Something Stevie & Reprise Should Consider...

[skuncles]

Originally Posted by holidayroad

In fact, I saw very little FM related material from 1992-1997, until The Dance. At the time, I felt a little angry at MTV for benefitting from The Dance when they had done so little to promote any material from the Mac or any members in the prior five years.

Keep in mind that The Dance was supposed to be an MTV Unplugged show. The original intent was to do with Fleetwood Mac what had been done with The Eagles three years prior. They brought in the same producer and wanted the Mac to do a full unplugged hits set and several songs were arranged to be done acoustically (the ones that worked out best stayed that way, "Landslide", "Big Love", "Say You Love Me"). But Lindsey was having trouble making the others work so they plugged in and MTV let them go ahead and do the show that way. Also, the band had picked several album cuts they wanted to do, but MTV wanted nothing but hits.
MTV did promote the hell out of this because they were backing it. In fact it was 13 years ago this week that The Dance was all over MTV. The original show aired on August 12 and was repeated on August 16th and 17th with the album being released on August 19th.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by skuncles

The promotion for TISL was non existent on MTV. However it was promoted on VH1 and the Sheryl Crow connection, despite upsetting many Stevie fans, really helped. Plus Stevie made the rounds, she was on Rosie, she was on Letterman, she was on lot's of different TV shows. She also did a ton of print interviews usually discussing her klonopin addiction and how she survived it. There was some internet talk as well, the album became the most downloaded album the week it was released. Also in terms of promo materials there was a full on attack with a decent press kit issued (complete with color slides, lyric book and 8x10's).
Again, having Sheryl Crow (who was a media darling at the time) involved with the project did nothing but help. Also Stevie was riding a wave that began with "The Dance", carried on with "Enchanted" and "Practical Magic". So when the album was announced she was already on the radar.
If this album is planned to be released in the spring Stevie needs to start putting herself out there this winter. Start getting word out that she's got something coming and just create the kind of buzz that was around her back in '01.

You can't make someone promote an album. I'm sure they tried to get it on MTV and it was rejected.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by skuncles

The promotion for TISL was non existent on MTV. However it was promoted on VH1 and the Sheryl Crow connection, despite upsetting many Stevie fans, really helped. Plus Stevie made the rounds, she was on Rosie, she was on Letterman, she was on lot's of different TV shows. She also did a ton of print interviews usually discussing her klonopin addiction and how she survived it. There was some internet talk as well, the album became the most downloaded album the week it was released. Also in terms of promo materials there was a full on attack with a decent press kit issued (complete with color slides, lyric book and 8x10's).
Again, having Sheryl Crow (who was a media darling at the time) involved with the project did nothing but help. Also Stevie was riding a wave that began with "The Dance", carried on with "Enchanted" and "Practical Magic". So when the album was announced she was already on the radar.
If this album is planned to be released in the spring Stevie needs to start putting herself out there this winter. Start getting word out that she's got something coming and just create the kind of buzz that was around her back in '01.

That's all pretty encouraging, really. Hopefully Dave Stewart will have a similar effect, boosting Stevie's appeal and encouraging her to, as you say, put herself out there.

[AnthonyMI]

For TISL VH1 had a presale on their website that if you bought the album online from them (the days before iTunes) you could listen to the album streaming until it came out.

[GavinBrown]

1. She should do a huge televised concert "Stevie Nicks and Friends" the night before the album drops (get the mac, sheryl, dixie chicks, taylor swift, tom petty, dave stewart, etc)
2. Release a single weeks ahead of time with a kickass video
3. Hit all the tv show appearances she can (Letterman, Leno, The View, Ellen, today show etc)
4. Have a huge release party in LA and NYC
5. Coincide the 30th Anniversary of Bella Donna with footage released from the tour

[skuncles]

Connecting the new album to the 30th anniversary of "Bella Donna" would be REALLY smart. What she could do is combine the two, make a 2CD set, the first is the 30th anniversary edition of "Bella Donna" with outtakes etc. The second disc could be the album.
At the very least for the new album, don't be surprised if a DVD is included that contains the making of the album videos she's been shooting and other behind the scenes stuff. That's something a lot of older acts are doing with new albums. Heart's new album is supposed to include a DVD of a show they did this past March. Meat Loaf's new album has a bonus disc with live material from his last tour. KISS's most recent album contained a second disc of newly recorded versions of their hits.
So I expect Stevie will include a bonus disc of something.

[nailatixela]

Originally Posted by skuncles

Keep in mind that The Dance was supposed to be an MTV Unplugged show. The original intent was to do with Fleetwood Mac what had been done with The Eagles three years prior. They brought in the same producer and wanted the Mac to do a full unplugged hits set and several songs were arranged to be done acoustically (the ones that worked out best stayed that way, "Landslide", "Big Love", "Say You Love Me"). But Lindsey was having trouble making the others work so they plugged in and MTV let them go ahead and do the show that way.

Thanks, I never knew this. So really, the only new arrangement Lindsey (or the band) was able to really complete was Say You Love Me, since Landslide's always been acoustic, and Lindsey was doing Big Love like that since the OOTC tour.

[Angel69]

Originally Posted by pwyll

Of course, adding a full episode of Oprah dedicated to Stevie as well as Larry King Live wouldn't hurt.

I have a feeling Oprah is not that big of a fan of Stevie's to have her on for a full hour.

[skuncles]

Originally Posted by nailatixela

Thanks, I never knew this. So really, the only new arrangement Lindsey (or the band) was able to really complete was Say You Love Me, since Landslide's always been acoustic, and Lindsey was doing Big Love like that since the OOTC tour.

There may have been others, but they just didn't work well enough to where Lindsey was happy with them. As it was I recall him saying something about having to lower the key on Stevie's songs which he said took some getting used to.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Angel69

I have a feeling Oprah is not that big of a fan of Stevie's to have her on for a full hour.

Every once in a while Oprah will do music shows, especially when there is a story to tell. Some years ago, Carly Simon was on Oprah, but she had maybe a 15-minute segment including a live performance. I think there were a couple of other female singers on that episode too... Mary J. Blige is the only one I can remember right now.

I think there is enough of a story for Stevie to do an hour. We all know how much Stevie loves to talk about her past addictions/recoveries- that alone could take up an hour. But the fact that she is in her 60s and still rocking and still looking fabulous should be story too. And Stevie fits perfectly with Oprah's core demographic- middle-aged women- who grew up listening to Stevie and Fleetwood Mac. She's certainly more interesting than Raquel Welch or Kirstie Alley, who both recently had full hours devoted to them.

[daniellaaarisen]

I think the Oprah thing would be awesome.

Also, the "Stevie Nicks and Friends" idea is great, and also a hell of a lot more likely to happen than a Stevie solo television program. Stevie has friends who are both Billboard veterans and relatively fresh in the music scene. Imagine if she had a show that featured Tom Petty, the Dixie Chicks, Lindsey, Vanessa Carlton (gag, but hey... if it's promotional), Sheryl Crow, possibly Don Henley?

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by skuncles

The original show aired on August 12 and was repeated on August 16th and 17th with the album being released on August 19th.

It was only shown in its 90 minute commercial-free entirety on August 12th. August 16th & 17th were truncated versions only an hour long WITH commercials (so only 42 minutes of music).

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

She's certainly more interesting than Raquel Welch or Kirstie Alley

...or Sarah Ferguson (former Duchess of York)

[Fannymac]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I think that'd be a fantastic idea if all the strings could be pulled to make it happen! I don't see how it could be orchestrated, though. Comparing Stevie's new album to the Dance reunion is apples to oranges, too. Fleetwood Mac is one of the biggest bands in rock history, and had violently disbanded (Rumours line up, that is), a decade before. They were known for their enormous excesses, drugs, and inter band sex. It was all the perfect makings for TV. Drugs, sex, and rock all roll. Excess, hatred, love, and forgiveness. Stevie hasn't recorded an album in a decade is a matter of choice. There's no big sexy story behind it. No intrigue. Just a woman who is nearly old enough to draw Social Security making an album.

Plus, does MTV do ANYTHING musically related these days? I don't think they've played an actual music video in a decade or more. All they have are trashy reality TV shows. Or have they changed since I stopped paying attention?

I will say though, with Dave Stewart at the helm, it seems like he's getting Stevie to do things out of her comfort zone. It appears he's shaking up her formulas. Maybe there will be more surprises. Time shall tell!

Yeah, the only way Stevie could get on MTV now would be if she were dueting with Snooki!!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

I think the Oprah thing would be awesome.

Also, the "Stevie Nicks and Friends" idea is great, and also a hell of a lot more likely to happen than a Stevie solo television program. Stevie has friends who are both Billboard veterans and relatively fresh in the music scene. Imagine if she had a show that featured Tom Petty, the Dixie Chicks, Lindsey, Vanessa Carlton (gag, but hey... if it's promotional), Sheryl Crow, possibly Don Henley?

Sounds a lot like an AHI show!

Michele