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So Who's Buying Barry Manilow's New Album?

T

tk

Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now he's been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not a true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know who is buying this...little old ladies? Might be some research worth looking into..

booger! (long live the Doctor!)
 
> Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now he's
> been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not a
> true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know who
> is buying this...little old ladies? Might be some research
> worth looking into..
>
> booger! (long live the Doctor!)
>

Oh, there were plenty of teenage girls back in the '70s who loved Manilow's romantic ballads and catchy uptempo tunes, just as Neil Diamond was never hurting for a young female audience in that decade or the the previous one (and he's moving a lot of product these days, too). They're in their late 40s, 50s and early 60s now. Does that fit your definition of "little old ladies"?

Funny how Diamond is an established oldies artist, but Manilow has never caught on in the format. Even WDRC-FM Hartford, with its deep playlist, which plays tons of Diamond, plays only "Copacabana" by Manilow. I don't think I've ever heard a Manilow ballad on an oldies station, unless you count XM's Seventies on 7 as one.
 
> Funny how Diamond is an established oldies artist, but
> Manilow has never caught on in the format. Even WDRC-FM
> Hartford, with its deep playlist, which plays tons of
> Diamond, plays only "Copacabana" by Manilow. I don't think
> I've ever heard a Manilow ballad on an oldies station,
> unless you count XM's Seventies on 7 as one.

Seems Barry's 70's best has been lumped into that category of artists/songs that are too "uncool" for the format. Another prime example of a 70's Pop Radio Icon that hasn't received any respect from programmers are The Carpenters. They don't even get play on Soft AC anymore. And let's not forget The Bee Gees, who couldn't get airplay through the 80's until the middle 90's, when their music was "re-discovered" by Oldies/Classic Hits stations.
 
Neil/Barry

Not funny at all- makes total sense. Neil Diamond was part of '60s rock & roll, Barry was 70s AM holdover music. Even Neil's '70s AC-type stuff doesn't test well and never has (much past Cracklin' Rosie and Sweet Caroline).

>
> Funny how Diamond is an established oldies artist, but
> Manilow has never caught on in the format. Even WDRC-FM
> Hartford, with its deep playlist, which plays tons of
> Diamond, plays only "Copacabana" by Manilow. I don't think
> I've ever heard a Manilow ballad on an oldies station,
> unless you count XM's Seventies on 7 as one.
>
 
> [Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now he's
> been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not a
> true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know who
> is buying this...little old ladies? Might be some research
> worth looking into..]


Manilow's latest CD "Greatest Hits Of The '50s" is the first #1 seller that he's had in 19 years. Since he has been recording all these years, I doubt that it's his name that's selling that CD. I would guess that it's the "Hits Of The "50s". So radio take note: find a way to sell advertisers on '50s/early '60s music. There's a whole untapped audience out there!
 
Manilow

That is such a load of crap. It is DEFINITELY Manilow's name selling that CD.
He did just the right material at just the right time and it was marketed well (hence, the American Idol appearances).

In case you hadn't noticed, Manilow's been all over, like A&E's By Request Show, he sells out concerts all the time. It's not like he fell off the face of the earth after Copacabana- radio just ignored him (and still is), but they've also ignored countless dozens and dozens of other artists. When's the last time The Rolling Stones had a legit radio hit? Neil Young? Paul Simon?
Carly Simon? I could go on and on, but the point is obvious.

(unless you're on an insane crusade to get radio to play '50s music again).


>
> Manilow's latest CD "Greatest Hits Of The '50s" is the
> first #1 seller that he's had in 19 years. Since he has
> been recording all these years, I doubt that it's his name
> that's selling that CD. I would guess that it's the "Hits
> Of The "50s". So radio take note: find a way to sell
> advertisers on '50s/early '60s music. There's a whole
> untapped audience out there!
>
 
> So radio take note: find a way to sell
> advertisers on '50s/early '60s music. There's a whole
> untapped audience out there!

I'm with you all the way, Fonz! I agree with you that advertisers are neglecting a solid source of revenue by continuing to disregard the 55+ market. But as we know from previous posts, it's about selling product, not about the music. And since the demo that 50's/early 60's format would be attractive to are not a desireable market to advertisers, it ain't gonna happen!
 
Re: Manilow

> That is such a load of crap. It is DEFINITELY Manilow's
> name selling that CD.
> He did just the right material at just the right time and it
> was marketed well (hence, the American Idol appearances).

Barry's "renaissance" actually started a couple of years ago. Not only did he do the A&E "Live By Request" show, but he also did cameos on top rated network shows like "Ally McBeal" and "Will & Grace." With the release of "Ultimate Manilow" in 2003, and his current Las Vegas run, Barry's been exposed to a whole generation of "Fan-ilows."

> When's the last time The Rolling Stones had a
> legit radio hit? Neil Young? Paul Simon?

New releases from The Stones, Neil Young and Paul Simon have received regular radio airplay on WEHM, a top rated (AAA format) station on eastern Long Island.
 
> > So radio take note: find a way to sell
> > advertisers on '50s/early '60s music. There's a whole
> > untapped audience out there!
>
> I'm with you all the way, Fonz! I agree with you that
> advertisers are neglecting a solid source of revenue by
> continuing to disregard the 55+ market. But as we know from
> previous posts, it's about selling product, not about the
> music. And since the demo that 50's/early 60's format would
> be attractive to are not a desireable market to advertisers,
> it ain't gonna happen!
>


Coincidentally PBS has been running some "oldies" programming that's all Hit Parade era stuff, late 40s/early 50s - which is even older than the Doo Wop and other oldies programming they've run in the past. PBS wouldn't commission the shows (pay for them) and the box sets, etc, if they didn't think they could make money.

As usual radio (execs and under 45 PD's) can't see the forest thru the trees.<P ID="signature">______________
www.OhioRadio.net

</P>
 
Re: Manilow

> > That is such a load of crap. It is DEFINITELY Manilow's
> > name selling that CD.
> > He did just the right material at just the right time and
> it
> > was marketed well (hence, the American Idol appearances).
>
> Barry's "renaissance" actually started a couple of years
> ago. Not only did he do the A&E "Live By Request" show, but
> he also did cameos on top rated network shows like "Ally
> McBeal" and "Will & Grace." With the release of "Ultimate
> Manilow" in 2003, and his current Las Vegas run, Barry's
> been exposed to a whole generation of "Fan-ilows."
>
> > When's the last time The Rolling Stones had a
> > legit radio hit? Neil Young? Paul Simon?
>
> New releases from The Stones, Neil Young and Paul Simon have
> received regular radio airplay on WEHM, a top rated (AAA
> format) station on eastern Long Island.
>


MANY Classic rock stations we're playing the latest Stones' cd. Two big cuts off that album were great.<P ID="signature">______________
www.OhioRadio.net

</P>
 
> Seems Barry's 70's best has been lumped into that category
> of artists/songs that are too "uncool" for the format.
> Another prime example of a 70's Pop Radio Icon that hasn't
> received any respect from programmers are The Carpenters.
> They don't even get play on Soft AC anymore. And let's not
> forget The Bee Gees, who couldn't get airplay through the
> 80's until the middle 90's, when their music was
> "re-discovered" by Oldies/Classic Hits stations.

Alas, some artists get lumped into that category...Barry was never particularly hip, even when he was cranking out top 10 hits in the mid-late 70s. Obviously, he had (and still has) a large fan base...look at Wayne Newton 'fer crying out loud...he still packs 'em in in Vegas. There is not always a correlation between what sells CDs and/or concert tickets and what people want to hear on the radio. Why? Who knows? Same story with the Carpenters...their chart run came during a time when "everyone" was into what's now considered classic rock and "no one" wanted to hear squeaky-clean pop tunes. Of course we all know this was BS, but they're another act that it wasn't cool to like. Give it another 10 years and people will be saying the same thing about Gloria Estefan.

The Bee Gees are a different story...they were more victims of overexposure during the Saturday Night Fever period...I think most people just got sick of them, and needed a break.
 
Re: Manilow

> [That is such a load of crap. It is DEFINITELY Manilow's
> name selling that CD.
> He did just the right material at just the right time and it
> was marketed well (hence, the American Idol appearances).]


O.K. Then let's watch his NEXT album zoom to the top of the charts.


> [(unless you're on an insane crusade to get radio to play
> '50s music again)].


The kind of radio I listen to DOES play '50s music.
 
Re: Manilow

we're talking widespread mass-appeal national airplay. Of course, there will be play on select stations...

When the best you can do is get on a dozen or so AAA stations (at best), that says something.

> New releases from The Stones, Neil Young and Paul Simon have
> received regular radio airplay on WEHM, a top rated (AAA
> format) station on eastern Long Island.
>
 
Re: Manilow

> we're talking widespread mass-appeal national airplay. Of
> course, there will be play on select stations...
>
> When the best you can do is get on a dozen or so AAA
> stations (at best), that says something.
>
> > New releases from The Stones, Neil Young and Paul Simon
> have
> > received regular radio airplay on WEHM, a top rated (AAA
> > format) station on eastern Long Island.

Just like Barry, these artists have been "compartmentalized" and are their new works are relegated to those boxes. They no longer appeal to the Top 40/CHR demographic, regardless of how good or worthy of airply their new stuff may be. Unless Mick & Keith team up with Ludacris to do a remake of "Start Me Up," their latest releases will barely make a blip on the Top 40 radar.
 
I'm not buying. Nothing against Manilow but I've some of the songs and it is pure snoresville. I would expect something 50
's Rock N' Roll instead of pop. I would buy the disc if he actually did some of the songs he helped the contestants do on American Idol. those arrangements were fantastic exciting. I suppose the same crowd that bought the Rod Stewart albums are buyign this one. They both are very good at what they are doing but the music puts me to sleep.
<P ID="signature">______________
In Harmony
From the Bop Shop,
Brian "BD Bopper"</P>
 
Barry Manilow's New Album?

Yes, it is an aquired taste.

> I'm not buying. Nothing against Manilow but I've some of
> the songs and it is pure snoresville. I would expect
> something 50
> 's Rock N' Roll instead of pop. I would buy the disc if he
> actually did some of the songs he helped the contestants do
> on American Idol. those arrangements were fantastic
> exciting. I suppose the same crowd that bought the Rod
> Stewart albums are buyign this one. They both are very good
> at what they are doing but the music puts me to sleep.
>
 
Boomers, That's Who

> Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now he's
> been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not a
> true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know who
> is buying this...

I suspect that there are a bunch of closeted (yeah, pun intended) Manilow listeners who crank up the car stereo and sing along to most of his hits. They were all melodic, well-produced and got tons of airplay across the Radio spectrum...AC to Rock...back in the day. It's hard NOT to hear at least one Manilow tune on some ACs and/or Oldies stations to this day.

Just like the thousands of people who continue to go to Stones geriatric-a-thons, are still Parrotheads years after they sloshed through Margaritaville and those who continue to scream-sing "Bo-o-o-orn In The Yoo-Ess-Ayyyyy" 22 years after Springsteen first did it, Manilow is yet another artist who lets people remember when they were younger, hornier (pre-Viagra) and could Boogie-Oogie-Oogie till dawn...and still go to work at 8am.

God bless Bette Midler for discovering him while he was playing piano at the gay Baths in New York; had she not, we might never had had the pleasure of singing "...at the Copa, CopaBanana!"...
 
I am sure that my ex-girlfriend Dana in Lindenwold, NJ bought the album. She would buy anything by him.

> Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now he's
> been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not a
> true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know who
> is buying this...little old ladies? Might be some research
> worth looking into..
>
> booger! (long live the Doctor!)
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
They've been playing Manilow's 50's album at Barnes and Noble and I really enjoy it. I haven't bought it yet, but then I don't buy books much either. I just sit in the easy chair and read and listen for free.

> > [Manilow's new album of Oldies is a top seller.. And now
> he's
> > been on American Idol. Of course I realize Manilow is not
> a
> > true oldies artist...but it would be interesting to know
> who
> > is buying this...little old ladies? Might be some research
>
> > worth looking into..]
>
>
> Manilow's latest CD "Greatest Hits Of The '50s" is the
> first #1 seller that he's had in 19 years. Since he has
> been recording all these years, I doubt that it's his name
> that's selling that CD. I would guess that it's the "Hits
> Of The "50s". So radio take note: find a way to sell
> advertisers on '50s/early '60s music. There's a whole
> untapped audience out there!
>
 
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