How Far In Advance Should Album Promotion Start?

I humbly beseech the CHM Assembly:  How Far In Advance Should Album Promotion Start?

See you at the poll!

I would say 3-4 months.  Many artists start WAY before that I and I just get tired of hearing about it.  Michael Sweet has been hawking the new project with George Lynch since August.  I think this type of hype is unneeded.  The fans want to know you are working on something, but it is okay to not really start the sales push until the whole project is done.  It takes a while to mix and master, have CDs made, get them shipped to retailers, etc.  Give a few little blurbs about your behind the scenes work.  Then, when the album is really on the way, talk it up big for a shorter amount of time.  That will keep the fans excited and ready to hear what you've got.

When an artist goes for months and even sometimes a year or more talking about the new project that is coming soon, I just get tired of it and probably don't give it as much attention as I should. 

I like the way Saint does things.  They announce they are writing again for a new record and then go silent for a while.  Then, they announce they are going into the studio.  Again, they go silent for the most part but do throw you a musical bone with a clip or video to tide you over.  Then, when they are almost done with the recording process, they start talking it up for a couple of weeks and activate the preorder link.  Once that starts, we have come to learn that the new album is 3 weeks to a month away.  We're excited for it.  A month of waiting isn't bad.  Having to wait for 5 months on a preorder like Sweet/Lynch is doing is way too much.  I might preorder that one sometime in the latter part of January.  Until then, I just really don't care as I am already tired of the hype.

I completely agree.  A really bad example of "too early hype" would be Worldview.  They have shared two songs but it seems like it has been in excess of a year that they have been promising and promoting their album.  At this point I really don't want to hear another word from them until they have an album to sell.

I would go so far as to say 5-6 months but updates should come every month for the first four and a half months, bi-weekly for three weeks and then weekly for the remainer.

Staybrite wrote:

I completely agree.  A really bad example of "too early hype" would be Worldview.  They have shared two songs but it seems like it has been in excess of a year that they have been promising and promoting their album.  At this point I really don't want to hear another word from them until they have an album to sell.

This was exactly the example I was thinking of. I first heard of Worldview in the summer of 2013. Now, I really don't want to hear more until there's a solid release date.

Thank you all for your input.  I appreciate it!

I voted 3-4 months. Less than that is okay too, but more than 4 months and I just don't care.

Example - I pledged $50 to Michael Knott for his new EP and a live DVD way back in September. Mike's a favorite so I was happy to support. They filmed the concert in early October then I get an update that I won't get my stuff until December 2015! Jeezaloo!

I also said 3 to 4 for the exact same reasons everyone has stated. 

I think the same should go for movies too... I don't mind knowing they're working on Star Wars 7, but I hate that they're advertising it for a year from now.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

... I don't mind knowing they're working on Star Wars 7, but I hate that they're advertising it for a year from now.

Agreed

3 to 4 it is.  That's what my wife said, too.

And I think if the music stinks they should apologize and give your money back. (looking at you Guardian)

Redeemed Fool wrote:

And I think if the music stinks they should apologize and give your money back. (looking at you Guardian)

Exactly!  Luckily, I did sell mine.

Surprisingly, the Amazon reviews are positive.

I like it.

Staybrite wrote:

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

... I don't mind knowing they're working on Star Wars 7, but I hate that they're advertising it for a year from now.

Agreed

Same with the Hunger Games. I love that they turned the trilogy into movies but it sucks that I have to wait until this time next year to see the last one...