Throughout my years of touring and releasing records there was always one elusive figure in my employ; always working for me, but always invisible. I’m speaking of my publicist. I had several over the years and while they all got stuff done, I don’t think I ever had a personal discussion with any of them. They simply never dealt with the actual band themselves. This to me seems silly, backwards, and inefficient. I suppose I could’ve taken the initiative on my own, but then again what did I know? I was just a kid fooled by the simple prospect of even having a publicist. “I have people working for me,” I’d tell myself. “How cool is that?!”

Indeed try telling your relatives that your publicist was handling something for you, and watch their faces light up with curious admiration. Defer an interview request to your publicist for scheduling, and you’ll inevitably feel a wave of elation. While not immediately obvious, those feelings are simply a bloated sense of self importance. But again, what did I know? I was just a kid.

I often reflect on my career. What could I have done better? What wrong decisions could have been right decisions? I don’t ask out of any other reason than wanting to tell others how to avoid my mistakes. I still want to contribute to the conversation.

Based on my history of publicists shrouded in mystery, I’ve decided to tackle them as my first issue. I’m in the process of interviewing a slew of them and their bands to find out where the shortcomings lie, what begets success, and how music PR is adapting to social media as it continues to dominate the landscape.

So, if you are in a band or work for a publicist or a label, or even just feel that you have something to offer to the conversation, leave your contact in the replies or email me (alexburton5000 at gmail).  I plan to publish my findings in a detailed analysis both here on my blog and at the website I currently freelance for, decoymusic.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!