“Memoirs of an Angel” album insert will be ad-supported, with advertisers that reflect her “jet-setter” lifestyle paying enough to recoup the costs in producing the 34-page booklet.
The record industry has long failed to think outside the box, but every now and then we see a glimmer of hope that it’s changing its ways.
Enter Mariah Carey and her upcoming album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.” Due to be released August 24th, her 12th studio album is taking a remarkably bold leap by placing ads in the 34-page CD insert. The ads will recoup all the costs of producing the booklet.
In partnership with Elle magazine it will include ads from upscale brands like Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Métier de Beauté and the Bahamas Board of Tourism.
“The idea was really simple thinking: ‘We sell millions of records, so you should advertise with us,’ ” Antonio Reid, chairman of her Island/Def Jam record label, told MTV. “My artists have substantial circulation — when you sell 2 million, 5 million, 8 million, that’s a lot of eyeballs. Most magazines aren’t as successful as those records.”
He said that care was taken to ensure the ads reflected her “jet-setter” lifestyle.
“I wouldn’t want to do Mariah Carey and Comet abrasive cleaner,” he added. “I wanted things that really reflected her taste.”
If the experiment is a success more collaborations could be in store with other Island/Def Jam artists like Rihanna, Bon Jovi, and Kanye West.
I find it kind of scary that ads have trickled down to what once was considered sacred. I mean can you imagine the Beatles or Pink Floyd have ads in “Rubber Soul” or “Dark Side of the Moon?” But, then again maybe that’s the point. Neither were selling branded perfumes or clothing, and neither were on tours sponsored by Pepsi or Nokia.
Either way, at least somebody in the record biz has had the gumption to take a look at other ways to make revenue. Maybe it’ll soon take up sponsors to produce the actual album.
Bon Jovi’s “Album X” brought to us by Pepsi?
Lets just hope they don’t start placing ads in between CD tracks.
Stay truned.
I love Mariah Carey! She deserves everything she gets! when times go bad she never gives up!
Uhh.. I usually rail against the RIAA, but how many artists do you see put out a 34 page booklet with their album? Maybe next the album can contain a voucher for a poster or something… I dunno. I’m just looking for value here.
I still won’t buy one…
Yeah, I hardly consider this “thinking outside the box”. Just greed. We have enough ads already! Everywhere you look there’s an ad. And the truth is, the record companies don’t need ads to support their business. Record company executives are not begging for scraps on the street the last time I checked.
You already pay for the cd. Why should you be forced to look ad ads too? If you’re putting ads on the cd, give the music away for free.
Bottom line, if the ads allow the artist greater freedom to put out a meaningful piece of literature, it makes the album a little more worthwhile to buy. It would also allow the artist to connect with their fans better in doing so. Hopefully it becomes like Major League Baseball in that there are lines drawn. For example, ads in the stands but not on the uniform. Ads in the booklet but not on the cover or in between tracks.
I think it is a brilliant idea. Sell out – NO! It’s just good business. Ads that reflect her personal taste hey why not? Besides the music industry needs to find ways to combat the slide in cd sales so why not ads? Hopefully this works.
Good good. That’s what I like to see. Hopefully the artists will have the final say in the level of promotions but it’s good that the ads are relevant to the artist. Not quite sure what would have been relevant to a Led Zep album.
Rolling papers…
“Lets just hope they don’t start placing ads in between CD tracks.”
They stuck ads on the beginning of DVDs.