Rogue Motel, A Tale of Almost Getting it Right and PR 2.0
Incoming press release everyone duck… “If a foreclosed home in Detroit can be purchased for $1 (as I recently read in the newspaper) I have to wonder how much a night at a Rogue Motel would cost…? And while I can’t answer that question without doing some serious research with the band, I can promise you an absolutely FREE request copy of Rogue Motel’s amazing new expertly produced release, Daylight Breaking.”
The italicized paragraph above comes courtesy of someone at a local Portland PR firm [company remains nameless] who sends me PR updates regularly as any good PR person should. The problem I have with this particular piece of fluff is that I don’t get the link between someone suffering dearly and having their home foreclosed on them in Detroit, with a run-of-the-mill rock band from Portland called Rogue Motel [is that some kind of joke, foreclosed family forced to live in a motel?] …and I definitely don’t get the “absolutely FREE request copy” tag when I can hear the band’s music on the site that I’m being pushed to [would I otherwise be expected to pay for a review copy?]
Clicking through the site my malaise only deepens. Rogue Motel can be commended for putting together a web site that covers all bases including free downloads. Yet they make some major web site errors, two of which I’ll mention - they post reviews from the Willamette Week and The Oregonian that are three years and two years old respectively and their blog was last updated in October 2007. The lack of blog updates is a major sin.
Then there’s the press release. Bands don’t need publicists they need to ask themselves “Does our band and our music change the Game?” I care more about the residents of Detroit struggling to survive in a merciless economy than I do about Rogue Motel and their “amazing new expertly produced release.”
Fail.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Cluelessness…a disease that, like the flu, is everywhere and with no seeming cure. What’s really bad about this press release and accompanying nonsense is that it’s FEARLESSLY clueless.
I am waiting for the PR firm that takes the opposite tack: “Ineptly produced sonic garbage but with great ideas.”
August 20th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Yeah, I got that too and was confused by the reference. Just seemed in poor taste, and this coming from someone who has a huge soft spot (and morbid fascination) with the city of Detroit.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:33 am
The days of your regular we-send-out-press-releases PR firm are over. PR people I give you this - PR 2.0 and the Future of Communications
August 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Preach it Dave! I couldn’t agree more…. Now please, don’t critique my website. :)
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Interesting post. My online marketing company sends out a fair amount of PRs, and I certainly get that you have to phrase things in a way that catches attention and generates interest, but it must be relevant. I don’t claim we get it right all the time, but I do know that we take the time to really consider what the people we reach out to are looking for in regards to content. I agree that the days of “send it out and see where it sticks” are over. Instead it’s about targeted, engaging, relevant content.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I mean i get it….Jason “targeted, engaging, relevant content.” But who decides that… i find myself sending out pr emails that i spend days thinking about even dreaming about and get amazing responses and others none. Can it also be safe to say it depends on what that reader had for breakfast!
“Engage or die.” i do both everyday and always at the end of the day win some and lose some! It is hard for me at least working in pr to keep things personal which is the one thing i strive to do! “no phone calls” “don’t send unless requested” “no emails” “only if they have digital distro” “only hard copy” “are they coming though town” ….PR 2.0 The Future of Communications LISTENING right is the KEY????? i listen to all….SO now what for us little guys who are so passionate about our clients and just want someone to listen to us?
ps i xo you r wines!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:21 am
@kaytea,
Your passion is not in doubt but Jason hit the nail on the head when he mentioned ‘targeted, engaging, relevant content.’ Whoever sent me the Rogue Motel press release obviously doesn’t read Pampelmoose. If they do then they missed the point. I write here all the time about how I have major issues with rock music…as in I believe rock, as a genre, should be at a minimum earth shifting, challenging and have something to say. Rock was the music that scared everyone’s parents whilst thrilling the kids - not anymore, we can leave that to Lil’ Wayne. His new single ‘A Milli’ is genius. It’s genre-bending and it’s a hit song…. Meanwhile Rogue Motel recycle Bruce Springsteen. Send me great stuff. Send it digitally. If I love it I will post it. Don’t send me rock music unless it is something that’ll make my head spin.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
mister D….. i sent you a golden ticket this past week… you know the one…
August 26th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
mmmm, I think I know what you mean, and if I’m right the band in question remains nameless as I’ve done enough criticizing for one week…