Cliches and the art of the press release

Our discussion today on sports cliches took me back to my time as a music editor. Just like in sports, there are countless traps that musicians fall into when dealing with the media, and, like the coaches, musicians usually have PR people right over on their sideline.

There is all sorts of information out there about how to write a press release, including this site.
But really, it's a simple matter of journalism: Show me how your submission will interest me and tell me something I can't find on Google.  

Just like we went through the sports coverage, there is a little bit of cliched lingo you might encounter in music press releases and will want to watch out for. Use this glossary to see what they really mean.

•  Anthemic--rambling
• Beatlesesque--- sounds like every other band 
• Can't be labeled/pigeonholed--- publicist is lazy
• DIY (do it yourself) work ethic--band can't afford to pay someone else
• Ethereal/chanteuse--slightly over-the-top female signing
• Impassioned lyrics/ vocals--someone who cares about what they're saying, often to the detriment of what they're playing
• Hook-filled--there are multiple chord progressions
• Indie/Alternative--hated the idea of a major label (or couldn't get signed), so went to one of the equally elitist indie labels in Omaha, Portland, etc.
• Progressive--Too mediocre to be rock, but not avant garde enough for art rock
• Singer/songwriter---has no longer come to represent the actions of the person, but rather the entire genre of acoustic music they perform. Some of it is great, but you often have to hear it in a less than ideal setting, like a coffeeshop.
• Veteran-- musician who long since past his prime, now traveling the nostalgia circuit to pay off a lifetime of poor financial judgment.
• Wall of sound---lots of overproduced dissonance and noise  
• __________core--taking a nice idea and adding lots of screaming on top of it

If course, some bands (or journalists) take the deluge of releases with a comical tone. Here is a site that counts down  some of the funny ones in extreme music.

For more examples of over-the-top music language, read the band bios at  www.riylrecords.com or www.reybee.com and enjoy.

Ben Sellers
North Stafford High School
Stafford, Va.