Q3 I am not trying to be argumentative. I really do what to understand, and you are probably 1,000 times more knowledge about the music business than I do but when you said Idol is not the ONLY path for Adam, just one possible path what other paths do you envision? The only three avenues that I can see that bring in an audience large enough to change his current trajectory are radio (the road most traveled in Pop), a recurring role on TV or a role in a major motion picture. Even a performance as epic as Adam+Queen didn't seem to help his career as far as sales go. Certainly a smallish tour for your fans does very little to expand your fan base. I have been pondering this a lot lately and can't think of any good answers. Like I said, I know nothing about the music business and Adam is the first person whose career has been on my radar screen.
Nothing augmentative in your post. And you raise really interesting questions.
Here is my take for what it is worth.....
1. Queen: You wrote, "Even a performance as epic as Adam+Queen didn't seem to help his career as far as sales go."
First of all, Adam was certainly well-paid for 5 of the 6 concerts. So he already had a financial benefit.
Recorded Music Sales: The full benefit of the Queen collaboration has not been seen yet but Adam would not have done so well in the UK without Queen-related PR. I also think it helped him get the airplay he got in the UK.
The Kiev-Moscow-Warsaw concerts were in markets where people rarely buy music (99% of music is free digital files) -- so no way for Adam to leverage until he returns there on tour.
The 3 London concerts were mostly Queen fans who are not likely to buy Trespassing and a smaller number of Adam fans who owned Trespassing. Plus, since many people attended 2 or 3 concerts, maybe 10,000 unique people saw Q+AL in London. Epic, yes. But not much reach.
Long-Term Benefits: The Queen collaboration will have a huge payback for Adam's FUTURE concert ticket sales. The success and association with Queen will help Adam get promoters to support his headline tour. Most of the money Adam makes and will make comes from touring, not recorded music sales.
Beyond this, these concerts will open up many more opportunities for Adam.
2. You list three avenues to bring in an audience large enough to change his current trajectory:
- Radio (the road most traveled in Pop)
- A recurring role on TV
- A role in a major motion picture
I agree with radio. The other options are:
- Online promotion (now tied in importance for music promotion with radio in the US and Canada, but hard to control). Adam does OK, could do better with streaming media and online video use.
- TV -- use of one of his songs as a theme song or in a commercial in heavy rotation, a recurring TV role related to his music in some way (including Idol), or his own TV show.
- Movies -- use of one of his songs in a major movie soundtrack or as a theme song. BUT it needs to be a hit movie, preferable a repeat viewing movie like Twilight was.
There are other emerging options.....
for example, online concerts are growing rapidly in importance. 3. Touring DOES sell music and can build radio airplay that sells more music and generates the most money for artists.On average, Adam makes more money from one concert ticket sale vs. 4 to 8 album units. So the music business is more about performances now than ever.
The ideal situation for Adam is to have a single on the radio when he is touring. That will enable him to use radio and local TV to promote his tour, and to use the tour to build radio promotions for his single.
My guess is that Adam can now tour in venues with 5,000 to 10,000 seats if he puts together a real show. He could co-tour and move up to arenas.
4. Co-touring: One of the best way to expand Adam's fanbase would be to score a co-touring deal with an artist who has a large audience that is likely to buy Adam's music --- Muse, Radiohead, an alternative pop-rock band.
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The most interesting part of you post to me was this phrase, "...that bring in an audience large enough to change his current trajectory...."
The reason I find this interesting is that I am pleased with Adam's current trajectory. [OK I would like it better with more US airplay, but I know that will come someday.]
1. He has built a large, loyal fanbase and knows how to keep fans engaged.
2. He is establishing himself globally as a recording artist and as a performer extraordinaire.
>> He now has a #1 album. He had one headline, sold-out world tour. He blew away everyone standing in for Freddie -- and "no one" can do that. [Now I want to see him with Led Zep.]
3. His personal brand continues to be well-crafted and increasingly appealing.
4. He is investing in his growth as a performer and artist. He has focused not on quick sales -- he could have sold a ton of albums by doing a Buble-style cover album or a Rock album. Instead, he has chosen to put in the time and effort to build on his unique talent and thoughts.
>> He will forever be Grammy-nominated and may someday be Grammy-winning.
5. Adam is happy and he is willing to share part of his happiness and life with his fans.
*****
Finally, there are many paths to fame and fortune. But anyone who has seen Adam lives knows that it is unlike any other Adam experience. Somehow, I believe that live performances is how and where Adam will achieve his greatest fame and fortune. He is not digitizable. He cannot be replaced by a concert robot. You cannot autotune someone to sound like him.
Thankfully, this is the most profitable part of the music business for artist who can sellout venues.
