DragonForce in GameStop

With over 3800 locations in the US and monthly traffic of 70 million, GameStop is the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer.

GameStop DOES NOT carry music products, but their customers are our fans. There are several effective instore advertising vehicles to reach GameStop's core audience of 18-34 year old males, most of which are beyond cost prohibitive for normal record companies, but Roadrunner is NOT normal!

With the excitement surrounding Dragonforce in Guitar Hero III, GameStop's instore TV network has agreed to feature the band in their one-hour program that continually repeats for the entire month of March.

As a rule, Channel M only airs game-related programming (no music video or performance), but as Dragonforce is one of the stand-out artists in GameStop's top selling guitar game, they will feature a :60 clip of the "Through The Fire And Flames" video, plus a short clip of guitarist Herman Li discussing Guitar Hero III with comedian Brian Posehn. Also, the program's hosts will mention the band and album once an hour. (I will circulate the clip once it's edited and approved).

Channel M's research indicates average instore TV program awareness is 90%. Average unaided commercial recall is 48%, aided is 64%. We have found a great non-traditional way to identify our Guitar Hero enthusiasts and make them aware of Dragonforce.

This of course paves the way for other Roadrunner artists. Artists that are featured in a video game who deliver us game-related content (i.e. Airbourne talking about their favorite games, or comparing Guitar Hero to Rock Band, etc.) can be featured on Channel M in the future.

Our next step will be exploring video game-related music products or gifts-with-purchase that could possibly be carried in GameStop locations. However, the stores are currently video game purists, so this is a work in progress.

Power of Lists....The Mystery of Dec 6th, 2007

Checking Google Analytics the other day, I noticed that traffic to our RR website enjoyed a MASSIVE spike on Dec 2007 (click here to see PDF report). So big that it required further explanation. So Jeremy hunted around and determined that that was the day we sent out the Roadrunner ‘Top 10s for 2007’.

Why this filled my heart with joy is that it vindicates something I have been saying for ages…and still believe is paramount to all of our web content efforts: THE POWER OF LISTS. People gravitate to them like programmed drones. But for our purposes it means that we need to hunt down, create and purely invent lists pertaining to our artists….ESPECIALLY once we start with the fullscale e-mail blasting. What better subject line to get attention and drive traffic than: “Top 10 onstage disasters by Roadrunner Artists” or something of that ilk….

It would be great if people could help us come up with ideas for such lists, and also work with us to make them a reality. If possible, I would love to have a list go out with every bi-weekly E-Blast. I am also thinking about promoting such lists on the front page of RR's website....but they need to be compelling and inspire people to make the elusive 'click' through to the content......

All Points Bulletin: E-Mail Marketing Incentives

In concert with Jon's previous post asking you what you'd like to know about our subscribers, I am looking for suggestions on incentives to offer our subscribers in exchange for their giving us that extra information.

When we launch our new email program, fans will still go to our site or artist sites to sign up for the email list. The fan then receives an email asking them to confirm that they wished to subscribe. At some point from here we will ask them to enter additional info.

We would like to offer the incentive(s) to do so at that time.

I thought we could offer a 15-25% discount at a retail partner for filling in the extra information. We're already working on that idea with the Sales department, but I would welcome additional incentive ideas from everyone.

It could be physical or digital product, exclusive content, tchotchkes, or anything else that comes to mind.

Fire Away!

Super duper marketing info - need your help!

As part of our new, e-marketing planning we are scoping out the kinds of user profile details we would like to collect using the self-serve system that will soon be in place. That is, people on our database can shortly come to a page at our website and see their personal details (name, age, cell number, email address etc).

In the 'Round 1' database 'clean up' sweep we are only going after the basics. But in 'Round 2' we are going to make it attractive to our direct marketing user base to offer up far more detailed/insightful information about themselves. Stuff that we are thinkinbg would be useful to know include:

• Favourite radio station
• Favourite TV show(s)
• Movies
• Video games
• Music retail store
• Sodas/Beers/Food

We can come up with almost anything we like, but I am hoping the various departments can offer up some suggestions for us as to what you would like to know. Remember, this info can be fed back to you and might provide powerful leverage next time you (for instance) present a record to a radio station (ie. "We have 4,650 hardcore RR fans who listen to WKRP that we are going to e-blast next week to request the song!!"

So please have a think through this stuff, ask any relevant questions, and offer up some suggestions in the comments section below.

Airbourne Featured on QuickTime Guide

Apple's QuickTime guide is now featuring Airbourne's video for "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast." Click here to check it out.

De Novo Dahl Live at Woxy.com

Check out De Novo Dahl performing live in the studio at WOXY.com in Ohio today at 3:30pm EASTERN.
You can stream the performance live, online, at http://www.woxy.com

Chris

Within Temptation Featured on imeem

Within Temptation's profile is among those featured in imeem's music section this week. Check it out at http://www.imeem.com.

NY TImes Podcast featuring DragonForce!

Jeff Leeds of the NY Times interviewed Herman last week about "Through The Fire and Flames" and Guitar Hero III. MP3 of this week's podcast is attached; the interview starts at 18:30.

To download directly from the site, go to http://www.nytimes.com/ref/multimedia/podcasts.html and click on this week's Music Popcast.

reccenter.com Interviews DevilDriver

www.reccenter.com, a hipster-leaning social networking site has posted a video interview with DevilDriver. The site receives approximately 5,000 unique visitors a month.

Click here to watch.

Site Updates This Week

Roadrunner's web site was updated slightly late this week.

Home Page: Now featuring all the Best Ofs and Cradle of Filth.
Artists Page: A nice, fat shoutout to Airbourne and "Runnin' Wild"
In The Pit: As noted earlier, this has been updated.
Music Page: Get a Free MP3 of Cradle's "Devil in the Metal"
Video Page: Check out the last in-studio blog from The Parlor Mob
Free Shit: Get your Nickelback fix on and grab an autographed Aibourne booklet.

We're testing out an online version of our Weekly Web Schedule spreadsheet here. If you do not already have access and would like it, please let Jeremy know. This spreadsheet is the basis for our web site updates each week.web

2008's First In the Pit

We've some sweet updates for you at In the Pit.

Thirty new fan photos and art have been uploaded to the Fan Art Section. Check out our current featured photo of the Finland Street Team and office crew with Robb Flynn.

Amy Sciarretto answers a VERY personal question in Ask Amy.

Jeremy invited several guests to answer questions in the Mail Bag.

I want to know which of our upcoming Best Of bands YOU think is the best in this week's Forum.

If we were to make a television show, which one of the Poll options would you want?

Finally, you've all been waiting for it. Check out Nightwish's Anette as she answers your questions from the band's tour in China.

Best Of Playlist Featured on imeem

imeem.com with over 6MM unique visitors per month and, according to them, the top referrer to iTunes is featuring a playlist based on our Best Ofs this week on their music page. Click here to see it on the right.

Nightwish Featured on Windows Media Guide

Visit http://www.windowsmedia.com to see Nightwish featured this week! This guide is also featured in all Windows Media Players.

Still Remains Featured on QuickTime Guide

Apple's QuickTime guide is featuring Still Remains' "Dancing with the Enemy" this week. The guide is featured online and in the QuickTime player. I don't have clear stats on the QuickTime portion of the Apple site, but the site itself receives over 20MM uniques a month. The QuickTime Player is installed on millions of machines in the USA.

Theory of a Deadman "So Happy" MP3

You can now find the Theory single, "So Happy," on the following sites: Facebook, MySpace, Roadrunnerrecords.com, imeem.com, and AOL Music. We are working on getting this out to other sites as we speak and will report again here as they come in.

ARTISTdirect has made the track one of the featured songs on the home page for the next few days and will place it at the top of their alt section this coming Tuesday.

http://www.artistdirect.com/

Best Of Releases on AOL Radio

AOL Radio will be giving our Best Of releases some exposure. More details to follow.

DevilDriver Interview at ARTISTdirect

ARTISTdirect is currently featuring an interview with Dez Fafara of DevilDriver on their home page, www.artistdirect.com. The interview was conducted this past December in California while the band toured with Killswitch Engage.

Click here to watch.

Airbourne Rock's the Deuce

Airbourne's "TMTYTF" was added into the online page for MTV2's YOU ROCK THE DEUCE.

MTV2 want to gauge the response of the band at this site with their "YRTD" viewers. How much is the video watched? Any feedback on the feedback page?, etc. Within the next 2-3 weeks YOU ROCK THE DEUCE will become a strictly voter based show. So the videos that get the most views/action will get on the air.

YOU ROCK THE DEUCE now airs M - F 11am EST.

In the past, MTV2 would program the show with what they felt deserved a shot internally. Now it seems, the audience will choosing what gets on the this specific show. Good stuff for RR!

Nickelback #2, #8, and #10 on the WGM Passalong Promotions Chart

Nickelback's "Rockstar," "If Everyone Cared," and "Photograph" help Nickelback dominate the WMG Top 10 Downloads on PassAlong.com and PassAlong powered sites. Passalong is digital retail partner for downloads and ringtones.

Flo Rida – Low [feat. T-Pain]
Nickelback- Rockstar
Matchbox Twenty - How Far We've Come
Mark Knopfler – Shangri-La (Live from Radio City) (Promotional Track)
Linkin Park – What I’ve Done
Paramore – Misery Business
Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day
Nickelback – If Everyone Cared
Big & Rick – Lost in This Moment
Nickelback - Photograph

Theory "So Happy" Added to AOL Radio

AOL Radio has added Theory of a Deadman's "So Happy" to their New Rock First section. Click here to check it out.

Blabbermouth on Airbourne (9)

Blabbermouth.net has an excellent review of Airbourne's "Runnin' Wild" up.

Click here to read.


"Color me blown away. "Runnin' Wild" from Australia's AIRBOURNE is the best pure hard rock album I've heard in years. Brothers Joel (vocals/lead guitar) and Ryan O'Keeffe (drums), along with David Roads (guitar) and Justin Street (bass), have written an unequivocally classic rock album with fist-pumping jams galore. When one hears the number of youngsters attempting to be retro cool by incorporating classic rock elements and falling flat on their faces doing so, it is heartening to hear an act like AIRBOURNE do it so well and so right."

Video Adds to Joost This Week

Joost is a client-based (meaning it's an application like Internet Explorer or Outlook) video service offering high-quality streaming. Check out our video adds this week:

Airbourne - Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
Theory Of A Deadman - No Surprise
Theory Of A Deadman - Santa Monica
Sepultura - Roots Bloody Roots
Obituary - Insane
Spineshank - New Disease
Obituary - The End Complete (Reissue)
Sepultura - Territory
Sepultura - Refuse/Resist
Sepultura - Inner Self (Reissue)

Biffy Clyro Featured on Windows Media Guide

Today Microsoft's Windows Media Guide launched an artist feature on their music page for Biffy Clyro. The site receives about 5MM uniques per month with a traffic rank according to Alexa of 1576. The image and writeup link directly to the stream on our site. This feature is also located in the Windows Media Player, installed on all Windows machines.

Airbourne - FUSE

Airbourne's "TMTYTF" has been added into Fuse's OVEN FRESH starting next week and will also be put into their new METAL COUNTDOWN show (Air dates TBA)

Airbourne and MySpace Records

Suzi secured this nice placement for Airbourne on the MySpace music page. The ad links through to their page on the site.

Awesome Airbourne E-Card...widget.....embeddable code thingy!

Spread the word to all of your contacts: www.roadrun.com/airbourne

ROADRUNNER ARTISTS' NAMM APPEARANCES

Thats right, the best of the best will be making appearances at NAMM. See the times below. More to come so keep checking back for updates!

DRAGONFORCE:
Herman Li and Sam Totman Ibanez signature models to debut at the Ibanez booth.

Friday 1/18
3 PM: Ibanez - Herman and Sam

Saturday 1/19
1 PM: Rocktron - Herman
2:30 PM: Peavey - Herman and Sam

TRIVIUM:
Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu Dean signature models to debut at Dean booth.

Friday 1/18
11 AM: BC Rich - Paolo

1 PM: BC Rich - Paolo

4 PM: Dean - Matt and Corey

4 PM: Ddrum - Travis

Saturday 1/19
11 AM: BC Rich - Paolo

2 PM: Ddrum - Travis

4 PM: Dean - Matt and Corey

BLACK STONE CHERRY:

Friday 1/18
12 PM: EMG Pickups - All

1 PM: Pro-Mark - John Fred

2 PM: Peavy - All

11 PM: Performance at 2008 Wimbas concert at the Liquid Lounge

Saturday 1/19
2 PM: Ludwig Drums - John Fred

2 PM: Spectraflex Cables - Ben, Chris and Jon

TBA: Zildijan - John Fred and Carvin - Jon and Chris

STONE SOUR:
Josh Rand signature Peavy JR Special to Debut at Peavy booth

Friday, 1/18
1 PM: Peavy - Josh

Saturday, 1/19
11 AM: Peavy - Josh

SLIPKNOT:

Friday, 1/18
4PM: Ibanez - Mick

Saturday, 1/19
1 PM: Peavy - Paul
3 PM:Ovation - Mick
4 PM - Ibanez - Paul
4:30 PM: D'Addario - Mick

Sunday, 1/20
3 PM: Seymour Duncan - Mick

Top 10 Marketing Hits

10. Within Temptation and imeem.com created an artist playlist where the band was interviewed about each of their favorite songs. imeem created an embeddable widget for it here. The list will be featured on the main page of imeem.com starting the 21st.

9. Roadrunner Records proudly launches The Scrap Yard.

http://metalscrapyard.blogspot.com/

The Scrap Yard is our one-stop location to keep track of and comment on our digital and mobile marketing. Check it daily for up-to-the-minute news of what's going on, or subscribe to the RSS feed to have the news come to you right away!

8. Megadeth announces the exciting line-up for this year's Gigantour - In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High On Fire. The tour will run from April to May.

7. The Cavalera Conspiracy completed their video for "Sanctuary" and a photoshoot in Paris, France this week...stay tuned!

6. On the heels of being named the #1 record of 2007 in numerous UK publications (Kerrang!, Rocksound, Daily Record) Biffy Clyro's Puzzle gets nominated for a ShortList Award (the US equivalent of the UK Mercury Prize). Other nominated albums include Against Me!, Fiest, Arcade Fire, MIA and more. The nominees and winners are chosen by critics, industry and artists.

5. Airbourne will be featured in Spin's 'New Noise' segment in the March issue. The band will complete a photoshoot in Adelaide, Australia today.

4. Nickelback's "Rockstar" comes in at #100 on Rolling Stone's '100 Best Songs Of 2007.'

"One of the best, funniest songs on the radio." - Rolling Stone

3. Theory Of A Deadman complete a stellar photoshoot with Eric Estrada in Los Angeles. See attached image!

2. Airbourne's "Stand Up For Rock n' Roll" will be the official theme song of the WWE's Royal Rumble! The event takes place at Madison Square Garden on 1/27 and will air on Pay-Per-View. The band is also recording the theme song for WWE Superstar Ken Kennedy. Joel recently spoke to WWE.com about the new album, upcoming tour, the band's love of wrestling and what's in store for 2008. The interview will run week of 1/14.

And the #1 HIT for Roadrunner Records for the week ending 1/11 is...

1. DragonForce's "Through The Fire And Flames" debuts at #84 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart! DragonForce continue to tear up digital sales with over 32,000 tracks sold this week and over 145,000 since Guitar Hero 3's release. The track is the #1 requested song at Q101 in Chicago and was added to KOMP in Vegas and KHTQ in Spokane.

Upcoming Windows Media Guide Promotions

Windows Media will feature several of our bands in upcoming weeks on both the Rock Grab Bag and the music page. Schedule is as follows:

Airbourne on Main Music Page and Home Page on week of release starting 1/29.
Biffy Clyro goes live next week on 1/15 on the Main Music Page.
Nightwish goes live on the Main Music Page on 1/22.
Still Remains will debut on the Main Music Page on 1/29.

The Windows Media Guide is tied into the windows media player and is accessible through both the player and the web.

Fan Trailer for True Lies with Airbourne

Facebook - Airbourne - Part Deux (is that latin for two???)

The Airbourne Facebook ad campaign went live today - with a revised banner and a few changes to the ad copy. Here is what the new ad looks like:



and we have got the following text beneath the flyer:

Genuine Fist-Pumping, Sweat-Soaked Rock n' Roll. Free taste now at Roadrunner Records.com.

I expect we should start seeing these buttons appear on people's Facebook profiles from tomorrow morning. Will keep you all posted on the results!

Airbourne - Runnin' Wild Review Featured on ARTISTdirect.com

ARTISTdirect.com is featuring a review of Airbourne on their home page. Check it out at left or click here.

Read the great review here.

Within Temptation Featured Artist Playlist on 1/21

Last month the folks at imeem interviewed our very own Within Temptation about a bunch of their favourite songs. The interview has been combined with a playlist of those songs here and will be the featured playlist starting on January 21st.

As you can see, the playlist can be embedded on a web page, MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites. imeem bills itself as "the top referrer to iTunes." Their tracks include direct paths-to-purchase on iTunes.

Those bastards at Facebook!

Just found out what a bunch of wimps those people at Facebook are. We tried posting our new Airbourne ad and they BANNED US from doing so!




Guess we'll need to go to plan B and rock the other banner ads that we created as part of the wider online campaign. Maybe I shouldn't have selected "Under 18" as part fo the targeted demographic I was going after.....

By the way, the Airbourne Facebook campaign begins next week so stay tuned for updates as to how it is progressing (I'll post 'em here).

KSE, Dream Theater Top Eventful Demand Charts

Killswitch Engage (15,000 demands total) and Dream Theater (37,000 demands total) come in at #13 and #40 respectively on Eventful's most demanded appearances chart. Click here for the full list.

Fan Appreciation for Dream Theater Marketing

From fan Tom T via email:
Just a quick note to show one consumer's appreciation for your support of Dream Theater. I know they will never be AOR ready, nor should they be. But your company has allowed them to be heard by a large group of new ears; I work with a few under 18 year olds who are excited about this "new band" Dream Theater. Nice work Roadrunner! -Thomas

Dozen Days of Downloads on Fuse

Roadrunner artists are featured on Fuse's Dozen Days of Downloads this week. Check out Airbourne, Biffy Clyro, De Novo Dahl, and Killswitch Engage.