Hmmmm... Neal Schon Productions:

[fredinator]

I love this!! It looks like NSP is going to produce "2 new Hot Solo Cd's to be mixed inMarch." So looking forward to these and very curious to see what Neal will do with this production company... I wonder if he will get a new "manager" or something? I kind of hope so, not to bag on his current management company, but it seems like they just have a template or script that they follow each year assigning one of the big AOR acts to tour with them.. It would be awesome if Neal decided to tour with, let's say, a zydeco band, dang, that would be so awesome and freaking fun! Buckwheat Zydeco or Marcia Ball or Ozomatli (another outrageously talented and fun band!). Sorry, I'm tired, rambling and dreaming, lol... There is such a variety of talent out there it's practically daunting to think of any one or 20 that would be really fun, fun, tun to see... with Journey..

[Don]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

[Saint John]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

Irving Azoff does an incredible job of making his shed of acts as much money as possible. The problem I have is what happens after that, namely nothing. It's the little things that this band is missing. The things that Herbie Herbert brought to the band. Stop in at a radio station once in a while, modernize your interaction with the fans (Facebook), hit a bar once a year and play a raw set on the fly. Everything seems too scripted and superficial. Fuck, have a listening party for your new album and/or play the entire CD front to back. Publicize the things at the grass roots level. Walmart will help it sell a lot and probably has a built-in sales base of about 200,000, but let's push this thing like it's the first CD you've ever released. I would love to see an out-of-the-box idea hit the Journey camp, and I think a listening party and/or a small theater gig playing the entire new album would be the way to go.

Azoff should also think about trying to start a summer concert series before or after NASCAR races. 100,000 people, most of which know Journey's music, would be an ideal way to spread the band's popularity.

[steveo777]

Isn't the band hitting more venues, globally, than any time in recent history? This new album might sell really well, if it's good.

[Don]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

[Don]

Isn't the band hitting more venues, globally, than any time in recent history? This new album might sell really well, if it's good.

AC-DC did something like 28 shows last year but had over a million tickets sold and made over 122 million dollars because of the large yards they were playing. Journey is probably doing 80 shows with two other acts and will still probably barely break one million in ticket sales because of the size of the venues (and don't forget to split that revenue three ways after Azoff's cut).
They are hitting S. America before their album even comes out. The only people benefiting from GLOBAL record sales will be SONY as Journey's Greatest Hits is already available and will probably see another surge in sales just like it did in the UK last year.
What do you consider 'really well' as far as album sales?

[steveo777]

Isn't the band hitting more venues, globally, than any time in recent history? This new album might sell really well, if it's good.

AC-DC did something like 28 shows last year but had over a million tickets sold and made over 122 million dollars because of the large yards they were playing. Journey is probably doing 80 shows with two other acts and will still probably barely break one million in ticket sales because of the size of the venues (and don't forget to split that revenue three ways after Azoff's cut).
They are hitting S. America before their album even comes out. The only people benefiting from GLOBAL record sales will be SONY as Journey's Greatest Hits is already available and will probably see another surge in sales just like it did in the UK last year.
What do you consider 'really well' as far as album sales?

Gold with a single disc. The way the market is that would be doing really well.

[brandonx76]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

Woah Woah Woah...let's not forget about their amazing virtual presence on "Second Life"...I kid, is that thing still up?

[Don]

If Irving would drop the team effort and truly promote Journey on it's own, they could probably increase their profit by 30 to 40 percent this year. It seems though that the Eagles are the only ones that get special treatment, Everyone else in the stable seems to get the same marketing effort no matter how much the disparity in popularity between some of them.

[Saint John]

What do you consider 'really well' as far as album sales?

1 million worldwide units moved, like the last one. And I think they're playing South America first for a few reasons:

-to acclimate the new fans with the band.

-to showcase the new songs and harder direction, in hopes of spurring sales when the new CD comes out.

-as a warm up tour to make sure they're firing on all cylinders when they hit the U.S.

[brandonx76]

If Irving would drop the team effort and truly promote Journey on it's own, they could probably increase their profit by 30 to 40 percent this year. It seems though that the Eagles are the only ones that get special treatment, Everyone else in the stable seems to get the same marketing effort no matter how much the disparity in popularity between some of them.

I think the Eagles and Irving are real close (at least with Don Henley), based on the Don Felder book...kinda like having friends in high places

[Argus]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

Woah Woah Woah...let's not forget about their amazing virtual presence on "Second Life"...I kid, is that thing still up?

22 million Residents and yes, Second Life is alive, but JRNY has no presence there other than Tribute Bands who play "live concert soundtracks" and "puppet" the musicians. SL brought JRNY an untapped Global and Virtual presence. *shrugs* I agree that every media medium should be used to promote ..Plurk/Twitter/FB/MySpace/Blogger/Flickr/YouTube etc. etc. With Websites becoming passe, and Social Media so popular and free, A Viral Revival is fairly inexpensive and certainly a good ROI

[brandonx76]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

Woah Woah Woah...let's not forget about their amazing virtual presence on "Second Life"...I kid, is that thing still up?

22 million Residents and yes, Second Life is alive, but JRNY has no presence there other than Tribute Bands who play "live concert soundtracks" and "puppet" the musicians. SL brought JRNY an untapped Global and Virtual presence. *shrugs* I agree that every media medium should be used to promote ..Plurk/Twitter/FB/MySpace/Blogger/Flickr/YouTube etc. etc. With Websites becoming passe, and Social Media so popular and free, A Viral Revival is fairly inexpensive and certainly a good ROI

I know Second Life was around, but Journey did at one time have a virtual island I think it was called - I assume it's still there

[Don]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

Woah Woah Woah...let's not forget about their amazing virtual presence on "Second Life"...I kid, is that thing still up?

22 million Residents and yes, Second Life is alive, but JRNY has no presence there other than Tribute Bands who play "live concert soundtracks" and "puppet" the musicians. SL brought JRNY an untapped Global and Virtual presence. *shrugs* I agree that every media medium should be used to promote ..Plurk/Twitter/FB/MySpace/Blogger/Flickr/YouTube etc. etc. With Websites becoming passe, and Social Media so popular and free, A Viral Revival is fairly inexpensive and certainly a good ROI

I know Second Life was around, but Journey did at one time have a virtual island I think it was called - I assume it's still there

I believe Argus ran the Journey site, before Lori became the 'go to' person for the band's web presence.

[Saint John]

Foreigner seems to have done every NASCAR race out there, and the Improv on Ice on NBC, and the George Lopez show AND they are very active on Facebook, where as Journey should shutter that crap 'Official' site they have, create a 'Real' Facebook page for the band, not 10 million fan pages run by administrators who post in broken English, and have some type of online contests to get more people in the loop that would ignore the band's page otherwise.

Woah Woah Woah...let's not forget about their amazing virtual presence on "Second Life"...I kid, is that thing still up?

22 million Residents and yes, Second Life is alive, but JRNY has no presence there other than Tribute Bands who play "live concert soundtracks" and "puppet" the musicians. SL brought JRNY an untapped Global and Virtual presence. *shrugs* I agree that every media medium should be used to promote ..Plurk/Twitter/FB/MySpace/Blogger/Flickr/YouTube etc. etc. With Websites becoming passe, and Social Media so popular and free, A Viral Revival is fairly inexpensive and certainly a good ROI

I know Second Life was around, but Journey did at one time have a virtual island I think it was called - I assume it's still there

I believe Argus ran the Journey site, before Lori became the 'go to' person for the band's web presence.

Correct. Pretty sure she was CJ. She and I had an a few battles. Nice lady from what I hear, though.

[Rockindeano]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

Irving Azoff does an incredible job of making his shed of acts as much money as possible. The problem I have is what happens after that, namely nothing. It's the little things that this band is missing. The things that Herbie Herbert brought to the band. Stop in at a radio station once in a while, modernize your interaction with the fans (Facebook), hit a bar once a year and play a raw set on the fly. Everything seems too scripted and superficial. Fuck, have a listening party for your new album and/or play the entire CD front to back. Publicize the things at the grass roots level. Walmart will help it sell a lot and probably has a built-in sales base of about 200,000, but let's push this thing like it's the first CD you've ever released. I would love to see an out-of-the-box idea hit the Journey camp, and I think a listening party and/or a small theater gig playing the entire new album would be the way to go.

Azoff should also think about trying to start a summer concert series before or after NASCAR races. 100,000 people, most of which know Journey's music, would be an ideal way to spread the band's popularity.

I agree with you here Dan. It seems as Irv does the bare minimum. Back when I was all chummy with Schon, I said to him, "We need to get rid of that douche Azoff." he immediately said, "you have no idea what he does for us." I was taken aback. Neal obviously likes him and feels that he does the band justice.

Onto what you were saying about doing the small things. Yes. How about getting ahold of Fallon, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel and Stern? Hell, if two bite, you're in. Journey could even do what Bruce has done recently, and it sells the album. Shoot video of the making of the album and air it on HBO. Bon Jovi does this type of thing too. Yeah, Bruce and Jon seemingly possess HBO ties and perhaps Journey couldn't get on HBO, but there has got to be some video medium that would host a Journey segment...their popularity is pretty good now I would think. You could even do what Springsteen did recently( I know more of him ), but what he did was film a concert in an intimate venue, where I believe 500 fans filled up an indoor merry go round at Asbury Park, but all he played was songs from the new disc. Journey could play a free show at he Warfield or some Frisco spot where they hail from.....shoot it, record it, and show it. Have some commentary during the show. Play a song, and then discuss it and then talk your way into the next one, giving the viewer some sort of short story about the making of the song/record and mix in some humour too. Look, Journey is a fascinating story, and people like it...they want to hear the story that is Journey. Unfortunately, we'll never hear the meat and potatoes part of the band story, but I see no reason why Cain or Schon cannot talk the viewer through a one hour special highlighting only their new record...play NOTHING from the past...or at least do not show the viewer the dirty dozen. Feel free to play an entire show for the 500 or so people that came(they could get in via lottery or generous charitable donation or something like that), but the one hour TV spot contains only new music. Get intimate with your fans. They could do this, BUT, IMHO, they don't want to spend the money to do this and get it on say Showtime or even Direct TV (they did that before and it was an extremely successful venture).

And if you don't want to do the Springsteen thing, do the other thing, which Bruce and Jon both do...a documentary. Fans eat this up. When We Were Beautiful was a great film on Bon Jovi. I got hooked on it, and even went out and bought a disc. Journey is a compelling enough story to do this. And then you have Bruce who did his documentary called "The Making of The Darkness on the Edge of Town." Journey could do this about the new record or any record for that matter(although the Perry factor muddies up the waters). Either way, you guys might laugh at me, but Bruce and Jon do it and no one can argue that they are both the biggest artists on the planet.

Thoughts, Dan?

[Arkansas]

All this talk about Azoff & Journey...

I think the original post just said Neal Schon. Kinda like his deal with Higher Octave, maybe he's doing his own thing just for his new solo efforts. Does IA have any control of him outside of Journey? Isn't this thread about some new Neal Schon solo?

Btw, Argus/CJ is good people.


later~

[Maui Tom]

All this talk about Azoff & Journey...

I think the original post just said Neal Schon. Kinda like his deal with Higher Octave, maybe he's doing his own thing just for his new solo efforts. Does IA have any control of him outside of Journey? Isn't this thread about some new Neal Schon solo?

Btw, Argus/CJ is good people.


later~

Love me some CJ and Mark...always will...

[PianoMan1986]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

Irving Azoff does an incredible job of making his shed of acts as much money as possible. The problem I have is what happens after that, namely nothing. It's the little things that this band is missing. The things that Herbie Herbert brought to the band. Stop in at a radio station once in a while, modernize your interaction with the fans (Facebook), hit a bar once a year and play a raw set on the fly. Everything seems too scripted and superficial. Fuck, have a listening party for your new album and/or play the entire CD front to back. Publicize the things at the grass roots level. Walmart will help it sell a lot and probably has a built-in sales base of about 200,000, but let's push this thing like it's the first CD you've ever released. I would love to see an out-of-the-box idea hit the Journey camp, and I think a listening party and/or a small theater gig playing the entire new album would be the way to go.

Azoff should also think about trying to start a summer concert series before or after NASCAR races. 100,000 people, most of which know Journey's music, would be an ideal way to spread the band's popularity.

I agree with you here Dan. It seems as Irv does the bare minimum. Back when I was all chummy with Schon, I said to him, "We need to get rid of that douche Azoff." he immediately said, "you have no idea what he does for us." I was taken aback. Neal obviously likes him and feels that he does the band justice.

Onto what you were saying about doing the small things. Yes. How about getting ahold of Fallon, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel and Stern? Hell, if two bite, you're in. Journey could even do what Bruce has done recently, and it sells the album. Shoot video of the making of the album and air it on HBO. Bon Jovi does this type of thing too. Yeah, Bruce and Jon seemingly possess HBO ties and perhaps Journey couldn't get on HBO, but there has got to be some video medium that would host a Journey segment...their popularity is pretty good now I would think. You could even do what Springsteen did recently( I know more of him ), but what he did was film a concert in an intimate venue, where I believe 500 fans filled up an indoor merry go round at Asbury Park, but all he played was songs from the new disc. Journey could play a free show at he Warfield or some Frisco spot where they hail from.....shoot it, record it, and show it. Have some commentary during the show. Play a song, and then discuss it and then talk your way into the next one, giving the viewer some sort of short story about the making of the song/record and mix in some humour too. Look, Journey is a fascinating story, and people like it...they want to hear the story that is Journey. Unfortunately, we'll never hear the meat and potatoes part of the band story, but I see no reason why Cain or Schon cannot talk the viewer through a one hour special highlighting only their new record...play NOTHING from the past...or at least do not show the viewer the dirty dozen. Feel free to play an entire show for the 500 or so people that came(they could get in via lottery or generous charitable donation or something like that), but the one hour TV spot contains only new music. Get intimate with your fans. They could do this, BUT, IMHO, they don't want to spend the money to do this and get it on say Showtime or even Direct TV (they did that before and it was an extremely successful venture).

And if you don't want to do the Springsteen thing, do the other thing, which Bruce and Jon both do...a documentary. Fans eat this up. When We Were Beautiful was a great film on Bon Jovi. I got hooked on it, and even went out and bought a disc. Journey is a compelling enough story to do this. And then you have Bruce who did his documentary called "The Making of The Darkness on the Edge of Town." Journey could do this about the new record or any record for that matter(although the Perry factor muddies up the waters). Either way, you guys might laugh at me, but Bruce and Jon do it and no one can argue that they are both the biggest artists on the planet.

Thoughts, Dan?

I think it's a great idea, granted a little biased since I'm into behind the scenes stuff like that, but I think it would be advantageous for them to do one or the other (intimate show/broadcast performing and talking about the new album, or a documentary). Why would it cost so much to get it produced or aired though Deano?

[Rockindeano]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

Irving Azoff does an incredible job of making his shed of acts as much money as possible. The problem I have is what happens after that, namely nothing. It's the little things that this band is missing. The things that Herbie Herbert brought to the band. Stop in at a radio station once in a while, modernize your interaction with the fans (Facebook), hit a bar once a year and play a raw set on the fly. Everything seems too scripted and superficial. Fuck, have a listening party for your new album and/or play the entire CD front to back. Publicize the things at the grass roots level. Walmart will help it sell a lot and probably has a built-in sales base of about 200,000, but let's push this thing like it's the first CD you've ever released. I would love to see an out-of-the-box idea hit the Journey camp, and I think a listening party and/or a small theater gig playing the entire new album would be the way to go.

Azoff should also think about trying to start a summer concert series before or after NASCAR races. 100,000 people, most of which know Journey's music, would be an ideal way to spread the band's popularity.

I agree with you here Dan. It seems as Irv does the bare minimum. Back when I was all chummy with Schon, I said to him, "We need to get rid of that douche Azoff." he immediately said, "you have no idea what he does for us." I was taken aback. Neal obviously likes him and feels that he does the band justice.

Onto what you were saying about doing the small things. Yes. How about getting ahold of Fallon, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel and Stern? Hell, if two bite, you're in. Journey could even do what Bruce has done recently, and it sells the album. Shoot video of the making of the album and air it on HBO. Bon Jovi does this type of thing too. Yeah, Bruce and Jon seemingly possess HBO ties and perhaps Journey couldn't get on HBO, but there has got to be some video medium that would host a Journey segment...their popularity is pretty good now I would think. You could even do what Springsteen did recently( I know more of him ), but what he did was film a concert in an intimate venue, where I believe 500 fans filled up an indoor merry go round at Asbury Park, but all he played was songs from the new disc. Journey could play a free show at he Warfield or some Frisco spot where they hail from.....shoot it, record it, and show it. Have some commentary during the show. Play a song, and then discuss it and then talk your way into the next one, giving the viewer some sort of short story about the making of the song/record and mix in some humour too. Look, Journey is a fascinating story, and people like it...they want to hear the story that is Journey. Unfortunately, we'll never hear the meat and potatoes part of the band story, but I see no reason why Cain or Schon cannot talk the viewer through a one hour special highlighting only their new record...play NOTHING from the past...or at least do not show the viewer the dirty dozen. Feel free to play an entire show for the 500 or so people that came(they could get in via lottery or generous charitable donation or something like that), but the one hour TV spot contains only new music. Get intimate with your fans. They could do this, BUT, IMHO, they don't want to spend the money to do this and get it on say Showtime or even Direct TV (they did that before and it was an extremely successful venture).

And if you don't want to do the Springsteen thing, do the other thing, which Bruce and Jon both do...a documentary. Fans eat this up. When We Were Beautiful was a great film on Bon Jovi. I got hooked on it, and even went out and bought a disc. Journey is a compelling enough story to do this. And then you have Bruce who did his documentary called "The Making of The Darkness on the Edge of Town." Journey could do this about the new record or any record for that matter(although the Perry factor muddies up the waters). Either way, you guys might laugh at me, but Bruce and Jon do it and no one can argue that they are both the biggest artists on the planet.

Thoughts, Dan?

I think it's a great idea, granted a little biased since I'm into behind the scenes stuff like that, but I think it would be advantageous for them to do one or the other (intimate show/broadcast performing and talking about the new album, or a documentary). Why would it cost so much to get it produced or aired though Deano?

Not sure about all that stuff, but I know it isn't cheap. Both Bruce and Jon spend a lot of money, a lot to promote themselves. I bet Journey doesn't spend an 1/8th of what those guys do. In any event, it costs an arm and a leg to do a concept video right? Well, back when I was a diehard fan and Arrival was out, I was bitching about how the band woudn't even film a concert video for Higher Place. Valory said it cost too much. Now if shooting a video in concert is too expensive, then I know shooting a documentary or the making of an album would be tenfold, and a documentary like Bon Jovi just did When We were Beautiful must cost a boatload. But again, Bruce and Jon are in a different league than Journey and are different animals, in that they are both the original foundrs/singers, etc. Their fans are true die hard fans, I mean hardcore. Journey has some too, but the number is either fractured(Perry base), or has dwindled, however Pineda has brought his own into the mix though, but not nearly as much as Perry once had.

Maybe it is the managers too. Dan talked about Azoff and his minimalistic effort. To the contrary, Jon Landau, Bruce's mgr, spends huge amounts of money to promote his artist. Now, the thing here with Landau is, Bruce is his only artist, whereas Azoff has a an entire stable. I am will ing to bet Landau makes more off Springsteen than Azoff makes off Aguilara, Eagles, Journey and REO.

[superreverb]

I love this!! It looks like NSP is going to produce "2 new Hot Solo Cd's to be mixed inMarch." So looking forward to these and very curious to see what Neal will do with this production company... I wonder if he will get a new "manager" or something? I kind of hope so, not to bag on his current management company, but it seems like they just have a template or script that they follow each year assigning one of the big AOR acts to tour with them.. It would be awesome if Neal decided to tour with, let's say, a zydeco band, dang, that would be so awesome and freaking fun! Buckwheat Zydeco or Marcia Ball or Ozomatli (another outrageously talented and fun band!). Sorry, I'm tired, rambling and dreaming, lol... There is such a variety of talent out there it's practically daunting to think of any one or 20 that would be really fun, fun, tun to see... with Journey..

Journey's got 2 years of tour dates on the books. Neal is mixing this in March? for Sure? Do you think he'll sit on them for 2 years while he's busy with Journey? or release them at the same time as the new Journey record? Or even "Beat" the journey record? Is there "Official word" that the new Journey record Drops in June ? if thats the case, and Neals finishe mixing his... I guess we could expect anything.

[fredinator]

I picked the quote up directly off of Neal's Facebook page... I wonder if NSP mixed the new Journey album? Maybe Neal is up to something new and exciting; it seems like he is always busy doing something. I agree with Dan and Dean about maybe a free summer concert or a deal with HBO or maybe Neal and Steve S going on Austin City Limits. I wish Neal would consider touring with Los Lonely Boys--I forgot about them--they are some great rockers... Or Los Lobos another great rocking band. *Sigh* Rambling again.

[PianoMan1986]

You aren't suggesting that Neal would part ways with Azoff are you? Irving controls half of the larger concert venues in the U.S. and Europe. How do you think Journey is getting scheduled at all these festivals? Also, the Wal-Mart relationship, that's with Azoff as point man, not Journey itself.
Azoff is about making money, for ALL of his acts, not just Journey, hence the three band bills, so Irving's 'not so popular' bands get to share the pie too instead of just one act.

Irving Azoff does an incredible job of making his shed of acts as much money as possible. The problem I have is what happens after that, namely nothing. It's the little things that this band is missing. The things that Herbie Herbert brought to the band. Stop in at a radio station once in a while, modernize your interaction with the fans (Facebook), hit a bar once a year and play a raw set on the fly. Everything seems too scripted and superficial. Fuck, have a listening party for your new album and/or play the entire CD front to back. Publicize the things at the grass roots level. Walmart will help it sell a lot and probably has a built-in sales base of about 200,000, but let's push this thing like it's the first CD you've ever released. I would love to see an out-of-the-box idea hit the Journey camp, and I think a listening party and/or a small theater gig playing the entire new album would be the way to go.

Azoff should also think about trying to start a summer concert series before or after NASCAR races. 100,000 people, most of which know Journey's music, would be an ideal way to spread the band's popularity.

I agree with you here Dan. It seems as Irv does the bare minimum. Back when I was all chummy with Schon, I said to him, "We need to get rid of that douche Azoff." he immediately said, "you have no idea what he does for us." I was taken aback. Neal obviously likes him and feels that he does the band justice.

Onto what you were saying about doing the small things. Yes. How about getting ahold of Fallon, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel and Stern? Hell, if two bite, you're in. Journey could even do what Bruce has done recently, and it sells the album. Shoot video of the making of the album and air it on HBO. Bon Jovi does this type of thing too. Yeah, Bruce and Jon seemingly possess HBO ties and perhaps Journey couldn't get on HBO, but there has got to be some video medium that would host a Journey segment...their popularity is pretty good now I would think. You could even do what Springsteen did recently( I know more of him ), but what he did was film a concert in an intimate venue, where I believe 500 fans filled up an indoor merry go round at Asbury Park, but all he played was songs from the new disc. Journey could play a free show at he Warfield or some Frisco spot where they hail from.....shoot it, record it, and show it. Have some commentary during the show. Play a song, and then discuss it and then talk your way into the next one, giving the viewer some sort of short story about the making of the song/record and mix in some humour too. Look, Journey is a fascinating story, and people like it...they want to hear the story that is Journey. Unfortunately, we'll never hear the meat and potatoes part of the band story, but I see no reason why Cain or Schon cannot talk the viewer through a one hour special highlighting only their new record...play NOTHING from the past...or at least do not show the viewer the dirty dozen. Feel free to play an entire show for the 500 or so people that came(they could get in via lottery or generous charitable donation or something like that), but the one hour TV spot contains only new music. Get intimate with your fans. They could do this, BUT, IMHO, they don't want to spend the money to do this and get it on say Showtime or even Direct TV (they did that before and it was an extremely successful venture).

And if you don't want to do the Springsteen thing, do the other thing, which Bruce and Jon both do...a documentary. Fans eat this up. When We Were Beautiful was a great film on Bon Jovi. I got hooked on it, and even went out and bought a disc. Journey is a compelling enough story to do this. And then you have Bruce who did his documentary called "The Making of The Darkness on the Edge of Town." Journey could do this about the new record or any record for that matter(although the Perry factor muddies up the waters). Either way, you guys might laugh at me, but Bruce and Jon do it and no one can argue that they are both the biggest artists on the planet.

Thoughts, Dan?

I think it's a great idea, granted a little biased since I'm into behind the scenes stuff like that, but I think it would be advantageous for them to do one or the other (intimate show/broadcast performing and talking about the new album, or a documentary). Why would it cost so much to get it produced or aired though Deano?

Not sure about all that stuff, but I know it isn't cheap. Both Bruce and Jon spend a lot of money, a lot to promote themselves. I bet Journey doesn't spend an 1/8th of what those guys do. In any event, it costs an arm and a leg to do a concept video right? Well, back when I was a diehard fan and Arrival was out, I was bitching about how the band woudn't even film a concert video for Higher Place. Valory said it cost too much. Now if shooting a video in concert is too expensive, then I know shooting a documentary or the making of an album would be tenfold, and a documentary like Bon Jovi just did When We were Beautiful must cost a boatload. But again, Bruce and Jon are in a different league than Journey and are different animals, in that they are both the original founders/singers, etc. Their fans are true die hard fans, I mean hardcore. Journey has some too, but the number is either fractured(Perry base), or has dwindled, however Pineda has brought his own into the mix though, but not nearly as much as Perry once had.

Maybe it is the managers too. Dan talked about Azoff and his minimalistic effort. To the contrary, Jon Landau, Bruce's mgr, spends huge amounts of money to promote his artist. Now, the thing here with Landau is, Bruce is his only artist, whereas Azoff has a an entire stable. I am willing to bet Landau makes more off Springsteen than Azoff makes off Aguilara, Eagles, Journey and REO.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. It's a give-in that Bruce and Jon are juggernauts in what they do, just like you said with their fanbase. Not to be naive, but is it fair to say that Azoff is purely a "businessman" (insert " " whatever word you like lol) and is just out for $ rather than promotion?

[Saint John]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

What drives me absolutely fucking crazy is their seemingly new found inability to play a show live. You know, set up, plug your instruments in, do a sound check and let it fly. Everything is so predicated on a click track, triggered backing vocals and sequencing that you can actually SEE Jonathan, at times, almost looking bored. Step the fuck OUT of that comfort zone and wing a show showcasing your new album from front to back. Play a club show and/or have the listening party. Or, as Dean mentioned, do a sort of mini-documentary on the writing and recording sessions of the new album (a bit late for that now). Throw that in as a bonus DVD and allow the fans, new and old, to catch a rare glimpse of each member and get to "know" them a bit. Journey, with the exception of Arnel, seems so distant and unknown to the average fan, and especially the new fan.

I have a feeling that they have something planned for the worldwide release of their new album. What that something is I have no idea, but I feel like Neal's exuberance about the final product is as high as it's ever been. This is his pet project and he seems to be flowing with creativity right now. I just hope he/they realize that promoting the new stuff is equally, and arguable more, as important as the material itself. It'll be interesting to see what they do. The new album is about 150 days from being released. Good luck.

[Don]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

What drives me absolutely fucking crazy is their seemingly new found inability to play a show live. You know, set up, plug your instruments in, do a sound check and let it fly. Everything is so predicated on a click track, triggered backing vocals and sequencing that you can actually SEE Jonathan, at times, almost looking bored. Step the fuck OUT of that comfort zone and wing a show showcasing your new album from front to back. Play a club show and/or have the listening party. Or, as Dean mentioned, do a sort of mini-documentary on the writing and recording sessions of the new album (a bit late for that now). Throw that in as a bonus DVD and allow the fans, new and old, to catch a rare glimpse of each member and get to "know" them a bit. Journey, with the exception of Arnel, seems so distant and unknown to the average fan, and especially the new fan.

I have a feeling that they have something planned for the worldwide release of their new album. What that something is I have no idea, but I feel like Neal's exuberance about the final product is as high as it's ever been. This is his pet project and he seems to be flowing with creativity right now. I just hope he/they realize that promoting the new stuff is equally, and arguable more, as important as the material itself. It'll be interesting to see what they do. The new album is about 150 days from being released. Good luck.

C. Poon

[Rockindeano]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

Hey, I get what you're saying, but Bruce is older than BOTH of them and he gets it done. But you're right, you need a young mind, connected to current day technology. Jon is pretty well connected. Bruce has a young woman doing that for him over at Thrill Hill Productions. i would assume Azoff has the same thing at his place too.

We agree on what Journey should do. Why aren't we managing this fucking band?

[Don]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

Hey, I get what you're saying, but Bruce is older than BOTH of them and he gets it done. But you're right, you need a young mind, connected to current day technology. Jon is pretty well connected. Bruce has a young woman doing that for him over at Thrill Hill Productions. i would assume Azoff has the same thing at his place too.

We agree on what Journey should do. Why aren't we managing this fucking band?

Uhh, because we prefer beer and chips over Dasani and Granola Bars.

This isn't the same band that used to get blow jobs in the hallways in Pine Knob or doing blow in the back of the bus and putting away cases of Bud while recording.

Times have changed, the band has become PG 13 with their new fan base and I'm not talking about the younger kids either. Sometime over the last 15 years, Rock and Roll (in general) got neutered.

[steveo777]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

Hey, I get what you're saying, but Bruce is older than BOTH of them and he gets it done. But you're right, you need a young mind, connected to current day technology. Jon is pretty well connected. Bruce has a young woman doing that for him over at Thrill Hill Productions. i would assume Azoff has the same thing at his place too.

We agree on what Journey should do. Why aren't we managing this fucking band?

Uhh, because we prefer beer and chips over Dasani and Granola Bars.

This isn't the same band that used to get blow jobs in the hallways in Pine Knob or doing blow in the back of the bus and putting away cases of Bud while recording.

Times have changed, the band has become PG 13 with their new fan base and I'm not talking about the younger kids either. Sometime over the last 15 years, Rock and Roll (in general) got neutered.

We probably have Axl Rose to thank for that.

[Don]

Thoughts, Dan?

The elder statesmen of Journey, Neal and Jon, are getting up there in years. These guys have been on the road for many, many years. Therefore, their idea of what's "in" may be vastly different from what actually is in. Azoff's management team provides the meat and potatoes of their livelihood. However, what they need is a young mind steering them into places outside of their obvious comfort zone(s). Someone to get random quotes and feed them on to Twitter, someone to keep a Facebook page updated and someone to keep them in touch with the pulse of the fans.

Hey, I get what you're saying, but Bruce is older than BOTH of them and he gets it done. But you're right, you need a young mind, connected to current day technology. Jon is pretty well connected. Bruce has a young woman doing that for him over at Thrill Hill Productions. i would assume Azoff has the same thing at his place too.

We agree on what Journey should do. Why aren't we managing this fucking band?

Uhh, because we prefer beer and chips over Dasani and Granola Bars.

This isn't the same band that used to get blow jobs in the hallways in Pine Knob or doing blow in the back of the bus and putting away cases of Bud while recording.

Times have changed, the band has become PG 13 with their new fan base and I'm not talking about the younger kids either. Sometime over the last 15 years, Rock and Roll (in general) got neutered.

We probably have Axl Rose to thank for that.

No way, Axl is a head case, but he is as far as where you can get from where Rock has become. I'm talking about the resignation of acts to writing music for A/C radio and hiding it behind the pretense of a band 'maturing' when it's probably more to do with playing it safe, along with losing the enthusiasm to write great material that these guys had done when they were younger. You had dudes pouring their souls out to get played on the radio and become stars.
Now that they have done that tenfold, it seems the successful rock artists have gotten lazy, indifferent or have just lost a lot of the fire that they had when they were younger.

Was it all the hard living and excessiveness that defined the '80s finally taking its toll, I don't know.

Perhaps the hiring and manufacturing of Arnel Pineda and his story can be seen as a culmination of what Rock has become, a generic emulation device to present the past in a safe, sanitized package, ready for consumption by a lethargic and uninspired present generation of consumers.

[Rockindeano]

Times have changed, the band has become PG 13 with their new fan base and I'm not talking about the younger kids either. Sometime over the last 15 years, Rock and Roll (in general) got neutered.

Boy you ain't kidding. The Pineda fans are embarrassing as all Hell. The band is neutered because of this faction in my mind. I wonder if Schon regrets the Pineda signing? Before you answer, think about it. I know he can't dig the lolz bullshit and the screaming filipino chicks googling over the new king at the shows. neal is a real true rock n roller...Pineda not so much. He's more a pop queen.