"Chinese Democracy": How to make it enormous? (ideas)

[nesquick]

Ok, let's talk your imagination! We all know that this board is seen by some important people (Guns management and even bandmembers, and maybe by Axl himself). Let's give them some ideas to promote the album and to make it become HUGE. Here is the question:

If you were in charge of the promotion of "Chinese Democracy", what would be your best ideas to promote this so long awaited album?

1) FIRST IDEA: In my opinion, I would have a very intensive promotion strategy with amazing ideas like: you watch TV (MTV, VH1, CBS, NBC etc...) and then suddenly... BLACK SCREEN! no sound..."Guns N' Roses", then white screen, then BLACK SCREEN..."Chinese Democracy", white screen once again, and then BLACK SCREEN..."release date". A 6/7 secondes commercial.  no sound. total silence.
 Just keep the mystery. The impact would be phenomenal!  

2) SECOND IDEA: the same kind of promotion that for  the "greatest hits" but 3 or 4 times bigger, with 2 or 3 different TV spots and a lot of money to promote the whole thing.

now, let's give YOUR ideas  

[SOH]

I loved that Boston radio promo for the tour..."It's been too long since you've had your ass kicked properly!" I'd buy billboards in every state capital that said that along with the release date. I'd also get Axl to host a week of some latenight talkshow, giving someone like Letterman the week off. I'd also get TV and radio commercials where Axl begins to scream "I'M BACK, MOTHERFUCKERS!" but have some guy dressed like an FCC member keep cutting him off since you can't swear on TV or radio, and have Axl mess with him as a result.

[MrBen]

I think they should use the fact that the album has taken a long time to their advantage in any marketing stratergy i.e

'10 years in the making'............

[MrBen]

album?[/b]

2) SECOND IDEA: the same kind of promotion that for  the "greatest hits" but 3 or 4 times bigger, with 2 or 3 different TV spots and a lot of money to promote the whole thing.

now, let's give YOUR ideas  

Why just 3- 4 times bigger, why not 10  -20 times bigger, 100-200 times bigger???, this is not really an idea!

At the end of the day, this is up to the record company. I think its obvious from the amount of money they have already put into the project and from their patience with Axl over the no release,  they know the album is good. It will be very much in their interest to spend a lot of money on promotion.

[Fuckin' Gunner]

First, they release a great song, able to reach the #1 spot, but nobody says nothing anout CD. They they go on tour, announce the release date and, when the album come out, release the 2nd single and the album.

And make like the Illusoins, a worldwide release with the stores opening at midnight.

Then put commercials on TV, like said before, like the Greatest Hits but bugger. Would be great!

And then a great tour will help a lot with the selling.

[deadboy]

1. Release two singles simultaneously.
2. T.V. commercial - static interspersed with soundbites (occasional, sporadic) from the album, fade out, black screen then release date. Make sure people don't have a clue what it's advertising just tease the hell out of 'em. Make the advert 15 sec or so, then on release date start a saturation campaign. Full details etc,but still a similar styled advert still only 15 sec. Play it every hour.

[HoldenCaulfield]

Okay, first thing, you hit a deal with Viacom. Have the very first commercial-teaser to air simulataneously on MTV, MTV 2, and VH1. Have them hype the shit out of what this huge announcement will be. Every now and then air a short teaser during regular commercial breaks:

(TV static, sound clips of news reports reporting on all the GNR riots through the years, but not mentioning GNR. It breaks into a black screen and the words show up: "Freedom is Coming... X/XX/XX" (the air-date for the announcement) Get it? Democracy = freedom? Anyway. These go on for about 2 weeks, up until the unveiling of the announcement:

(Static again, this time there are actual snippets of these riots, mixed in with static, and a voice says: "10 years in the making. See this band like you've never seen them before: Guns N' Roses! (the intro to 'Chinese Democracy' plays, and when it hits right after the solo, the screen shatters like glass. You then see the band playing on a roof-top, and there's a gigantic billboard behind them, and it has the album cover, a big GNR logo, and the release date on it) Static breaks back in with the words" Chinese Democracy Starts X/XX/XX")

Okay, so say that is on one month before the launch of the album. In that month, there will be radio adds, much like the Boston promo: "After 10 years, it's finally happening: Guns N' Roses! With the new album 'Chinese Democracy'! Freedom arrives on X/XX/XX..." These will air super-heavy, the biggest radio promotional campaign ever.

Magazine adds appear in Rolling Stone, Spin, Hit Parader, etc. Just a classic picture of Chinese military propaganda with Chinese soldiers with the phrase "It Don't Really Matter: You're Gonna Find Out For Yourself" featured prominently, with the obligatory "Guns N'Roses first album in 10 years: Chinese Democracy! In Stores X/XX/XX"

I would also do an MTV/VH1 special and call it "Guns N'Roses: A Revolution in the Making" with a sit-down interview with Kurt Loder, interviewing Axl (no hold's barred), and then with the entire band (all together), then they world premier the video for the first single. This would air approximately 3 weeks before the release.

The Friday before the release, have the band perform the first single on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Monday on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Tuesday on Late Show with David Letterman, with a live performance smack dab in the middle of Times Square, with a record signing at the Virgin Megastore afterwards. Thursday they could perform on Late Night with Conan O'Brian.

Announce a US tour to support the album, to kick off in about 3 weeks.

[nesquick]

all these are very good ideas!

[Dave_Rose]

Well I would...

Have a teaser on TV saying Chinese Democracy is coming and then release the single on the radio and then the video, after that a number of TV spots saying there coming back and the release date. And a couple of MTV specials like Cribs, Making of the video... and how the new GN'R came about well Album launch on MTV so many things they could I'd love to see and posters in every music store. It has the potential to be a number one album world wide.

[nesquick]

It has the potential to be a number one album world wide.

oh yeah definitely. Without doubts. just look at the "Greatest Hits", it was/ has been #1 in lots of countries in the world. I would add an anti-piracy system on "chinese democracy" too, a kind of protection system to avoid piracy, it would increase the sells. I think there is a lot of potential to sell millions and millions copies worldwide. the name "Guns N' Roses" is still very popular nowadays, in Europe, south America, Japan, USA (#3 on bilboard charts). In Paris (because I'm french), you could see Guns n' Roses DVD's and "greatest hits" album toping the charts. It sells very well! and new material will sell massively. It just needs to be released and the success will follow!

[badapple81]

I really liked the Boston promo too.. id like something similar.. mix in some old to capture the audience and really get some attitude into the introduction of Chinese Democracy.. like as someone said ..."It's been too long since you've had your ass kicked properly!" Thats cool!

[St.heathen]

To be honest although i'd like to see some of the ideas mentioned so far.  But i don't see Axl approaching the publicity for CD too differently from what he did for previous albums.

They never relied on TV promotion much did they?  A few special hour long style things, but never a Jay leno, Jonathan Ross style chat show.

Aslong as he plans the tour well so that it's not too much too soon  and makes sure no gigs are cancelled then it will sell well anyway without too much promotion.  I think everybody knows about Chinese Democracy so it's not going to flop, it just has to be good lol

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

a riot during the 2004 MTV video Music awards.
axl jumps in the crowd. bif fights. big riot. the building is torn apart.
buckethead comes back and fights axl on stage with his nunchakus.
then duff comes to save axl with his kung fu tricks.
slash hits buckethead in the head with his guitar and makes his bucket to fall, so we see BHead is bald, and is actually george costanza.
and then the 2 bands (VR + GNR) kill britney spears, xtina aguilera, justin timberlake, julia roberts, jennifer anniston, eminem, ...every "stars" that are there.....

and they all go to jail.

 

[SINSHINE]

I know it's a bit small to see, but how 'bout something like this...

http://www.studioonline.com/playclip.asp?iDigitalMediaID=288703&tiEncodingStatus=1&LangID=1&crypt=3B2D1FE4B3B880268571FB79267327B1&iMediaTypeID=1

choose Windows Media (NOT Windows Media Low)

[nesquick]

I know it's a bit small to see, but how 'bout something like this...

http://www.studioonline.com/playclip.asp?iDigitalMediaID=288703&tiEncodingStatus=1&LangID=1&crypt=3B2D1FE4B3B880268571FB79267327B1&iMediaTypeID=1
choose Windows Media (NOT Windows Media Low)  

no I think it should be something MUCH more powerfull. I wouldn't have put "chinese democracy" (the song) to promote it because the song is pretty weak, especially live versions. I would have put studio version of "Madagascar" or "The Blues". But well tried.

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

I'm wonderin' if its still going to be titled "Chinese Democracy"

From my recollection, since the 2002 tour ended we haven't heard any of the guys or managmenet refer to the album as "Chinese Democracy".
Not that we have heard MUCH... but I only recall hearing it referred to as "the album" (or "the new album").

I do like "Chinese Democracy", though so I hope its a keeper...
and I love the tagline 'It don't really matter.. gonna find out for yourself"  

nice ideas guys
if i come up with something i'll share

ooo...

how about a short clips of each of the guys live... with audio introducing themselves and saying something about the album...
one different one for each night of the week leading up to the announcment of the release...
starting with Chris Pittman  
leading up to Axl who on the final night gives the release date

all right its just something 'different' i thought of
they'd have to say something clever or interesting or otherwise intriguing to make it work of course... perhaps they could actually say the title of thier favorite track on the album...
and I have no idea how it would work with talking and music going...
but whatever...  some genuis could figure it out
and on the last night they widen the shot of axl and show the whole band standing on either side of him

again... i have no idea what the fuck it would come out like...
lol

just tryin to be original

[Death Cube K]

1) FIRST IDEA: In my opinion (because I'm studing marketing at University), I would have a very intensive marketing strategy with amazing ideas like: you watch TV (MTV, VH1, CBS, NBC etc...) and then suddenly... BLACK SCREEN! no sound..."Guns N' Roses", then white screen, then BLACK SCREEN..."Chinese Democracy", white screen once again, and then BLACK SCREEN..."release date". A 7/8 secondes commercial.  no sound. total silence.

'

This was infact a rumour a few months ago...

The GNR promotion must be heavy and strong. Show attitude and force. It have to show that Axl have a goal, that he never backed down and is ready to take on the world. Everyone else bow for the master. It have to be convincing.

[SLCPUNK]

Marketing ??

hahaha!

 
























P.S. hahahaha!!!!!!

[SLCPUNK]

1) FIRST IDEA: In my opinion (because I'm studing marketing at University), I would have a very intensive marketing strategy with amazing ideas like: you watch TV (MTV, VH1, CBS, NBC etc...) and then suddenly... BLACK SCREEN! no sound..."Guns N' Roses", then white screen, then BLACK SCREEN..."Chinese Democracy", white screen once again, and then BLACK SCREEN..."release date". A 7/8 secondes commercial.  no sound. total silence.

'

This was infact a rumour a few months ago...

Yea, Identical.

[mega_music]

I agree promotion for CD will be huge!!

TV commercials on all the big networks also on MTV,VH1, E, ESPN, ETC.

Radio commercials in every large market.

Street Team unleashed to raid internet message boards and etc.

I feel the first single should be Maddy or The Blues, or another single that will mix well with all radio formats. That way it will hit hard on the rock charts and also on Top 40 and etc. That way when you turn the radio dial every station will be playing the new hit song.

TV Commerical
Black and white commercial show a helicopter flying over a small China town. The camera zooms into to one of the little huts and it shows a little chinese boy putting on a gas mask and he wraps a white bandanna with a red star over his head (bandana in color).  The little boy runs out of his hut and looks to the sky to see hundred of helicopters with a red star on their tails. The boy keeps running down the street until he comes to a large crowd the the peoplel in the  crowd are waving flags with a red star and etc. The boy looks to the sky and puts his fist in the air.. Fades to black screen.

Radio Commercials:
Same as the 2002 tour I thought the radio ads were great.

I think the world will be blitzed with the huge album release