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Idolator
Attention aspiring publicists hoping to get your up-and-coming bands name-checked in the new issue of Vanity Fair: Lisa Robinson of Vanity Fair has had it with your unsolicited promo CDs, according to an e-mail she allegedly sent out to publicists today. Why? Because looking around at piles and piles of unlistened-to CDs fills her with an existential dread about the seemingly insurmountable tidal wave of music simply in existence as of the present second? Nah, that's boring. Instead, she's going green like the magazine that employs her and asking promo companies to stop clogging her inbox in the name of the environment!
To all:
Given the rising costs of paper, postage, plastic, envelopes and human effort, the economic problems faced by the music industry, the myriad ways of finding new music in the digital age, as well as all of our deep concerns for the environment, I would like to request that you remove me from any of your mailing lists that send out unsolicited CDs or press material.
D***** ********* from my office will contact you when I need something specific, and we can make arrangements for delivery at that time.
Thank you very much.
Lisa Robinson
Vanity Fair Magazine
One wonders if digital promos are A-OK, or if they fall under the category of "press material"—one also wonders if she's operating out of environmental concern or the fear that she'll have the pants sued off her by Universal Music Group. So many questions!
Lisa Robinson: Environment, Si!; Flacks, No! [Velvet Rope]
Comments
I so want to do this, and hope others do it as well. Every time I go in the mailroom here I want to scream.
Those PR-ish half-sentences she gives new releases in her column are going to be parceled out a LOT more carefully from here on out.
she sent this out in 2006...
What Lisa Robinson doesn't know about music could fill a very large warehouse.
but but, then their labels cant make shit up and charge their bands 10,000 in "promotions."
Does anyone read Vanity Fair for their music coverage? That is just so cute...
is it really selfish of me to hate this? i still love holding cds, and i get all excited when i get free promos. sad i spose.
@Michaelangelo Matos: Yes Vanity Fair will really be hurting if she can't cover every last promo she receieves.
I wish all labels would move to this already.
@blackmailismylife: Agreed. As a publicist, I have been pushing digital promos for some time now. It would save my artists so much money beyond the environmental ramifications.
I think it needs to be a two-stage process.
Stage 1: Major labels announce move to 100% digital promo servicing.
Stage 2: Major labels announce initiative to give a free 160GB iPod to every music critic in the country.
Let's cut this problem off at the source: there needs to be less shitty bands.
@MTS: I second.
Wait, I just realized an even better solution to this: all PR material must be delivered via:
[farm4.static.flickr.com]
@MTS: I concur.
@unperson: No need for 160GB iPods: delete, delete, delete!
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