Has City of Hope already stiffed?

[Toph]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

[Majestic]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

[Don]

There are 100,000 people that may buy the album just on Journey's name alone the first week. It's the second week, where not having a single out there when one is expected might start to hit the sales. This is going to debut huge. Any other week of the year it might very well have come in at #1. Unfortunately, it get's released a day after the tsunami known as Lady Gaga.

COH has gotten no traction in Europe it seems, but the album as a whole is still sitting in the top 100 for pre-orders over there. Overall, I think it won't do as well as Revelation but as there has been only one platinum release by ANYBODY this year, that's going to be par for the course for a lot of bands. Selling one million SINGLES is the new standard; with the exception of very few artists, full album sales are done as far a s retail is concerned.

[Melissa]

Starbucks is even promoting Lady Gaga. Apparently she said she's a fan of theirs, and that's all it took.

[Toph]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

[Don]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

Yes, even it's limited Airplay did help bring back some older fans who still had fond memories of Open Arms, Faithfully, etc.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Not sure who they have running their advertising and promotions departments,
But I'd guess it is a bunch of retarded baboons... Or these guys are just too
Arrogant to realize that they need to do SOMETHING to help push this album.
I get that they aren't too concerned aboutbhaving hits on the radio anymore.

But really, do you think they are wanting to sell a shit-ton of this album?
They should be doing a promo tour, visiting radio stations, hitting some talk shows,
hell, even Night Ranger spent a little money to make a new video...
They won't get AirPlay on VH1 but I bet Journey could if Irv pushed for it...

Just don't understand why this organization is brain dead when it comes to promoting
New products...

[Rick]

Not sure who they have running their advertising and promotions departments,
But I'd guess it is a bunch of retarded baboons... Or these guys are just too
Arrogant to realize that they need to do SOMETHING to help push this album.
I get that they aren't too concerned aboutbhaving hits on the radio anymore.

But really, do you think they are wanting to sell a shit-ton of this album?
They should be doing a promo tour, visiting radio stations, hitting some talk shows,
hell, even Night Ranger spent a little money to make a new video...
They won't get AirPlay on VH1 but I bet Journey could if Irv pushed for it...

Just don't understand why this organization is beak dead when it comes to promoting
New products...

That was Herbie's forte. I bet they miss him for that at least.

[Jana]

Not sure who they have running their advertising and promotions departments,
But I'd guess it is a bunch of retarded baboons... Or these guys are just too
Arrogant to realize that they need to do SOMETHING to help push this album.
I get that they aren't too concerned aboutbhaving hits on the radio anymore.

But really, do you think they are wanting to sell a shit-ton of this album?
They should be doing a promo tour, visiting radio stations, hitting some talk shows,
hell, even Night Ranger spent a little money to make a new video...
They won't get AirPlay on VH1 but I bet Journey could if Irv pushed for it...

Just don't understand why this organization is brain dead when it comes to promoting
New products...

I agree. I don't get it.

[steveo777]

Labels pay big money to promote product and from what I've heard the artists suffer.
Journey has their own label and apparently doesn't feel the need to be ripped off for
promotional costs that would be incurred if they were with Sony, etc. The most money
they are gonna get from album sales these days is from their Walmart deal.

[Gideon]

Labels pay big money to promote product and from what I've heard the artists suffer.
Journey has their own label and apparently doesn't feel the need to be ripped off for
promotional costs that would be incurred if they were with Sony, etc. The most money
they are gonna get from album sales these days is from their Walmart deal.

Am I wrong for thinking Roger Moore and Lee Majors could be long-lost brothers?

[sniper16]

why throw money down the drain, mtv/vh1 wont play a video, and since there not on a label with payola to get it played, only a handful of classic rock stations play new music, and there are only a few low power stations like the one in my are that will play it, its not the 80/90's thell do some promotion when they tour the states. face it it could be escape 2 and it still would get minimal airplay

[Majestic]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

[Monker]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap. It had a bit of airplay, got the word out that that Arnel can do a good Perry imitation, and it sold albums because of that and the fact that it was a bargain bundle.

Eclipse has none of that going for it. COH was barely played at all on radio. It was DOA. I don't care how many Cd's stuff the shelves at retail, it isn't going to sell if nobody hears it, or if people hear it and don't like it. This isn't a top 5 CD, maybe not even a top 10 CD. I read people comparing it to 100,000 or 75,000 units sold in its first week. . You all should be thankfull if it hits 50,000.

[Behshad]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap. It had a bit of airplay, got the word out that that Arnel can do a good Perry imitation, and it sold albums because of that and the fact that it was a bargain bundle.

Eclipse has none of that going for it. COH was barely played at all on radio. It was DOA. I don't care how many Cd's stuff the shelves at retail, it isn't going to sell if nobody hears it, or if people hear it and don't like it. This isn't a top 5 CD, maybe not even a top 10 CD. I read people comparing it to 100,000 or 75,000 units sold in its first week. . You all should be thankfull if it hits 50,000.

It will, if they count all the torrent/yousendit hits

[Michigan Girl]

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap.

Yes it was !! I'd rather listen to Mary Poppins!!
That said, have you listened to any of the new
stuff, Monker?!? A couple of songs have a bit of
promise , thus far!! This is not about the vox, for
sure!!

[ebake02]

We are less than a week from the official release date of the album and there doesn't seem to be any traction, airplay, marketing, etc. around City of Hope. Is it DOA?
No singles = no airplay = no album sales = album comes and goes without making a sound.

What station would play Journey, anyway? How can they make music that Journey fans want to hear that would be what those who listen radio want to hear? Seems like an impossible thing to do, so why not be glad they chose the fans. I'd hate to hear a journey Rap, grunge, or dance tune, don't know about you!

Quite a lot played "After All These Years" which went top 10 AC and got a lot of people aware of revolution. You can poo poo ballads, but their airplay often drives awareness.

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap. It had a bit of airplay, got the word out that that Arnel can do a good Perry imitation, and it sold albums because of that and the fact that it was a bargain bundle.

Eclipse has none of that going for it. COH was barely played at all on radio. It was DOA. I don't care how many Cd's stuff the shelves at retail, it isn't going to sell if nobody hears it, or if people hear it and don't like it. This isn't a top 5 CD, maybe not even a top 10 CD. I read people comparing it to 100,000 or 75,000 units sold in its first week. . You all should be thankfull if it hits 50,000.

With the current state of album sales, 50K could easily be top 5, that said, it will sell a lot more than that. Bandwagon fans will buy it because they liked Revelation. They'll think Eclipse will be the same Kool-Aid music that was on Revelation.

[Majestic]

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap.

Yes it was !! I'd rather listen to Mary Poppins!!
That said, have you listened to any of the new
stuff, Monker?!? A couple of songs have a bit of
promise , thus far!! This is not about the vox, for
sure!!

Mediocre? Come on, be serious. Let's see: What I needed, After All These Years, Turn Down the World, Change for the Better, Sunshower, Never Walk Away...No way are those mediocre songs, unless you just don't like Journey music much! Also, a platinum album, with an unknown untried singer to boot! ...Yeah, right, mediocre. Make a list of songs with the Arnel era journey (including Eclipse) and this era is blowing away the entire decade before him, and if they keep it up, at this rate, they may just be better than the Perry era. Just maybe.

[Red13JoePa]

But did they even bother releasing COH as a US single?

[Saint John]

But did they even bother releasing COH as a US single?

I don't think so. Anything Is Possible is their best bet.

[Don]

But did they even bother releasing COH as a US single?

I don't think so. Anything Is Possible is their best bet.

..or Someone.

I don't think they'll be doing any more editing. If they want to force songs onto the radio, what was the whole point of making a non-radio friendly album?

[steveo777]

Radio or no radio, great album. I get a chuckle out of the naysayers. This album,
as much as they want to trash it, is way bigger than them. A buddy of mine, who
I burned a disc for, who hasn't bought a Journey CD since ROR and said he never
would again, was absolutely blown away and feels it's their best album since Frontiers.

[Don]

Radio or no radio, great album. I get a chuckle out of the naysayers. This album,
as much as they want to trash it, is way bigger than them. A buddy of mine, who
I burned a disc for, who hasn't bought a Journey CD since ROR and said he never
would again, was absolutely blown away and feels it's their best album since Frontiers.

I hate what ifs but IF this had been the follow up piece to Trial By Fire, would Journey still be playing three band packages in Arenas or could they have stepped back up the next level? Different scene now of course but at the end of the nineties a lot of rock acts were making a come back with the decline of grunge, you never know.

[Monker]

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap.

Yes it was !! I'd rather listen to Mary Poppins!!
That said, have you listened to any of the new
stuff, Monker?!? A couple of songs have a bit of
promise , thus far!! This is not about the vox, for
sure!!

Mediocre? Come on, be serious. Let's see: What I needed, After All These Years, Turn Down the World, Change for the Better, Sunshower, Never Walk Away...No way are those mediocre songs, unless you just don't like Journey music much! Also, a platinum album, with an unknown untried singer to boot! ...Yeah, right, mediocre. Make a list of songs with the Arnel era journey (including Eclipse) and this era is blowing away the entire decade before him, and if they keep it up, at this rate, they may just be better than the Perry era. Just maybe.

Yes, it's mediocre. It's an 80's throwback album. NONE of those songs stand out as anything for me. It is way, way, way over rated in this forum. To me, it had an over-all sound of Air Supply covering Survivor...not very exciting AT ALL.

Augeri did not have a chance because there was no true follow up to Arrival. The fact is that Neal originally first talked about this "concept album" as the follow up to Arrival. Red13 was not even a half album and Generations was a half-assed attempt to coincide with their nostaltgia tour. I have not heard Eclipse yet...but, the songwriting up to now far excedes what they have done with Arnel so far. And, don't even try to compare it to the Perry era, that's just loony.

If Arrival had been released with the 2001 DVD (which also went platinum, BTW) and the rerecords they did for comercials, I doubt there would be much difference in sales. Arrival did a respectable job cinsidering Sony did NOTHING to promote the album. The difference between now and back then is Red13 was not a full album released at Wal-Mart, or another label and therefore did not have a chance at breaking any new ground for the band..

People here are WAY over estimating Journey's public appeal. They don't just want Journey...they want Journey nostalgia. That is what Journey gave them with Revelation...but, that is NOT what Eclipse is giving them. Don't expect the public to buy into something they don't even care about.

[Monker]

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap.

Yes it was !! I'd rather listen to Mary Poppins!!
That said, have you listened to any of the new
stuff, Monker?!? A couple of songs have a bit of
promise , thus far!! This is not about the vox, for
sure!!

I've only listened to COH on YouTube, and some of the clips. Overall, I think they are better songs then the stuff on Revelation. But, I don't see them as being outstanding and deserving the over-hyped reviews that are being posted on here. There is a difference between a good song and a great and timeless song.

A timeless song touches your heart in some way so you don't forget it and means something more to you then just 'good music'. I think Jonathan explained it a long time ago when he basically talked about life experiences that he, and everybody else, may go through. They have not done this with Arnel as far as I have heard. It seems they just pick a subject and write about it. It's not personal any longer...it's a job. So, they may release a good album...but it won't be as timeless as Escape, or even Arrival really.

[Gideon]

They have not done this with Arnel as far as I have heard.

Agreed, with a caveat: City of Hope is allegedly about Manila. The great irony of your statement is that Arnel's history is rich with song material, perhaps moreso than any other member of the band. It's a shame they haven't decided to present it more.

[Majestic]

True, but if Journey did another of those, everyone would be complaining. So do we want an album we love, or hits for AC radio?

Oh, please, Revelation was mediocre crap.

Yes it was !! I'd rather listen to Mary Poppins!!
That said, have you listened to any of the new
stuff, Monker?!? A couple of songs have a bit of
promise , thus far!! This is not about the vox, for
sure!!

Mediocre? Come on, be serious. Let's see: What I needed, After All These Years, Turn Down the World, Change for the Better, Sunshower, Never Walk Away...No way are those mediocre songs, unless you just don't like Journey music much! Also, a platinum album, with an unknown untried singer to boot! ...Yeah, right, mediocre. Make a list of songs with the Arnel era journey (including Eclipse) and this era is blowing away the entire decade before him, and if they keep it up, at this rate, they may just be better than the Perry era. Just maybe.

Yes, it's mediocre. It's an 80's throwback album. NONE of those songs stand out as anything for me. It is way, way, way over rated in this forum. To me, it had an over-all sound of Air Supply covering Survivor...not very exciting AT ALL.

Augeri did not have a chance because there was no true follow up to Arrival. The fact is that Neal originally first talked about this "concept album" as the follow up to Arrival. Red13 was not even a half album and Generations was a half-assed attempt to coincide with their nostaltgia tour. I have not heard Eclipse yet...but, the songwriting up to now far excedes what they have done with Arnel so far. And, don't even try to compare it to the Perry era, that's just loony.

If Arrival had been released with the 2001 DVD (which also went platinum, BTW) and the rerecords they did for comercials, I doubt there would be much difference in sales. Arrival did a respectable job cinsidering Sony did NOTHING to promote the album. The difference between now and back then is Red13 was not a full album released at Wal-Mart, or another label and therefore did not have a chance at breaking any new ground for the band..

People here are WAY over estimating Journey's public appeal. They don't just want Journey...they want Journey nostalgia. That is what Journey gave them with Revelation...but, that is NOT what Eclipse is giving them. Don't expect the public to buy into something they don't even care about.

There are some mediocre songs on Revelation, but most of that album is great, and among Journey's post Perry finest. Some of those songs are my favorite from Journey, period.

As for Augeri not getting a fair shake, I disagree. If he were still in the form he was during Tall Stories, maybe. He was once a great singer, but for Journey he was only average and struggling. There is nothing promotion could do for an Augeri fronted Journey, because he was just not up to the task. That's unfortunate too, because I think he was a good show man, and a very decent guy.

[KISSNTIME]

Listen, Journey has just as good of a chance of getting airplay as any other band out there. While a rock band primarily, they still have the potential to have success in the sweet spot between pop and adult contemporary.

The problem with Journey now (and everything since Trial by Fire) is that they've closed their ears to radio. If you expected "City Of Hope" to have any kind of legs, you haven't listened to the radio in 20 years.

While a Journey fan, I'm not a Perry fan. That said, Perry was always smart enough to know what was happening in the music world. I have no doubt that if Perry were to release something now, he wouldn't be releasing something that sounded like it came out in 1990. It would be a contemporary ballad that would fall into the pop/r&b style that is popular on the radio. If you listen to a lot of the popular slow songs that get air play now, there's no reason Journey can't deliver something on the same vein. Listen to a slow song by artists like Bruno Mars or Ne-yo and you'll hear exactly the type of stuff Journey should be releasing to radio – and would be if Perry were in the band.

Unfortunately, Cain is stuck playing keyboards like he did in the 80's instead of listening to the radio and trying to write something halfway contemporary. The lack of any kind of soul/R&B style to the band anymore doesn't help either.

Besides what is there about "City Of Hope" that's anywhere above average anyway? It's this album's "Faith In The Heartland". Been There. Done that.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I've only listened to COH on YouTube, and some of the clips. Overall, I think they are better songs then the stuff on Revelation. But, I don't see them as being outstanding and deserving the over-hyped reviews that are being posted on here. There is a difference between a good song and a great and timeless song.

A timeless song touches your heart in some way so you don't forget it and means something more to you then just 'good music'. I think Jonathan explained it a long time ago when he basically talked about life experiences that he, and everybody else, may go through. They have not done this with Arnel as far as I have heard. It seems they just pick a subject and write about it. It's not personal any longer...it's a job. So, they may release a good album...but it won't be as timeless as Escape, or even Arrival really.

Stop bitching and buy the album already, Monker. Then report back.

[Glenn]

I've only listened to COH on YouTube, and some of the clips. Overall, I think they are better songs then the stuff on Revelation. But, I don't see them as being outstanding and deserving the over-hyped reviews that are being posted on here. There is a difference between a good song and a great and timeless song.

A timeless song touches your heart in some way so you don't forget it and means something more to you then just 'good music'. I think Jonathan explained it a long time ago when he basically talked about life experiences that he, and everybody else, may go through. They have not done this with Arnel as far as I have heard. It seems they just pick a subject and write about it. It's not personal any longer...it's a job. So, they may release a good album...but it won't be as timeless as Escape, or even Arrival really.

Stop bitching and buy the album already, Monker. Then report back.

Why bother...You know he not going to like it...He's decided that already...Along with a few other Perry "people" here.


You know what TNC, there are Perry fans her that wish for Journey to fail, because their guy is not in the band. And if the band does achieve any success, they find an excuse as to why.

The more I read posts from this faction, the more I become glad Perry is long gone from the scene.