MR

So we've heard speculation from Dean and others that Journey will be firin thier current management soon.
Now I really know nothing about all the big management firms out there so I am posing this question to those of you that know a thing or 2 about "Big Business Music."
What one person, other than our beloved Deano, or firm could actually be successful at making Journey "relevant" again??? I don't know who manages them but I know Aerosmith could release an album of commercial jingle remakes and it would be considered hip and 'relevant' and played to hell all over radio and VH1!
So that is my question for those with some knowledge in this field, who could do it right for Journey?

Sadly, I still think most of the "management issues" really come from what the band has dictated. Maybe now that they are "on fire" they might be willing to do a little more work. If so, Azoff still is a great firm with a lot of connections. But if the band wants to make moves and Azoff does not support them, than get ANYONE else. Get Doc McGhee, Get HH back, get Deano, get Andrew....get someone who gives a shit!!

Steve Perry, he knows the music and knows the biz! S.P., he's the #1 choice for sure! After all, look what he's doing for Rock 'n Roll Soldiers?

steveforever wrote:Steve Perry, he knows the music and knows the biz! S.P., he's the #1 choice for sure! After all, look what he's doing for Rock 'n Roll Soldiers?

Hmmmm, it could work if Neal and Jon would just listen to him and do EVERYTHING he tells them to do...
Wait, he tried that once or twice or a hundred times before and it didn't go over too well. I guess that would be a bad idea

I think they should just hire the team of Deano, Drew, TNC and Monker

Wait Wait, I changed my mind...this is the guy for them!

Journey could do it for themselves!

Ok,maybe they need a good manager who would have a good perspective vision and,what's most important, who would be ACTIVE!

Here's an interesting list: Music Managers List

Azoff's management is on the list too,but the weird thing is that Journey is NOT among the Artists.

Carlitto H@kk wrote:What one person, other than our beloved Deano, or firm could actually be successful at making Journey "relevant" again???

I'm sure people are both befuddled by what I've been saying and/or are sick of hearing it but it's NOT the responsibility of a manager or firm to make JOURNEY relevant. JOURNEY's audience is what will take them to that higher place of relevancy.

Currently, JOURNEY is relevant. Unfortunately, their relevancy is predicated on the past. The relevancy you're looking for simply can NOT come from the current audience. The current audience has made JOURNEY a touring, nostalgic 80's band and nothing more.

Shania wrote:Journey could do it for themselves!

Ok,maybe they need a good manager who would have a good perspective vision and,what's most important, who would be ACTIVE!

Here's an interesting list: Music Managers List

Azoff's management is on the list too,but the weird thing is that Journey is NOT among the Artists.

Irving Azoff manages with the help of a team

Irving Azoff iMgmt s a well respected management co with a long history in the music biz.
That list can't be a complete list of there clients...
They also failed to mention Eagles so Journey should not feel too bad...

Irving Azoff can't give his personal undivided attention to everyone.
He has to have a good team to give each artist the attention they need.

I think a new up & coming band might get something more from a new manager that is driven beyond that of it being a job but I think a well established band like Journey is best left in the hands of those where there needs will be met by a qualified proficient management who has all the resources at there fingertips.

FyreWyngz wrote:

Carlitto H@kk wrote:What one person, other than our beloved Deano, or firm could actually be successful at making Journey "relevant" again???

I'm sure people are both befuddled by what I've been saying and/or are sick of hearing it but it's NOT the responsibility of a manager or firm to make JOURNEY relevant. JOURNEY's audience is what will take them to that higher place of relevancy.

Currently, JOURNEY is relevant. Unfortunately, their relevancy is predicated on the past. The relevancy you're looking for simply can NOT come from the current audience. The current audience has made JOURNEY a touring, nostalgic 80's band and nothing more.

I understand your point but, as we all know, the media and listeners will buy in to what 'they are told to'. That comes from heavy marketing/publicity/radio and TV exposure. With the right management making the right deals and getting the proper airplay, Journey could aquire a whole new audience while older fans would be bombarded with new material evryday. Your telling me that, if Journey had 1-2 new songs on constant radio/VH1/MTV rotation, thier audience would still force them to be waht you called a nostalgia act? I'm telling you, its all about marketing, publicity and who's making deals with who these days.

To believe that Dean, who is really just a fan, could singlehandedly make Journey relevant again (with no prior experience!) is naive.

I wish Herbie would take them back.

I think Herbie's time may have already passed. I think he used to be the person who could do magic singlehandedly but not anymore. I'm not sure who is out there.

Marabelle wrote:I think Herbie's time may have already passed. I think he used to be the person who could do magic singlehandedly but not anymore. I'm not sure who is out there.

Herbie already dunked his kibble in the Journey gravy train...
Let's face it there may not be enough left now to wrap around his girth.



If I was Journey and I was paying for management I'd go with good one with a long proven track record.
No sense nickel & diming it at this point in there career.

I would even wonder why Journey after seperating with Steve Perry would make Steve Augeri a part of the band.
they could have just hired him as a contracted singer and paid for his services no other strings attached.
They probably did start out like that and perhaps down the line as the years went by there were other negotiations.

Carlitto H@kk wrote:

FyreWyngz wrote:

Carlitto H@kk wrote:What one person, other than our beloved Deano, or firm could actually be successful at making Journey "relevant" again???

I'm sure people are both befuddled by what I've been saying and/or are sick of hearing it but it's NOT the responsibility of a manager or firm to make JOURNEY relevant. JOURNEY's audience is what will take them to that higher place of relevancy.

Currently, JOURNEY is relevant. Unfortunately, their relevancy is predicated on the past. The relevancy you're looking for simply can NOT come from the current audience. The current audience has made JOURNEY a touring, nostalgic 80's band and nothing more.

I understand your point but, as we all know, the media and listeners will buy in to what 'they are told to'. That comes from heavy marketing/publicity/radio and TV exposure. With the right management making the right deals and getting the proper airplay, Journey could aquire a whole new audience while older fans would be bombarded with new material evryday. Your telling me that, if Journey had 1-2 new songs on constant radio/VH1/MTV rotation, thier audience would still force them to be waht you called a nostalgia act? I'm telling you, its all about marketing, publicity and who's making deals with who these days.

This is just so very wrong.

Did JOURNEY build their fan base with SP and marketing? No. Has JOURNEY built their current fan base with SA and marketing? No.

JOURNEY has always built their fan base with TOURING. Radio and marketing have played very little roles. Radio and marketing are FICKLE. Herbie KNEW this. That's why he was always cautious about getting a number 1 hit - because he knw it would be a peak with the fickle fans of radio and be all downhill from there. He was right. After #1 E5C4P3 it was a slippery slope.

TOURING and playing to the RIGHT audience is what provides the fuel to relevance.

Oh man would I love to pull the strings on this band now. A new real singer, who can sing....neal and the Frig rejuvenated. Deen is a monster and Ross along for the ride.

I might make mistakes, but we would definitely be proactive and progressive. You can bet as soon as Augeri was officially bought off and kicked out of the entire picture, I would go straight to headlining tour in places that haven't seen them recently. While doing that, we would hit Howard, Mark and Brian, all the morning news shows, Letterman and Leno. A new song, hopefully for a movie, showcasing Soto's vox. To be fair to Grandpa, it is a little difficult to be on TV and radio when your singer flatout sucks.

Oh, just for one month I would love to have that job.

FyreWyngz wrote:This is just so very wrong.

Did JOURNEY build their fan base with SP and marketing? No. Has JOURNEY built their current fan base with SA and marketing? No.

JOURNEY has always built their fan base with TOURING. Radio and marketing have played very little roles. Radio and marketing are FICKLE. Herbie KNEW this. That's why he was always cautious about getting a number 1 hit - because he knw it would be a peak with the fickle fans of radio and be all downhill from there. He was right. After #1 E5C4P3 it was a slippery slope.

TOURING and playing to the RIGHT audience is what provides the fuel to relevance.

Again, I see all your points and agree... but that was 20 years ago. You can't play by those rules anymore. I don't agree with it and I think it sucks but times have changed. You need a marketing&publicity machine to drive you to popularity and new audiences nowadays. I don't want to see Journey with a #1 hit but I'd like to hear new stuff getting regular rotation on the radio and on the video networks. THAT would bring back older fans and bring in new fans, allowing the band to flex some muscle LIVE with newer material, not only playing the old hits. People would come to shows WANTING to hear new material. That's just my opinion...

No, you are wrong about that, and that is the problem. No one has the balls to go for it. Dude, if Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi csan do it still, then a better band of mucisians, Journey, can as well.

Trust me, Journey can go on Stern, M+B, and Letterman and make waves.

There is too much pussified thinking. Anyway, if I had the power, I would go for it.

How do you build a fanbase with a singer who sucks, and lip synchs? You fire his ass after he was exposed, and get a good one (which Schon did), and you go for it. I don't think Schon wants to play the same songs the rest of his career. He wants a proactive Journey, a new Journey, a cutting edge Journey...At least that is what I would try to sell him over a bottle of Grey Goose. I know I could sell Schon on my thinking.

Rockin'Deano wrote:No, you are wrong about that, and that is the problem. No one has the balls to go for it. Dude, if Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi csan do it still, then a better band of mucisians, Journey, can as well.

I think Aerosmith and Bon Jovi had more success though, world wide - much more appeal. I think if you had Journey from 1983 you could do stuff, but not today - Aerosmith and Bon Jovi kept the same lead singer, and pretty much stayed true to the formula, and kept producing quality material that made the radio world wide. Bon Jovi has appeal, he has a voice and the looks. Journey are a chop and change band, and as long as Neal wants to keep playing his guitar this band will keep changing their vocalist. In my opinion the stone was cracked, I agree with Perry. As arrogant as people may think he is for saying that, he is 100% correct.

That list is very incomplete. Barenaked Ladies aren't listed under Nettwerk, as isn't Avril. Where is Q Group? Richard Marx isn't listed under Left Bank Entertainment. Bad list...

FyreWyngz wrote:

Carlitto H@kk wrote:What one person, other than our beloved Deano, or firm could actually be successful at making Journey "relevant" again???

I'm sure people are both befuddled by what I've been saying and/or are sick of hearing it but it's NOT the responsibility of a manager or firm to make JOURNEY relevant. JOURNEY's audience is what will take them to that higher place of relevancy.

Currently, JOURNEY is relevant. Unfortunately, their relevancy is predicated on the past. The relevancy you're looking for simply can NOT come from the current audience. The current audience has made JOURNEY a touring, nostalgic 80's band and nothing more.

Ok, then don't hire me. I wouldn't take Neals' money and sit on my ass and sign Venue contracts for Gh tours. I would bust my ass for that guy and the band to be something again.

You guys ever heard the word, momentum? They certainly have it now, and it is still building.

Hell, if they were a hurricane, they would be a class 3 going on 4.

Rockin'Deano wrote:You guys ever heard the word, momentum? They certainly have it now, and it is still building.

Good point. If this band decided to make a new album, re-invent themselves as Sammy said - it might be somthing special!. They have to make a new CD, put some time into it! do it with JSS. I still have hope.

Rockin'Deano wrote:Ok, then don't hire me. I wouldn't take Neals' money and sit on my ass and sign Venue contracts for Gh tours. I would bust my ass for that guy and the band to be something again.

You guys ever heard the word, momentum? They certainly have it now, and it is still building.

Hell, if they were a hurricane, they would be a class 3 going on 4.

They are in a great position
especially after the most recent events
but do they want to gamble with moderate success>?
Neal would do it in a heart beat
still think he's hungry for his creative soulT
But to some its business
and they want the band to go down the straight and narrow road

They hit bottom when they had a lead singer whom for whatever reason could not fullfill his contract vocally.
They rebounded and recovered remarkably by bringing in someone who is a great singer and who also has
worked with members of the band
It a ideal situation
couldn;t be better
almost never dropped a beat.

Jeff is different but still not too different
Just enough to allow him to take the band on almost any direction they want to go.
Gives them the opportunity & excuse to break the mold.

If we want to hear Journey with Steve Perry
we got remasters coming out.
Deen does do an exceptional job vocally
He has been taking the killer ones and making them sound effortless

So now Journey can take any road to good music.
As for mgmt if I was them I wouldn't want them to go too far off the road
got to stick to what has worked
I don't think they want to gamble
So it;s up to Journey to decide what
and if Mgmt doesn;t have the same idea then they have to do some serious soul searching
Do they want to chance losing what they got
as I still think most of the fans just want to hear the old stuff.

If they have the drive why not go for it
it;s now or never
None of us are getting any younger
and there is no better time than the present

Vladan wrote:[
Journey are a chop and change band, and as long as Neal wants to keep playing his guitar this band will keep changing their vocalist. In my opinion the stone was cracked, I agree with Perry. As arrogant as people may think he is for saying that, he is 100% correct.

The stone was flawed and the chopped of the flaw when they chopped off Perry. Most of the stone remained, and is precious. Now, if they do it again, there is going to be even less left...and even less valuable.

Vladan wrote:

Rockin'Deano wrote:You guys ever heard the word, momentum? They certainly have it now, and it is still building.

Good point. If this band decided to make a new album, re-invent themselves as Sammy said - it might be somthing special!. They have to make a new CD, put some time into it! do it with JSS. I still have hope.

If they did this, there would be no touring next Spring or early Summer. Do you think Neal and Journey are going to miss out on those touring $'s, especialy if it is another like the current, or Main Event?

Taking off time now could be very damaging
No matter the initial acceptance of a vocal change
they have to allow this new sound to cure

Vladan wrote:

Rockin'Deano wrote:No, you are wrong about that, and that is the problem. No one has the balls to go for it. Dude, if Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi csan do it still, then a better band of mucisians, Journey, can as well.

I think Aerosmith and Bon Jovi had more success though, world wide - much more appeal. I think if you had Journey from 1983 you could do stuff, but not today - Aerosmith and Bon Jovi kept the same lead singer, and pretty much stayed true to the formula, and kept producing quality material that made the radio world wide. Bon Jovi has appeal, he has a voice and the looks. Journey are a chop and change band, and as long as Neal wants to keep playing his guitar this band will keep changing their vocalist. In my opinion the stone was cracked, I agree with Perry. As arrogant as people may think he is for saying that, he is 100% correct.

Have to agree with ya there Vladan. Back when JBJ had his burnout and Bon Jovi almost split too, JBJ got rid of Doc McGee management and run their own management, make their own decisions and tour a little less.....but then again I think JBJ and SP are very similiar in their work ethics and drive (ya some will call it controlling ). And after watching the Behind the Music on Bon Jovi and Journey, quite similiar circumstances....but different endings.

Saying that, I think JSS might be just what the doctor ordered!

Jon Bon Jovi is NOTHING like Perry in any sense of the word.

JBJ is THE biggest lipper ever. He lips the entire night and the entire tour.

Rockin'Deano wrote:
JBJ is THE biggest lipper ever. He lips the entire night and the entire tour.

Here we go again Next your going to say Dennis Deyoung lipped! or Brian Johnson -ERIC

Rockin'Deano wrote:Jon Bon Jovi is NOTHING like Perry in any sense of the word.

JBJ is THE biggest lipper ever. He lips the entire night and the entire tour.

Kiss my Deano!

strungout wrote:

Rockin'Deano wrote:Jon Bon Jovi is NOTHING like Perry in any sense of the word.

JBJ is THE biggest lipper ever. He lips the entire night and the entire tour.

Kiss my Deano!

Hey I need one of those
My tush got intimate with the sidewalk today...

it's called tossing the salad...quite but not quite!