The “Shhhh-it!” AnonIMous Super-Secret Music-Biz Interview Series has been dusted off and hung back up on the wall, and it feels good, doesn’t it? It feels comfortable. Like an old pair of pajamas. Or Mom’s Apple Pie.

In every edition of S-I!AS-SM-BIS, we interview a grizzled music industry veteran via the synchronous magic of instant messaging, warts and all. We talk about their job, the state of the industry, and whatever else comes to mind. This week, we bring you Agnes Gooch, an in-house publicist for a relatively successful independent label with some artists that have touched the mainstream here and there. In this interview, we discuss smaller releases, the importance of record stores, sexism in the industry, and whether print media is taking chances. She even turns it around on me and asks me how I feel about promo CDs vs. digital servicing.

We also discuss release dates:

StumpyPete1975: the one thing I look forward to is the complete dismantling of release date obsession amongst the press
AgnesGooch:yeah release date obsession is just a way to say - oops, not gonna listen to that!
StumpyPete1975: magazines have been shortchanging indie artists for years under the auspices of release dates!
AgnesGooch:exactly!
StumpyPete1975: I’ve long suspected that
AgnesGooch:when you know if something huge comes out it doesn’t matter when it came out
AgnesGooch:they are gonna cover it

The full interview after the clickthrough!

StumpyPete1975: you are at a label that has a number of recognizable artists
StumpyPete1975: pretty big ones that sell and such
StumpyPete1975: but I’ve always thought that it’s not just as easy as all that
StumpyPete1975: major labels, with all of their resources, tank more than they succeed
StumpyPete1975: is it as easy as picking up the phone for y’all? (I think that’s the perception from some out there in the biz)
AgnesGooch:I think that we are lucky to have a recognizable brand that people respect, and that opens a lot of doors for our artists.
AgnesGooch:it’s not always easy, though - we have such a wide variety of expectations to manage
StumpyPete1975: ah, expectations
StumpyPete1975: it’s not possible for everything to do as well as the last one, is it?
AgnesGooch:No, and sometimes that can be depressing, but the stuff that goes crazy sales-wise makes it possible for us to put out records that are less likely to do as well. I get very competitive for our smaller releases!
StumpyPete1975: what makes you so high on the smaller releases
AgnesGooch:Every little review means so much!
AgnesGooch:every preview in the tiny towns where they are working their asses off to rock!
StumpyPete1975: and anything frustrating?
StumpyPete1975: I know from my experience that getting people to listen
AgnesGooch:The feeling that these guys are out there trying to make it, and they know we are here supporting them. That is very important to me. With larger bands, it’s often not me “manning the helm” so to speak. I want the reviews to be good, of course, but there are more of them and more writers inclined to love or hate based more on general consensus.
StumpyPete1975: oooh
StumpyPete1975: do you feel like reviewers are swayed by consensus?
AgnesGooch:Getting people to listen, or getting people to hear what you hear - that’s what I always strive for. Feel my excitement!
StumpyPete1975: haha…I think that enthusiasm does show through
AgnesGooch:Well, I think sometimes it’s inevitable.
AgnesGooch:(the reviewers thing)
StumpyPete1975: yeah
StumpyPete1975: Pitchfork and other big sites set the tone
StumpyPete1975: do you buy that?
AgnesGooch:I think they can, but also things like getting the cover of Spin before your record comes out or having people see you play 90000 times in a row at CMJ or SXSW can influence what the big sites will say about you, too. There doesn’t seem to be a clear formula for how hype gets started - positive or negative.
StumpyPete1975: how do you feel about the importance of the traditional big press these days?
StumpyPete1975: SPIN, R. Stone, etc.
AgnesGooch:I think it’s still very important, especially for radio.
AgnesGooch:But also so hard, because the number of reviews keeps shrinking and shrinking!
StumpyPete1975: I’ve noticed
StumpyPete1975: and features for y’all?
StumpyPete1975: are they harder to come by?
AgnesGooch:Of course, there are so few magazines nowadays. They have to sell issues, too, so why not put something you already know everyone loves on the cover? There is no incentive to take a chance on a band that sells 5K records, it’s not like we can afford a big ad most of the time.
StumpyPete1975: do you foresee your label’s roster (because of this scenario of less chance-taking) becoming more divided in terms of success?
StumpyPete1975: like a have/have not thing?
AgnesGooch:I hope not! I keep thinking that something has to give. Some good news is just around the bend. For labels and for print journalism. And the stock market. And a new president. Happy thoughts!
StumpyPete1975: I like your positivism
StumpyPete1975: Pitchfork?
StumpyPete1975: care to comment?
AgnesGooch:haha! I don’t have anything to say about Pitchfork, honestly. They do things that drive me crazy, just like they do things that drive everyone crazy, but mostly I think they are good dudes just trying to do their thing.
StumpyPete1975: blogs?
AgnesGooch:Blogs have been essential to the success of many of our bands, god bless ‘em.
StumpyPete1975: so you’ve got no problem with the sped-up hype cycle?
AgnesGooch:No, I like it, actually. I love information! I love it when it’s probably not true just as much as when it definitely is.
StumpyPete1975: so you are like perez
AgnesGooch:haha! Not as mean-spirited, perhaps.
AgnesGooch:I’m more like Idolator.
StumpyPete1975: brown nose
StumpyPete1975: the promo CD thing recently in LA Weekly
StumpyPete1975: digital vs. advances vs. full art, etc
StumpyPete1975: what do you have to say about that?
AgnesGooch:I’d really like to know what people think, you know?
AgnesGooch:it’s so hard to get feedback
StumpyPete1975: where does your label stand on that stuff?
AgnesGooch:We are really hoping that the decision gets made for us, honestly.
AgnesGooch:We are excited when we hear other labels being brave enough to do “digital promos only.”
AgnesGooch:Think of how much money and time everyone could save!
AgnesGooch:not to mention the environmental concerns
AgnesGooch:that LA Weekly article was pretty interesting
StumpyPete1975: yep
StumpyPete1975: do you care about people selling promos?
AgnesGooch:I think the way Randall described his philosophy is probably the best you can hope for in that situation, you know?
AgnesGooch:not before release date
AgnesGooch:I mean it’s definitely worse to just automatically leak an entire record and make it available with one click on some file sharing site then it is to sell it to a store for credit and buy more music, don’t you think?
AgnesGooch:I mean which would you rather for your band?
StumpyPete1975: hmmm
StumpyPete1975: actually
StumpyPete1975: I might side a bit with the file traders
StumpyPete1975: or I’d rather them just give it away?
AgnesGooch:I don’t even have a huge problem with file trading as long as it’s after release date
AgnesGooch:or at least closer to
StumpyPete1975: yeah
StumpyPete1975: are you guys gonna be doing the whole Stars up early on digital stores thing?
AgnesGooch:I don’t know - a band would have to really want to, I think
AgnesGooch:physical retail would be hurt by that, and we like record stores
StumpyPete1975: yeah, but do you see the market changing going forward?
StumpyPete1975: no more stores?
StumpyPete1975: or much less?
StumpyPete1975: kinda back to the days of mailorder!
AgnesGooch:It looks like that, but I hope stores won’t go away entirely.
StumpyPete1975: me either
StumpyPete1975: are they still that important to your business?
AgnesGooch:yes, absolutely
StumpyPete1975: that’s good to hear, really
AgnesGooch:well, anyway - I just wanted to pick your brain about the promo thing!
StumpyPete1975: hah
AgnesGooch:what do you think?
AgnesGooch:as a writer?
StumpyPete1975: hmmm
StumpyPete1975: well, I love digital, in a way, because of the environmental implications and the saving money aspect but I definitely agree as a former publicist that CDs are still more effective for now
AgnesGooch:as a writer, would you be pissed off or feel cheated?
StumpyPete1975: eh, I don’t care
StumpyPete1975: I don’t really deserve them
StumpyPete1975: the one thing I look forward to is the complete dismantling of release date obsession amongst the press
AgnesGooch:yeah release date obsession is just a way to say - oops, not gonna listen to that!
StumpyPete1975: magazines have been shortchanging indie artists for years under the auspices of release dates!
AgnesGooch:exactly!
StumpyPete1975: I’ve long suspected that
AgnesGooch:when you know if something huge comes out it doesn’t matter when it came out
AgnesGooch:they are gonna cover it
StumpyPete1975: haha
StumpyPete1975: you are so right
StumpyPete1975: where do you think your label is heading as far as promos go?
StumpyPete1975: honestly
StumpyPete1975: just a gut feeling?
AgnesGooch:I think we’ll stay put until there’s a definite movement towards one thing or the other - trying to offer as many ways to hear the music as possible. We would not want to do anything to hurt a band’s chances.
AgnesGooch:especially since they are already slim
StumpyPete1975: wow!
StumpyPete1975: pessimist!
StumpyPete1975: that’s not like you
AgnesGooch:well, we already talked about the state of publishing! haha - until I get my rainbow, I’m going to be positive AND paranoid!
StumpyPete1975: what’s your least favorite thing that happens to you?
AgnesGooch:I think being ignored sucks most. I don’t mind a “Yeah, I got it and it sucks” email - those sting, but with a giggle.
AgnesGooch:I know it’s the nature of email and how easy it is to ignore, but voicemail is even easier for me to ignore. Feeling like white noise is the most brutal part of this job, don’t you think?
StumpyPete1975: oh yeah
StumpyPete1975: white noise
StumpyPete1975: good analogy
StumpyPete1975: and you know that you are one amongst many
AgnesGooch:exactly! And everyone deserves the same shot you want.
AgnesGooch:But editors deserve sleep, too.
AgnesGooch:haha
StumpyPete1975: do they?
StumpyPete1975: KIDDING, Maura
StumpyPete1975: let’s talk about sexism
StumpyPete1975: have you encountered any?
StumpyPete1975: to be frank, I’ve seen it
StumpyPete1975: in a world with mostly male writers…
AgnesGooch:Eh - the whole music biz is male dominated, but that gives the ladies an edge, wouldn’t you say?
StumpyPete1975: maybe?
StumpyPete1975: how so?
AgnesGooch:If a lady asked you nicely to do something, wouldn’t you be more inclined than if a dude more forcefully suggested?
StumpyPete1975: I hate to say it but probably
StumpyPete1975: and I’ve noticed this
StumpyPete1975: when I had some gruff male writors or editors
StumpyPete1975: I would give them to one of my female co-workers and BAM
StumpyPete1975: responses
StumpyPete1975: it was so predictable it was a bit depressing
AgnesGooch:haha!
AgnesGooch:it is, isn’t it?
AgnesGooch:I do always imagine myself like Shauna from Entourage in my head, though.
StumpyPete1975: who’s that?
StumpyPete1975: (I haven’t kept up)
AgnesGooch:Vincent’s publicist with the dirty mouth
StumpyPete1975: ah
StumpyPete1975: Carla Gugino?
AgnesGooch:No Debi Mazar
StumpyPete1975: oh yeah
StumpyPete1975: you are too nice to be Debi Mazar
AgnesGooch:Sigh, I guess that’s why I’ll never achieve “bad ass” status!

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