CyberPR
Evil Genius Media + Music is pleased to announce New York based music publicist Ariel Hyatt in London on Tuesday September 27 2011. 

This event will be staged at the PRS (Copyright House) 
29 Berners Street
London W1T 3LR Cnr Mortimer St and Berners St.

The Day Time Workshop.
Ariel Hyatt – Mobile Roadie – Amazing Radio
This event has been cancelled due to scheduling issues.
 
The Evening Seminar. – Please note entry to this event is now FREE.
Ariel Hyatt – Deezer - Zimbalam
The second event is an evening seminar and panel that will feature a Key Note presentation from Ariel Hyatt that will focus on the direct relationship between creating important moments onstage and off. 
Musicians feel a deep disconnect between what they do onstage during performances and offstage while marketing and managing self-promotion. The truth is they are much more closely related than can be expected and social media engagement is easy once the frustration and mystery is stripped away.
In addition to Ariel’s key note, there will be presentations from Deezer – the UK’s newest music platform plus a presentation from digital distributer Zimbalam. Both will be talking about how to work with their services and make the most of them in promoting you’re your music to your audience.

Numbers are strictly limited for this event.
 
Deezer
Deezer which has just launched in the UK and is generating some considerable interest in the artist community in the UK due to its editorial approach to music presentation for users. A representative from Deezer will be on hand to talk about how artists can get involved in using Deezer as a promotional platform, as well as key promotional opportunities via Deezer live events.

Zimbalam.
Zimbalam is a fully automated distribution service for unsigned artists to sell their music on all the major digital and mobile retailers worldwide. The service is powered by Believe Digital, the leading digital distributor and services provider for independent artists & labels in Europe.

Ariel Hyatt – Ariel Publicity.
Ariel Hyatt is a thought leader in the digital PR world: the founder of a successful PR firm; international speaker & educator and the author of two books on social media and marketing for artists.  Ariel’s Cyber PR® process marks the intersection of social media with engaged behavior, PR, and online Marketing.
Ariel’s message is so compelling she has been invited to speak at festivals and conferences in twelve countries, including SXSW, CMJ, ASCAP’s I Create Music, The Future of Music, Canadian Music Week, APRA’s Song Summit (Sydney), You Are In Control (Reykjavik), The ECMAs, NARAS, Grammy Camp, and The Taxi Road Rally.
Ariel’s company Ariel Publicity is based in Brooklyn, NY the company has a vibrant staff who themselves are at the forefront of working online with a global client base.

Oxjam Chorleywood presents Live at the Junction - Friday 30th September


Live at the Junction - 30th September





Oxjam Chorleywood is part of the National Oxjam music festival raising money for Oxfam and the crisis in East Africa.

The next event is on Friday 30th September at the Junction, Christ Church Chorleywood, doors at 7.00pm. 
It will be an amazing night with some of the best live music in the UK hosted by the Ladies Group F.F.F. (Friends, Fun & Fundraising)
This event is suitable for the whole family but not for babes in arms.


So who exactly is playing at the Gig? 



Fresh from his amazing summer performance at the Teenage Cancer Trust in Chorleywood, Peter Grant will be headlining the "Live at the Junction" gig in Chorleywood. Produced by Music Producer Andy Wright (Simply Red and Imelda May).
Peter is currently climbing the UK charts with his new single "Too Close" on the BBC Radio 2 playlist. "Too Close" is released the week of "Live at the Junction" on 26th September and the album "Too Close" will be released in November 2011.
For those of you that missed his Hertfordshire summer appearance at TCT, you won't be disappointed on the 30th. We are very grateful to have such an amazing artist playing at Oxjam Chorleywood.
Click here for his website and new Video - "Too Close" http://www.petergrantmusic.com/



It is with great pleasure that we also have the super talented violin player Diana Yukawa headlining Live at the Junction. Signed to Sony, a revolutionary solo violinist, Diana's last album the Butterfly effect comprises a new and original sound for the violin. We are honoured to have her play at Oxjam and this will be one of the highlights of the Music festival.
http://www.dianayukawa.co.uk/Index.html 


Photograph by Danny Clifford


Firehouse Red - New super band created by Andy Wright, fresh from their success at Montreux this band will get you dancing and smiling - expect great things from this band in the future - entertainment at it's best. No album as of yet, but the live experience will leave you wanting more. A rare opportunity to see Andy Wright play live, whose normal position is behind the mixing desk recording and mixing stellar artists from Jeff Beck to Annie Lennox to Imelda May. Firehouse Red will give you the best Live Music experience.
The innovative Mad Staring Eyes who won the John Peel award for "Best New Band" going on to play Glastonbury a couple of years ago. Mad Staring Eyes take standard influences from Indie, Country, Folk and Rock n Roll and mould them into something that tugs at your heartstrings as much as your boot laces. "Music to make you laugh cry, dance and sing, all at once" - Transparent Magazine. Mad Staring Eyes will be playing material from their new album and some favourites that were used in the TV series Gossip Girl
From the Royal College of Music, Colin Clark - Cello player extraordinaire who recently worked with Plan B.  Classically trained, Colin will be bringing some surprises to the event and will be first on the line up.

All of these incredible artists are giving their time for free in aid of Oxfam. Team Oxjam Chorleywood and FFF are so grateful for this and would welcome you to join us for an amazing night raising money for a much needed cause.

Tickets can be bought from the following weblinks:
Adults £10 - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/130499

VIP's - £25 - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/130498
Pink Champagne & canapes, Green room access, private bar, front row seats and a hostess to look after you for the evening.

Tickets also available from Chorleywood Book Shop and Oxfam Rickmansworth.

Snap up your tickets before we sell out - you are in for an amazing night of the best Live Music.

If you have any queries, please call the Oxjam Hotline on 01923 284468

See you on Friday 30th September - Doors at 7pm, Bar and snacks will be available.

Directions to the Venue:
The Junction, Christ Church, Chorleywood Common, Hertforshire, WD3 5SG
10 minutes away from Chorleywood and Rickmansworth Underground stations - get the cab and ask for Christ Church Chorleywood.
By Car - Just off Junction 18 of the M25