US fade Fans – It’s Call to Action Time! ^_^

Last year BASM laid a lot of great ground work for fade’s US entrance, including getting their three latest albums on Pandora & Jelli – two US based Internet radio stations – and added them to the Shazam catalog. We distributed them to some of the top CMJ college radio stations, had their audio tracks picked up by Promo Only (the largest music record pool in the US) and got them interviewed by music discovery blog Pens Eye View.

fade is set to do their first North American performance this March at the Canadian Music Week festival with plans to perform in NYC as well. But if you want fade to come to your neck o’ the woods (because let’s face it…as awesome as NYC is it isn’t the ONLY city in the US of A!) it’s time to make your voice heard.

We love that you’re so passionate about your love for all things fade & Jon, and want to bring them Stateside for the long term. But if we want to fast track fade’s arrival in the US…it’s time to take that fan passion to the next level! And this is wear BASM wants the fade & Free Jon fans to join us in the campaign to bring fade to the US & make them a fixture in the rock scene. This means:

• call your local radio stations
• call your college radio stations (if you’re in college)
• create accounts on Jelli.com and Pandora to request their songs (don’t make multiple accounts!!!!)
• go on MTV, VH1, Fuse & the like to request fade’s music videos
• contact your area’s venues & ask them to book fade
• promoting them on your favorite music/pop culture blogs (keep in mind your favorite site’s TOS – please don’t do anything that gets you banned!!!)

Do it daily, and get your friends involved! 

Why? Because as awesome as our contacts are as an “official” marketing & PR firm, it means a lot more to big platforms like radio stations, music networks and booking agencies when they get consistent requests from consumers. You guys give our outreach campaigns more strength. Together we can make fade a household name in 2012!!!!

BASM Client CuffLink to Appear at Accessories Council Valentine’s Twitter Event

We just had an update from our client, the CuffLink® iPhone wristband and wanted to share it with you!

The CuffLink® will be participating in an event hosted by the iconic Accessories Council here in NYC. The non-profit advocacy group has acted as an incubator for influential accessories collections including Rebecca Minkoff and Tory Burch. We had the honor of meeting a member from Accessories Council last month at the Kitten Lounge Holiday Shopping Guide event and were excited to learn that they considered the CuffLink® iPhone wristband to be the most innovative accessory of 2011!

 

 

The Accessories Council Valentine’s Twitter Event will take place this Wednesday evening at the Roman Sunstone Showroom. It is an invitation only event for select bloggers and press to preview and learn about ideal gifts specially curated for your sweetie based on their astrological sign and personalities. Stay tuned for a full event recap afterwards!

For more details about the Accessories Council, visit www.accessoriescouncil.org

For more details about the CuffLink® iPhone wristband, visit www.cufflinksystems.com

For press inquiries or more details about the event contact:

Big Apple Style Marketing

Attn: Dorian Smith

Email: Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

What Buyers Can Expect From SLIP&CO at MAGIC!

Alright, so we’re roughly two weeks out from MAGIC, when some of the retail industry’s best collections & new lines will descend upon Las Vegas. And, I just received the final line up of items that we’ll be presenting from SLIP&CO at s.l.a.t.e. at MAGIC. If you’ll be at MAGIC, come stop by the s.la.t.e. show floor and pop into booth #42120 to say “hi” and take a peak at the line! The line features vibrant prints & colors, easy fitting relaxed tees and a somewhat “retro cool” look – all combined into one easy collection. I must say, it’s the hotness & I love the artwork in the look book.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

SLIP&CO’s February MAGIC Preview Look Book

And yes, that’s KenKen working the SLIP&CO FT Paisley Shirt & SLIP&CO Skull Ring.

For those who are curious, s.l.a.t.e. is the street wear division of MAGIC which is quickly becoming a focal point for the three day industry only trade show. MAGIC is an event where buyers from some of the world’s top department stores and boutiques preview and write orders for designs from established and up-and-coming lines that are showcasing men’s, women’s and accessories looks for the next season. This February, lines will be unveiling their Fall 2012 collections.

As I’ve mentioned many many times, although SLIP&CO is not a new line (it’s been out since 2006 in Japan), it is new to the US market. So, buyers and press can expect to see a carefully curated collection which highlights the line’s ability to easily transition from work to play and everything in between. Additionally, we’ll also be presenting their collaborative designs with iconic hat company, New Era Caps. SLIP&CO is the brainchild of rocker, Jesse McFaddin who is also the front man for the wildly popular Japanese rock band RIZE. Jesse will also be in attendance at MAGIC, marking his first press related appearance in the US for the 2012 season.

For more information about SLIP&CO visit www.soundshop.bz

To book a booth appointment for MAGIC, contact Dorian Smith at Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com.

For more information about Jesse McFaddin & RIZE, visit www.triberize.net.

BASM Client Kimmie Hosts the Leibish “World Of Colors” Diamond Event!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending an intimate press event at the St. Regis hotel in NYC for Leibish & Co, a leader in the diamond industry with a focus on providing naturally occurring fancy colored diamond stones to their client base. BASM client, Kimmie was the hostess for the event and sported a few of the drool worthy pieces including the Pink Prosperity Diamond and a gorgeous yellow diamond bracelet that totaled 54 carats and retails for $160,000.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

And in case you’re curious…yes that is me in the middle in the top left picture! And full disclosure, Kimmie is also my sis (no we’re not twins!).

The Prosperity Pink Diamond makes waves everywhere it’s shown and can be considered one of the crowning glories of the Leibish brand. The diamond, which is now set in a gorgeous ring design, comes in at 1.68 carats. Attendees were able to view a variety of signature pieces from the Leibish collection as well as meet members from the company – which is family owned and operated. Additionally, the firm’s owner, Leibish Polnauer, regaled attendees with the story of the Prosperity Pink Diamond and how he came to acquire it. Leibish & Co prides themselves on their focus on strong customer service, with a 66% return customer rate – which is huge for those of you who don’t know. What’s more, this jewelry firm is mainly accessed through the web, with only a handful of physical showrooms in New York, Hong Kong and Israel.

For a full event recap, visit Kimmie’s blog, Kitten Lounge for more details and pictures.

If fancy color diamonds are your fancy (yes the pun is intended!) then visit http://www.fancydiamonds.net/

For booking, interview or stylist inquiries for Kimmie contact:

Big Apple Style Marketing, LLC

Attn: Dorian Smith

Email: Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

Online Ads I’m Loving: Pandora Radio’s Skinned Ad Pages

Ok…so I haven’t written a commercial/ad post in quite a while – mainly because (as anyone can see who keeps up with my posts) my clients are quite busy & obviously they take priority!

Anywho, I saw a cute little skinned page ad on my Pandora radio and had to post about it. I’m a dog lover (of small dogs honestly – I have a Yorkie) and for the moment, Pandora has a Cesar dog food ad up. And the pup is SOOOO cute! ^_^

Pandora's skinned ad pages

I’m actually a big fan of Pandora’s ad system on the web (as it’s a bit different when listening via mobile). Basically an ad plays every 4 or 5 songs (and it’s just one ad that’s no longer than 30 sec – hence another reason I’d rather listen to Pandora than terrestrial). And usually the skinned sides of the player change to match whatever ad is played. But if you rate a song, skip a song or click on anything in the page (other than the ad) the skinned sides change to a new ad – very nice!

Additionally (at least just for the web version) if you don’t interact with the Pandora page for 30 minutes, it pauses the music and asks you if you’re still listening. That’s super smart – as it doesn’t make sense to pay royalties or have advertisers paying for potential impressions if someone’s not actively listening to the station.

And yes, I have very varied tastes in music – as evidenced by the different stations available on my account.

NAMM ’12 Recap: KenKen Performs Multiple Stints at TC Electronic Booth (videos)

So, over the weekend we reported that KenKen the famed RIZE bassist made multiple appearances at NAMM 2012 in Anaheim, CA at the TC Electronic booth to showcase his bass skills. Now that NAMM is officially over, we have multiple clips to upload for everyone out there who wants to get a peek at KenKen’s crazy skills. While at NAMM, KenKen was also interviewed by the crew at the TC Electronic booth, giving us some insights into what’s next for the bassist and where he gets his inspiration.

If you weren’t able to attend NAMM, watch KenKen rock out on the bass below courtesy of the crew at the TC Electronic booth!

For more information about KenKen visit http://kenkenweb.net

For more information about RIZE visit www.triberize.net

For more information about NAMM visit www.namm.org

For more information about TC Electronic visit www.tcelectronic.com

For US/North American inquiries, interview requests & bookings regarding KenKen or RIZE:

Big Apple Style Marketing
 LLC

Attn: Dorian Smith

Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

For International inquires, interview requests & bookings regarding KenKen or RIZE:

C.E. United, Inc/Official International Rep of RIZE

Attn: Cozy Mizoguchi

Cozy@ceu.co.jp

RIZE Bassist KenKen Shows Off His Skills at NAMM! (video)

This  year, KenKen of the group RIZE is performing in guest spots for the TC Electronic exhibit at NAMM in Anaheim, California. TC Electronic is a vendor that develops audio products ranging from amps, cabs & combos to microphones & studio production hardware and software. NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) kicked off on Thursday, January 19th and is an industry event where music vendors – including some of the top brands in music and electronics software – launch new products and showcase existing ones. Additionally, many of the vendors have notable performers who “demo” the products or software in their booth as a testament to their product capabilities.

KenKen is one third of the popular JRock band, RIZE which is positioning themselves to strongly enter the North American market this year. In addition to his intense love for music, he is also a notable gamer, having appeared on a number of Sony PSP games. KenKen is an EXTREMELY talented bass player who clearly has a passion for his craft. The folks at the TC Electronic booth took a video this past Thursday when KenKen took the floor. His single minded energy for playing the bass guitar is apparent as soon as he touches the strings. Check out KenKen’s impromptu performance at the TC Electronic booth. And if you’re attending NAMM make sure you stop by the TC Electronic booth on Sunday around 2pm PST on January 22nd to check out another lively performance by KenKen!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

RIZE is a hard rock/metal band that debuted in 2000 with major accomplishments such as performing at Live 8 in 2005 and Live Earth in 2007, having their song “Zero” licensed by Coke Zero Japan/Asia, various songs used for PS2 games such as “BioHazard”, and have appeared live with NIN, Run DMC, Jay Z & Oasis. RIZE is a trio comprised of Jesse McFaddin (founder, guitar & lead singer), KenKen (bassist) and NK (drummer). Both the group, RIZE, and the individual members, are major icons in the Japanese music and pop culture scenes, influencing music, entertainment, gaming and fashion. All three members are considered “rock royalty” in Japan since their fathers are members of the legendary Japanese rock band Pink Cloud.

For more information about KenKen visit http://kenkenweb.net

For more information about RIZE visit www.triberize.net

For more information about NAMM visit www.namm.org

For more information about TC Electronic visit www.tcelectronic.com

For US/North American inquiries, interview requests & bookings regarding KenKen or RIZE:

Big Apple Style Marketing
 LLC

Attn: Dorian Smith

Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

For International inquires, interview requests & bookings regarding KenKen or RIZE:

C.E. United, Inc/Official International Rep of RIZE

Attn: Cozy Mizoguchi

Cozy@ceu.co.jp

Say No to PIPA & SOPA!!!!

Okay, as most of you know, I’m not terribly cause oriented…sorry I’m just not one of those people. But there are a few things that I do take seriously…and freedom of information and the ability to access it is one of those things.  Right now there are two bills up on the block for consideration in Congress, PIPA and SOPA. They aim to put a stop to piracy by forcing websites (like this WordPress site where the BASM blog is hosted) to self censor on all content posted on their website. This is problematic at best. But it’s especially significant to me because it can directly effect my international clients and the ability for specifically American consumers to find and learn about my clients.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Look, piracy is wrong and most likely if you’re using the Internet on the regular you know this to be true. It doesn’t matter how much you claim you’re getting back at the big bad record label/production studio, you’re still getting over on the actor/artist – and in the artist’s case those record deals aren’t so great anyway so every penny counts. However, as much as piracy is bad, it doesn’t justify putting into effect laws that can basically make the US Internet scape similar to countries like China, Syria & Iran where whole websites are blocked because they’re deemed to contain “dangerous” information. This is a direct violation of our first amendment right – the right to free speech. The issue I have with this is that this bill is a slippery slope. Right now the focus is piracy, but what happens when someone decides that citizens shouldn’t be allowed to speak freely on their political, religious, social, etc views? At what point does the censorship stop and can it be stopped once you open the door to it?

At this point, you’re probably wondering why I think SOPA & PIPA are so counter to my clients and my company. Here’s why:

For the most part, I work with independent or international artists – artists who usually aren’t well known in the States when I take them on as clients. For me, I need to see things going virally in order to know that the marketing efforts I’m developing (in conjunction with my client’s management teams & various digital platforms here in the US & Canada) are working. If PIPA & SOPA pass, then fans can have their fan sites shut down because it’s a copyright violation to post pictures, videos and more. Their fan pages on Facebook will get shut down since they aren’t the copyright owners. To prevent any attempt at piracy, this could mean that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can block international IPs in general to prevent you from accessing any potential piracy sites (which are usually housed internationally). And then, the ability to learn about new bands/artists from other countries will become significantly harder. And ultimately it means that the whole “our world is so connected via the Internet” mantra will be dead in the water.

And let’s not forget that the US wants to be a leader in human rights. Well free speech is a human right as per our Constitution. So, let’s not allow the US to create a very dangerous civil liberty violation which could be picked up & copied by other countries as policy. Whether you’re a US citizen or are from another country, you have the right to let your voice be heard & to prevent this kind of censorship from infiltrating the nation. Write/call your congressman, or if you’re an international, write/call the US State Department and let them know that you don’t support this bill. Piracy is bad and should be stopped, but this is NOT the way to do it.

P.S. For those who are curious, I chose not to blackout my blog because, I’m a small business owner & I need my clients to be visible at all times! But I do support the anti PIPA/SOPA movement!

RIZE Set to Appear at Canadian Music Week 2012

For immediate release

Tuesday January 10, 2012

This week popular Japanese rock band RIZE officially appeared on the Canadian Music Week (CMW) website as one of the official acts which will perform at the week long music festival.  2012 marks the 30th year for the annual CMW event, which will be held in Toronto, Ontario. CMW will be held from March 21^st through the 25^th. The performance portion of the festival takes place in more than 60 venues around Toronto’s popular entertainment district. This year, CMW will have more than 4,500 musicians – from local to international acts representing more than 40 countries – playing to 100,000 music fans.

RIZE is a hard rock/metal band that debuted in 2000 with major accomplishments such as performing at Live 8 in 2005 and Live Earth in 2007, having their song “Zero” licensed by Coke Zero Japan/Asia, various songs used for PS2 games such as “BioHazard”, and have appeared live with NIN, Run DMC, Jay Z & Oasis. RIZE is a trio comprised of Jesse McFaddin (founder, guitar & lead singer), KenKen (bassist) and NK (drummer). Both the group, RIZE, and the individual members, are major icons in the Japanese music and pop culture scenes, influencing music, entertainment, gaming and fashion.

Lead singer of RIZE, Jesse McFaddin

2012 marks RIZE’s increased focus on their international fan base with an emphasis on North America. Their CMW performances will be their first in the region since RIZE’s previous US tour with The Kottonmouth Kings in 2003. The CMW festival is perfectly timed to coincide with the release of Jesse McFaddin’s solo project “STAND UP! Fund” and the launch of his popular clothing line, Slip&Co in the US market. Following the festival, lead singer Jesse McFaddin will appear in New York to further promote the group as well as his independent projects.

For more information about Rize its members and their individual projects, visit http://www.triberize.net.

 

 

 

For US/North American inquiries, interview requests & bookings contact:

Big Apple Style Marketing
 LLC

Attn: Dorian Smith

Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

For International inquires, interview requests & bookings, contact:

C.E. United, Inc/Official International Rep of RIZE

Attn: Cozy Mizoguchi

Cozy@ceu.co.jp

fade Set to Appear at Canadian Music Week 2012!

For immediate release

Tuesday January 10, 2012

Popular Japanese rock band fade officially appeared on the Canadian Music Week (CMW) website as one of the official acts to perform at the weeklong music festival.  2012 will be the 30th year for the annual CMW event, held in Toronto, Ontario. CMW will be held from March 21^st through the 25^th. The performance portion of the festival takes place in more than 60 venues around Toronto’s popular entertainment district. This year, CMW will have more than 4,500 musicians – from local to international acts representing more than 40 countries – playing to 100,000 music fans.

fade is a unique five member rock group from Japan that truly embodies the ability to effectively bridge Eastern and Western cultures by seamlessly blending the iconic 1980’s American rock sounds with their inherent international flavor. Of its band members, four are originally from the United States. Kansei (guitar), Noriyuki (bass) and Rui (drums/writer/founder) hail from New York and their lead singer Jon Underdown is from Seattle – two influential cities known for heavily shaping the American music scene over the years. The fifth member 5° is from Japan and a noted artist within the community.

Japanese rock band "fade" featured on PensEyeView.com

2011 saw fade’s initial entrance into North America with their music being distributed through popular channels such as Pandora and Jelli and interviews on music discovery sites like PensEyeView. Last year also saw an increase in the group’s fan base – especially amongst anime fans – as lead singer Jon Underdown joined forces with GACKT (among others) to create the group Yellow Fried Chickenz (YFC). YFC toured throughout Asia and Europe, gathering fans along the way. These fans spawned a grass roots group known as the Free Jon Campaign that have loyally supported not just Jon Underdown but fade as well.

Fade’s appearance at CMW marks the continuation of their focus on the North American market and will be their first live performance in the territory. Following CMW, fade will continue to New York to promote their new album with appearances and performances. Their new album is slated for release in the early Spring of this year.

For more information about fade its members and their individual projects, visit  http://www.fadeonline.com.

For US/North American inquiries, interview requests & bookings contact:

Big Apple Style Marketing
 LLC

Attn: Dorian Smith

Dorian@BigAppleStyleMarketing.com

For International inquires, interview requests & bookings, contact:

C.E. United, Inc/Official International Rep of RIZE

Attn: Cozy Mizoguchi

Cozy@ceu.co.jp