DJGold

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

We are happy to announce the release of the newest addition to the PrimeCuts line--PrimeCuts Monthly. PrimeCuts has been delivering the hits on a weekly basis for more than 5 years to our clients who need all the hits quickly. PrimeCuts Monthly aims to service DJs who need a variety of music for their events but don't need the quantity of songs & speed that the regular PrimeCuts delivers.

By the 7th of every month, a new PrimeCuts Monthly CD will ship that features top hits from 5 music formats: Top 40/CHR, Urban, Rock, Country and Dance. Subscriptions to PrimeCuts Monthly are $150 a year and includes access to PrimeCuts+.

The service officially starts July '06 but anyone who subscribes by June 30, 2006 will receive a bonus June issue (see insert for track listing). The subscription form on our website has been updated with the new PrimeCuts monthly series.

djdonny · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

Looks good, but your June tracks should list CHR as 1-2, not 1-5.

I'll definitely consider subscribing. I already spend several hundred a year on PO subscriptions.

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

Donny:

They are listed as CHR because they are also charting CHR in addition to Urban:

- Ridin' - Currently #6 on the CHR chart
- Snap Ya Fingers: #42 on CHR chart (not on our chart below since we only go to Top 30 but you can see it on R&R)
- Ms. New Booty: #11 on CHR chart

You can see the chart here: http://www.tmcentury.com/primecuts-charts-chr.asp

Thanks for your interest. If you have any further questions please let me know.

CJ Greiner · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:32 am Post subject:

Wow Jim -- that looks great!

I'll be sticking with my weekly PrimeCuts... but I'm sure there are quite a few DJs who will appreciate the monthly service. It looks like you'll be covering everything that any DJ should need to stay current on a monthly basis. I took a look at your subscription sign-up page on your website, and the price (which includes S&H) looks great.

This should be a popular addition to the large variety of DJ Services already provided by TM Century.

djdonny · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:40 am Post subject:

Oops, my bad. At first I thought the Chr stood for Christian, not Contemporary Hit Radio. The Christian charts often use the abbreviation CHR also. You may want to call it Pop instead. (Yes I know tracks 1-2 aren't Christian artists, but I didn't look that far.)

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

Donny:

CHR = Contemporary Hit Radio. It's been a term that radio has used for years. Really nothing more than a fancy term for Top 40.

TheBartman47 · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:21 am Post subject:

I love it when kids come up to request a song and ask if I have it, and thanks to TM Century, BAM!! there it is, I get it queued up and ready to play. I too will stick with the weekly service, but I can definately see how this monthly service will benefit many DJs who just don't need quite so many songs.

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:06 am Post subject:

TheBartman47 wrote: ....this monthly service will benefit many DJs who just don't need quite so many songs.
That's if TMC picks the RIGHT songs to be on the monthly series.

That's a BIG 'if'...

jbrown157

Jim sent me a sample disc a couple of months ago. I liked it but I've been procrastinating signing up. This sounds perfect for me - Count me in. The check's in the mail!

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

DJ Teddy Bear wrote: TheBartman47 wrote: ....this monthly service will benefit many DJs who just don't need quite so many songs.
That's if TMC picks the RIGHT songs to be on the monthly series.

That's a BIG 'if'...

Let me give you some background on this series so you can see how there really very little 'if'....

The idea for PrimeCuts Monthly came up quite a while ago as a way to extend our reach into other markets that don't need/want weekly music. Those markets include pro sports teams, cruise ships, casinos, bowling centers, etc. Being a DJ myself, I suggested PrimeCuts Monthly would be well received by the DJ community too. My thought, and I think I was right based on the feedback we've received already, was that wedding only DJs or those who aren't marketing to crowds that demand the latest will like PrimeCuts Monthly.

Think about how many really new songs get requested to be played at weddings. There are some songs that for some reason get popular among all many age groups (I can remember playing 'Tipsy' a few years ago at a wedding at laughing at the packed dance floor-which included Grandma) but that usually doesn't happen overnight.

Our programmer could probably better define the programming but basically he will be looking at actual national radio airplay for CHR, Urban, Rock & Country and choosing the top couple songs from each format. He will also be looking at the Billboard Dance charts for that format.

PrimeCuts Monthly is not meant to replace PrimeCuts nor is it intended for DJs who need every hit as fast as possible. It is meant fill a niche that for a need that no one else is filling.

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

These almost are like getting a monthly recurrent series, the best of the best.

DJ Teddy Bear

jwg wrote: These almost are like getting a monthly recurrent series, the best of the best.
Jim-
If John's assesment is correct, doesn't that violate the label's expectations that the music be distributed for promotional pruposes BEFORE it becomes a hit?

jwg · Joined: September 15th, 2004 Posts: 1089 Location: Erie, PA

What I meant by that assessment Teddy Bear is this. The term recurrent is another radio term. It means the song was already a hit and is being released again. All of the songs that are listed on the track listing of the first PC Monthly disc were already released on prior Prime Cuts. I already have and have had every track that is listed on the new Prime Cuts Monthly.

It's like Jim said, the monthly series would be perfect for a DJ that maybe does only weddings, perhaps 15-20 a year, and doesn't need the hits as they are climbing the charts.

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

DJ Teddy Bear wrote: jwg wrote: These almost are like getting a monthly recurrent series, the best of the best.
Jim-
If John's assesment is correct, doesn't that violate the label's expectations that the music be distributed for promotional pruposes BEFORE it becomes a hit?

John:

You hit the nail on the head--that's a great way of putting it.

Teddy Bear:

I'm guessing songs will be put out at a similar time as Promo...are they in violation of label expectations too?

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

I don't want to start the debate about who has songs first. Both services put out the music before it becomes a hit nearly every time.

That gives DJs time to play it BEFORE it's a hit. THAT'S the expectation of the labels when they provide promotional music - that the DJ will play some of them before people have heard it on the radio or from other sources.

Therefore, neither PromoOnly, not your weekly series would be conflict with the label's expectations. But, your monthly series may be.

Your response to my first post made it sound like the contents of your monthly series will be based on chart data alone. There are a LOT of songs that become hits MONTHS after they are first released as promos, which means that in many cases it becomes a hit well after the song appears on BOTH service's regular issues.

Don't the labels expect that promotional materials be distributed during the promotional period? Doesn't the promotion period for music end when the song becomes a hit?

Now you make it sound like you're selecting music from the most recent few weeks of your weekly releases. Therefore, with the exception to the relatively rare 'instant hit', my first post was an accurate assesment.

Or am I missing something?

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

I'm not trying to debate who has the songs first....I was simply stating that our monthly series will release songs at a similar time to Promo. It's a fact our PrimeCuts weekly series releases most songs many weeks before Promo (as you can see on those now infamous charts, which we did change once everything was brought to light a while ago).

Our programmer is going to look at what's at the top of CHR, Urban, Rock & Country and the top couple songs from each format will be programmed onto PrimeCuts Monthly. So they are still going to be at the top of charts when our subscribers get them. What John meant by a recurrent is that the monthly will basically be a best of the best from PrimeCuts. PrimeCuts is based on Top 30 of the main formats whereas PrimeCuts Monthly will be more focused on Top 5-10 of each format.

foster · Joined: May 24th, 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Dallas, TX

DJ Teddy Bear wrote: I don't want to start the debate about who has songs first. Both services put out the music before it becomes a hit nearly every time.

That gives DJs time to play it BEFORE it's a hit. THAT'S the expectation of the labels when they provide promotional music - that the DJ will play some of them before people have heard it on the radio or from other sources.

Therefore, neither PromoOnly, not your weekly series would be conflict with the label's expectations. But, your monthly series may be.

Your response to my first post made it sound like the contents of your monthly series will be based on chart data alone. There are a LOT of songs that become hits MONTHS after they are first released as promos, which means that in many cases it becomes a hit well after the song appears on BOTH service's regular issues.

Don't the labels expect that promotional materials be distributed during the promotional period? Doesn't the promotion period for music end when the song becomes a hit?

Now you make it sound like you're selecting music from the most recent few weeks of your weekly releases. Therefore, with the exception to the relatively rare 'instant hit', my first post was an accurate assesment.

Or am I missing something?
Teddy,

Where do you get your info? Most of your post consists of WILD SPECULATION.

PC Monthly is an addition to our product line. It's not replacing anything. So it's actually extra promotion for music on top of everything else we're already doing.

Record labels have set the promotional shelf life of a song at 2 years (although lately that seems to be shrinking). They release singles to sell albums and they usually work an album for about 2 years.

PC Monthly is currently being programmed using MediaBase airplay data (CHR/Urban/Country/Rock/Alternative) and Billboard Club charts (Dance). A song is programmed after it breaks the top 10 in it's respective format. Now if I end up with more music I'll scale that back to top 8 or whatever. Likewise, if I don't have enough music, then I'll go deeper in the charts. Either way these are guaranteed hit songs.

I know you're a Promo Only subscriber and you're very happy. That's great. What I don't get is why you have such a chip on your shoulder when it comes to TM Century.

dave

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:14 am Post subject:

DJ Teddy Bear wrote: Therefore, neither PromoOnly, not your weekly series would be conflict with the label's expectations. But, your monthly series may be. FYI: I meant to say "...neither PromoOnly, NOR your weekly series..."

foster wrote: PC Monthly is an addition to our product line. It's not replacing anything. So it's actually extra promotion for music on top of everything else we're already doing. I never claimed it was replacing anything.

Quote: Record labels have set the promotional shelf life of a song at 2 years (although lately that seems to be shrinking). They release singles to sell albums and they usually work an album for about 2 years. That is completely contrary to everything I have heard about promotional music since the day I joined my first record pool back in 1985. But I'll accept your statement as fact since you work directly with the labels.

Quote: I know you're a Promo Only subscriber and you're very happy. That's great. What I don't get is why you have such a chip on your shoulder when it comes to TM Century. While it's true that I'm a big PromoOnly supporter, I really don't have anything against TMC.

It just seems to me that for this new monthly series, you will either pick a sub-set of recent releases hoping you pick the correct songs, meaning the DJ may not get the songs he needs, or wait for chart data to select songs for the monthly release, meaning the DJ gets the right songs but not as soon as they come out. And since you pointed out that it the latter assumption, I'll agree with Jim's assesment that this is GREAT for a DJ that ONLY does weddings and other adult functions.

But does that DJ really exist?

I was trying to point out that the typical DJ, one who at least occasionally does youth parties and would need the hits sooner, would be better served by EITHER your regular weekly service or by PromoOnly.

FYI: I freely admit that the DJ that does a lot of youth parties may well be better served by your weekly service.

---

On a side note, I find it quite interesting that this announcement comes so recently after the infamous release date chart hit debate that began on PromoOnly's boards.

I find it even more interesting that although that debate was eventually moved to another board, it was not on that second board, but here, that you made this announcement.

DJ Teddy Bear · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:18 am Post subject:

DJ Teddy Bear wrote: It just seems to me that for this new monthly series, you will either pick a sub-set of recent releases hoping you pick the correct songs, meaning the DJ may not get the songs he needs, or wait for chart data to select songs for the monthly release, meaning the DJ gets the right songs but not as soon as they come out. And since you pointed out that it the latter assumption.... On second thought, is that correct? The following quote supports my FIRST assumption: Jim Weisz wrote: Teddy Bear:

I'm guessing songs will be put out at a similar time as Promo...are they in violation of label expectations too?

Jim Weisz · Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Dallas, TX

I posted the announcement on just about every board I post. Not sure if CJ minds me naming but here you go...

DJGold.com
ProDJ.com
Prodjforums.com
WeDJ.com

In regards to the timing of us releasing this product so soon after the post on the Promo board...that post had nothing to do with this decison. Initial discussion for PrimeCuts Monthly started in February and we started working on the details in March.

PrimeCuts Monthly is based on songs that are charting very highly in it's respective format. Will subscribers to that series get every semi-popular song? No. They will only get the most popular songs. If they want to get everything (and quickly) they'll get our weekly service. I don't understand why you think it's like we're picking songs out of a hat for programming. Both PrimeCuts & PrimeCuts Monthly are based on actual radio airplay charts. PrimeCuts covers top 30 while PrimeCuts Monthly will be covering top 10 (or so). Do you use every song from all the Promo series you get? I doubt it...just like I'm sure our members don't use every song from PrimeCuts. Many don't mind because they want to have them just in case they need them. However some don't want every song because of the crowds they cater to. So a service like PrimeCuts Monthly is perfect for them because it offers a nice variety of songs in a timely manner.

Post a poll here or on any of the other DJ boards you visit--there are tons of DJs who only DJ weddings. We get countless calls from DJs unhappy with their current music service. Quite a few of them are wedding only so they don't want weekly service but they want something better than they currently have.