Better Radio Interviews: 4 Tips for Groups and Bands

by Louise M Moore

When it comes to musical groups or bands doing live call-in radio interviews, it can be quite disastrous if there is no sense of order or direction. Without an ‘interview plan’ group members will talk all over each other and create frenzy for themselves and the radio host. And, listeners, well, they will simply tune out. And, that’s the last thing anyone wants. So, how do groups and bands avoid this? Here are four tips that should make your group’s next interview go smoothly.

Only have two or three group members on the call. Just because your group has six members does not mean that when you do interviews, especially live radio call-ins, that every group member has to be on the phone line. Designate two people to handle such interviews. Those two people should be the lead singer(s) and another group member who might be a key songwriter. If your group is one that has replaced members over time, an original group member should definitely be included in the phone interview.

Field questions in advance. Before your interview, decide who will answer certain questions. Never go into an interview as a group without assigning each person with what type questions they will answer. For example, one person could answer questions about the group’s history or song content while another group member could answer any questions about social networks or concert dates.

Announce yourself. Help the interviewer out by announcing yourself every time you answer a question. Since you are not physically in the studio, this will be greatly appreciated. Do not wait for the radio host to ask you to identify yourself. Instead, say your name each time before you answer a question.

Be short, succinct and to the point. The time allotted for your interview will not necessarily change because the interviewer knows he or she is interviewing more than one person so remember to be quick with your answers with no rambling. Be respectful of the other group members so that everyone has ample time to answer questions. You’ll want the interviewer to get in as many questions as possible.

Group interviews—even live radio call-ins—can actually be fun but in order for them to not become a disaster, remember to plan ahead so that your group has as much harmony in interviews as it does on stage.

April Nevels Releases Second Single "Jesus You Are" on 7-Places Records

TURNERSVILLE, NJ – June 29, 2010 - As a follow-up to her BDS/Billboard Top 40 hit single and title track "Krazy Praize”, April Nevels is back with the powerful worship ballad “Jesus You Are”. Her full “Krazy Praize” solo debut album, is set for release July 6 on 7-Places Records.

Produced by Robert Sayles, world-class musician, songwriter and drummer for soul singer Lyfe Jennings, “Jesus You Are” is delivered from the very heart and soul of Nevels, who with every lyric and inflection, draws you into that sacred place of devotion that enveloped her as she broke free from the darkest moments of her life.

“In the last five years I’ve gone through some really tough, dark times that I never thought I would ever experience,” says Nevels. Through the lyrics of “Jesus You Are”, she proclaims with genuine emotion and with her full vocal range, “Jesus you are my only refuge. During these times you are my light.”

A Youngstown, Ohio native, Nevels is the youngest of five siblings—three sisters and one brother—and has been singing since she was five but being the baby of the family was the last to join her sisters (the Nevels Sisters) in the group. She eventually become a main leader in the group singing lead vocals on “Clap Your Hands” the 2009 Top 30 Billboard single from the album “Beautiful”.

The “Jesus You Are” single is available on iTunes. For publicity and interviews contact Louise Moore at louise@ltlentertainment.com or 770-895-5331.

Noble Promotions Group Secures National Airplay for Up-and-Coming Artists

Atlanta, GA - June 9, 2010 - Atlanta-based radio promotions company Noble Promotions Group which has represented such artists as Dottie Peoples, The Murrills (featuring Donald Lawrence) and Melinda Watts, is making strides in the gospel music industry and continues to secure hit radio singles for its clients including up-and-coming gospel standouts, Anthony Brown and April Nevels.

Anthony Brown, the gifted singer and songwriter who penned the former Billboard #1 song ‘It Ain’t Over’ for Maurette Brown-Clark; and powerful psalmist April Nevels, of the popular gospel group the Nevels Sisters, are the most recent recipients of NPG’s stellar promotion efforts. NPG recently secured BDS Top 40 status for both artists according to Neilsen’s Broadcast Data Systems which tracks radio airplay. Nevels’ up-tempo, Urban Contemporary track, ‘Krazy Praize enjoyed peak positioning at #32 and Brown’s mid-tempo, Praise and Worship tune, ‘The Harvest Song’ featuring Maurette Brown-Clark, peaked at #39.

NPG’s series of accomplishments in 2009 included a Billboard Top 30 single by The Nevels Sisters and BDS Top 50 positioning for The Brown Boyz, Destiny Praise, Monique Walker and others. Headed by indie radio promoter, Patrick Noble Allen, Noble Promotions Group is also securing maximum national radio airplay for other artists, including: Urban Contemporary Quintet, Half Mile Home ('Change My Lyfe') and Contemporary Vocalist, Brittney Wright ('I Win').

Noble Promotions Group is committed to “Setting the Standard in Airplay Security” for all genres of Gospel/Inspirational music, from Urban Contemporary to Traditional, while specializing in chart-topping customer service. For more information and details on NPG, go to www.NoblePromoGroup.com or contact Patrick Noble Allen at info@NoblePromoGroup.com.

The Public Relations Lessons We Can Learn From Venus and Serena Williams

by Louise M Moore

Sports superstars Venus and Serena Williams may not be public relations experts but the strategies they employ when dealing with controversy are certainly worth noting. Why? Because they work. I cannot help but take note of the important PR lessons I've observed from the two sisters.

On May 17, 2010 the sisters returned to the top of the Women's Tennis Association singles ranking. Serena retained her #1 ranking and Venus ascended to #2 making this the first time since May 2003 that the sisters have held the WTA top two spots. And, this achievement within itself is part of the public relations and imaging lessons that the famous sports sisters continue to issue.

Over the years, the Williams sisters have gotten plenty of practice in public relations thanks to accusations of fixed matches when playing against each other, criticism of a light tournament schedule and too many outside interests. And, of course, the biggest imaging lesson of all came from Serena's outburst at the U.S. Open which generated more bad publicity than anyone would ever want. Yet, I am amazed at how the Williamses handle it all. I'm not privy to their philosophy when dealing with controversial matters but if you just look at the span of their career and how they've handled controversy, you can extract a myriad of public relations lessons that we could all draw on. Here are a few.

Do not exploit your weaknesses or make excuses for them. No matter what your weakness may be, keep it to yourself. Do not make excuses if you did not perform well. Just resolve to do better next time. Venus and Serena are masters at this. They often go into tournaments with obvious injuries but, win or lose, they refuse to discuss their ailments as a factor of the outcome. Like most professional athletes, they know how to play through the pain and, if by chance they don't come out victorious, blaming the loss on their injury is not an option.

Be yourself. Being comfortable with who you are, is probably the greatest part of having a positive image. Like them or not, no one can accuse the Williams sisters of being someone they are not. They seem to care less about what people think and more about living their lives without inhibitions. Perhaps Venus knew heads would turn when she opted to wear flesh-colored shorts under her little yellow dress at the 2010 Australian Open but she did it anyway and as a result some were saying it was bare-buttocks under that slit dress. Seriously! And, we know all too well that Serena has no qualms about wearing revealing tennis attire; though her recent on-court clothing choices have been rather conservative compared to those earlier episodes of the catsuit and tight-fitting outfits exposing her midriff. Maybe it's the wisdom of age that has prompted her to dress more conservatively but regardless, she has pretty much done what she wanted without apology to her critics. She and Venus seem rather comfortable in their own skin.

Never stop. Show up anyway. Regardless of what happens in your business or what people say about you, you have to keep going. The only other option is to quit or die. I do not think you would want to do either. But by showing up at events even after a great controversy or mishap, you are facing the problem head-on and letting people know that you have nothing to hide and that you want to make amends. After Serena's foul-mouthed outburst against a line judge at the U.S. Open, some public relations professionals might have suggested she withdraw from any public appearances, at least for awhile, in order to let the whole mess play itself out. But guess what? Serena's new book "On the Line" had just been released so she probably already had several media interviews scheduled. Yet, no one would have been surprised if all of a sudden, those interviews were cancelled; but the important lesson here is that she faced the controversy head-on. Yes, her appearances on all the national morning news shows, late night shows and various talk shows were somewhat awkward but she still showed up.

Keep winning. The funny thing about winning and being successful is that it seems to make little all of your controversies or failures. Keep being successful in your life and career and watch all of the negativity become minuscule. Since the International Tennis Federation didn't immediately suspend Serena and took its time deciding punishment for the outburst at the U.S. Open, she just kept on competing. For Serena to continue to win in the midst of the controversy was by far the best damage control. By the time the ITF decided her punishment, Serena had already won the year-end WTA competition and the U.S. Open doubles championship with sister Venus. Plus, Serena had regained her top ranking to finish the year at #1. Essentially, while the ITF was contemplating her fate, Serena was making a statement to the tennis governing body that she was still important to the sport, despite her moment of terrible indiscretion.

Over the years, Venus and Serena have remained constant and the strategies they have used-intentionally or not-seem to work again and again. If it's not broken, I guess there's no need to fix it.

Your Radio Interview: 5 Tips to Help You Shine

by Louise M Moore

Do not underestimate the significance of a radio interview. Like television, newspaper and magazine, a radio interview is a wonderful opportunity for you to promote your product or service. Because there are so many radio stations--terrestrial, Internet and satellite--it is often easier to secure an interview on radio than on any other medium. However, due to possible scheduling issues with the radio host, limited broadcast availability and the time it takes for you or your publicist to arrange it, an interview should never be taken for granted. It is excellent exposure so be appreciative and make the most of it. One interview may be better than another depending on the interviewer so do not be discouraged if you feel you did not get as much out of it as you could have. But regardless of who is on the other end of the phone or across the microphone from you, your goal is to make every interview a good one. Here's how.

1. Be on time. Always respect the time of the radio host and make sure you are on time for your interview. If your interview is over the phone, dial in a few minutes prior to the designated interview time. If it is an in-studio interview, make sure you have the radio station mapped out at least the day before and give yourself plenty of advance time to ensure that you will not be late.

2. Prepare talking points. Your talking points are very important. Use neon highlighters to emphasize the most important items. Do not assume that you will remember everything you want to say. Have specific information like upcoming events, web addresses, phone numbers and key messages listed as bullet points for easy reference.

3. Use the interviewer's name. It is a good practice to use the interviewer's name frequently. You will appear more personable and it will certainly create a more comfortable setting for you, the interviewer and the listening audience.

4. Have a glass of water. Everyone may not agree with me but I always recommend accepting the bottle of water when interviewers offer it. Otherwise, definitely ask. For phone interviews, keep water handy. Sometimes when doing a lot of talking, your mouth may get dry and, if needed, you can take sips of water in between questions.

5. Smile. Yes, you are on the radio and no one can see your smile but they can sure hear it. Your topic of discussion may be a serious one but every chance you get, smile while you are talking. Let your personality shine over the airwaves. You will come off as pleasant and cheerful to the listening audience.

Any opportunity to share information about your product or service with a captive audience is golden. That is why it is critical that you develop good habits for your radio interviews. It is your time to shine.

5 Ways to Generate Publicity for Your Business for FREE

by Louise M Moore

1. Press Releases - Write a press release about a special promotion that your business is offering and distribute it through a press release distribution service like http://www.prweb.com/ and http://www.pr.com/. There are many other press release distribution services on the Internet. Many are free and others may charge a small nominal fee.


2. Article Writing - Be known in your industry as the expert that you are by writing informational articles. Become a published author by submitting your material to articles directories. It's totally free. The top article submission site is http://www.ezinearticles.com/ but there are others like http://www.goarticles.com/ and http://www.articlesbase.com/ who also accept articles. Find a few that you like and become a expert author.


3. Social Networks - Build your social networks with current and potential customers and let them tell a friend, and their friend tell a friend and so on and so on. Just for the record, social networks include blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and even LinkedIn and other professional networks.


4. Customized Newsletters - Create a newsletter for your business that you can send via email or snail mail. Customers and potential customers will appreciate updates and useful information.


5. Email Marketing - Have your customers opt to have special promotions and offers sent to them via email. Send them coupons and freebies to drive traffic to your website or place of business. Constant Contact and Rate Point are two email marketing companies that offer free trials. Both offer online and phone support but Constant Contact also provides free local seminars for a more hands-on approach.

Marketing Strategies: Four Keys to Making Yours Work

by Louise M Moore

So, you are excited because you have discovered the perfect marketing strategy for your business. But before you get too overjoyed, take time to sit down and do a full analysis of your strategy to ensure its success. The worst thing you can do is have a really great marketing strategy only to have it fail because you didn’t properly evaluate it to determine exactly how this new strategy fits into your marketing plan.

Some primary areas you need to focus on include your marketing plan, target market, SWOT analysis and frequency.

Marketing Plan
Whatever you do, always have a well written marketing plan. A marketing professional can help you with this or you can find examples of marketing plans online and follow the template to create your own. Remember, the Holy Scriptures say to “write the vision and make it plain.” That includes the vision for your music ministry. So, let this be the very first thing you do to ensure success.

Target Market
Within your marketing plan, you will identify your target market or those consumers that will buy your product or service. For example, if your product is compression stockings, then, your target market will be different from that of a company that sells sheer, bodyshaping pantyhose. You would need to research consumers who might have certain medical problems or edema causing them to have to wear special hosiery. Then, you would have to find out where they purchase compression stockings. Once you identify your customers and their buying habits, then, you can proceed to pinpoint the best media with which to reach them. The best medium might be a particular trade magazine, website or radio program. Know your customers inside and out and impact them in every medium that is relative to them.

SWOT Analysis
You should always explore the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of your marketing strategy. What is it about your project that makes it great? What does it lack? What opportunities are there and are there any threats involved? Be as objective as possible when answering these questions. It will pay off later.

Frequency
When I was a radio marketing consultant, I had corporate clients who clearly understood the importance of placing ad buys with frequent rotation in order to impact listeners. But there were always those clients who thought that one or two commercials a week would literally bring the masses to their business. Not so. I remember declining a particular client because I knew his money would be wasted with one commercial spot a week. Eventually, this client decided to do a higher frequency ad schedule which resulted in better results. But, whether you’re using radio, TV, direct mail or Internet, frequency is the key. Don't have unrealistic expectations for a one-time ad placement. Commit to frequency in your marketing and see the difference. It may take several impressions before your audience is ready to buy your product or service but the more they see your ad, the more credible you will become.

While all of these factors help in making your marketing strategy work, do not be afraid to re-evaluate your plan periodically to see if changes or adjustments need to be made for better results.