Get Back in Front with a Re-Release

Usually when I’m asked to cite one of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten or lessons learned in business, I’ll point to someone I used to work for who lived out combating “out of sight, out of mind.”  He would travel halfway around the world, sit in a meeting for three hours, and then fly all the way back.  “If you’re not there, they forget about you,” he would tell us in staff meetings, reporting on his latest trip.

So, what happens when you’re someone whose business is making music?  How do you make sure that people don’t forget about you, especially now at a time when many performers don’t have any live shows that they can do in-person?  And what if there is no new music on the horizon for you?

Meet your new best friend, the re-release.

There are three examples I can point you towards for ideas and inspiration.

One that’s really clever is singer, songwriter, guitar player Frankie Raye – who you heard as the guest back on “Now Hear This Entertainment” Episode 279 – and the official music video that she just released ten days ago.  What’s noteworthy here is the fact that she did a video for a song that had been on her album that came out in March of last year!  Brilliant.  Thanks to the video’s release, the song has found new life, as evidenced by the already more than 600 views it has gotten on her official YouTube channel.  Mind you, the angle here was that the song is relevant to current times because it’s about social issues, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, humanity, and standing together in tough times.  So, there is an element of timing involved that you should consider in evaluating your back catalog.

Next is recording artist Ana Cristina Cash (pictured above), who you will hear on Episode 354 of “Now Hear This Entertainment,” being released on Wednesday (November 18th).  Interestingly, while she is currently promoting the rendition of the holiday song “Mele Kalikimaka” that she recently released, I’m not qualifying that as a re-release in the “Oh, covering someone else’s song?” sense.  It’s another song of hers that we talk about that raises a curious eyebrow.  Back in April her new album came out, with one of the songs on it being, “Brand New Pair of Shoes.”  You’ll hear during the interview that she explains the unique story behind the song as it relates to involvement by the late Johnny Cash, her husband’s father.  But it was Sony Music coming in and releasing a (Johnny Cash) collection that “Brand New Pair of Shoes” was featured on that suddenly brought Ana Cristina’s song back to the forefront.

This is especially significant as it relates to a past guest on NHTE who had told me about putting out an entire album and fans possibly overlooking a song or two or three, as opposed to when you just release singles and all their attention gets focused on that one song.  In this case, listeners will give all their attention to “Brand New Pair of Shoes,” yet, as you’ll hear me say on NHTE 354, that, in turn, might send people looking for more music by Ana Cristina Cash!  It all comes full circle and can only result in a big win.

The last example is at the A-list level, but there’s still a teaching moment in it.  Rush has been doing re-releases of albums on the 40th anniversary (year) of when those first came out.  For example, arguably their best-known album of all-time, “Moving Pictures,” came out in 1981.  So, next year there will obviously be a 40th anniversary edition, likely with extras to incentivize the buyer and make it a true collectible.  As an indie artist, why not look back on when your releases came out and find an album that you feel has stood the test of time and do a commemorative re-release of your own with some type of add-on to make it more special?

Hopefully, the wheels are turning in your head on this.  I’m excited for you.

Tweet at me with a successful re-release story – or maybe plans you’ll make after reading the above – via @NHT_tweets.  Alternatively, share with me over Facebook or LinkedIn, or even just good old-fashioned email.