p2pnet - rss feed: Elvis’ 1,000th Number One
p2pnet.net News:- Elvis has been dead for more than a quarter of a century, but he’s still raking it in for Big Music record label cartel member BMG.
Just before Christmas, it announced plans to re-release all of Presley’s hits in a bid to claim the 1,000th number-one spot in the UK this year.
And yesterday, Elvis, "clocked up his 20th UK No 1 single - a re-released 1959 hit, One Night - amid predictions that the singles format is in terminal decline,” says the UK’s Guardian Unlimited, going on:
“The king’s latest triumph - if that is the word for a CD that managed to top the chart with just 30,000 sales - is also the 1,000th No 1 since the UK chart began in 1952.”
However, all is not well.
This didn’t didn’t occur because people suddenly decided to start buying his songs again.
It was a PR-slash-marketing stunt and Elvis hit Number One again because Sony BMG hyped the hell out him in a bald-faced exploitation exercise.
“The Elvis reissues are a prime example of the way releases have been stripped of spontaneity,” says the Guardian.
“BMG Records, owners of Presley’s back catalogue, has never been reticent about exploiting its goldmine through regular reissues. Seizing another opportunity with the 70th anniversary of his birth on January 8, it began re-releasing all 18 of his previous British chart-toppers, one per week.
“To persuade fans who already owned them to buy them again, it sold a limited-edition box storage box containing the first single, All Shook Up. The box was £10.99 (about $20.50), and it will cost another £68 (about $125) to stock it fully.”
But BMG’s 50-year copyrights on such as Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, and Blue Suede Shoes expire in 2006.
For now, how much money is the label spending on discovering, grooming and promoting emerging new artists?
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See:-
Presley’s hits - Elvis’ 1000th Number 1?, p2pnet, December 29, 2004
20th UK No 1 - The king at No 1 again as darkness falls on singles era, Guardian Unlimited, January 17, 2005
January 17th, 2005 at 6:19 pm
Why promote new artists when you already have a cash cow
January 17th, 2005 at 6:27 pm
true, true …..
January 18th, 2005 at 6:23 am
promotion techniques are being perfected as we speak, and they have been, for the last 50 years. However, both old and new promoters have seen that talent, of the real kind, has taken the opposite direction, turning the search for someone to promote a highly difficult, and elusive endeavour. The reason the cow continues to be milked, while elephants, deers, pigeons, or hogs, as well as most of all other animals won`t, is the direct result of the enormous size of the cow, as well as the quality, and sustainability of its product
January 18th, 2005 at 7:21 am
I think it is a very cynical view of Elvis’ selling power and popularity to try and make excuses for his fantastic achievements in the UK Charts.
In my opinion, his record company (Sony BMG-UK) have come up with a real brainchild marketing plan and yes, it is working.
BMG(UK) spend a lot of money on promoting new artists, as well as established ones e.g. Gareth Gates, Steve Brookstein, Usher and many more.
However, once in a while, it is good to let the general public feel the power of THE KING to see just how great a voice he had and how many genres he could sing in.
I can’t wait for ‘Crying In The Chapel’ to prove this point.
The KING is Dead - Long Live The King.
Brian
January 18th, 2005 at 7:36 am
The UK singles chart is very strange at the mo - Erasure, Iron Maiden, the Manics - it takes very few sales to reach #1. Still all credit to the king for claiming #1000. Pity the Americans don’t show as much respect for their heritage acts. Elvis, Lionel Ritchie, Diana Ross are all revered in the UK. More power to ya!
January 28th, 2005 at 3:02 pm
BMG may not be grooming aspiring newcomers but by releasing the Elvis Presley singles they are Inspiring them.
What a voice! At his best, Elvis was/is astounding.
He is Dead,honest.But by no means forgotten.
Maurice Colgan Swords, Ireland. http://community.webshots.com/album/125575887CUAXue
January 28th, 2005 at 3:05 pm
BMG may not be grooming aspiring newcomers but by releasing the Elvis Presley singles they are Inspiring them.
What a voice! At his best, Elvis was/is astounding.
He is Dead,honest.But by no means forgotten.
Maurice Colgan Swords, Ireland. http://community.webshots.com/album/125575887CUAXue