On Sun, Jun 27, 2010 at 6:00 PM, Melissa P <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've known about the record companies being responsible for at least some of > the expenses. That's always been the case, hasn't it? But Tom W.'s post > made it seem like the shows let the record companies decide who will get > booked, as if that part of booking the shows has been turned over to them. > That's what I was asking about.
I can't claim exact knowledge as I haven't yet talked to anybody who books music acts for the late night shows. I'm going to assume they follow the model from the story of Alec Baldwin and SNL because that makes sense in for these shows. First, a late night talk show has to book over 150 music acts a year. How many bands a year would a host go out of his way to book and how many shows are left needing music acts? And if the host knows a band he likes has a new record out and is touring to support it, why would the host want to be on bad terms with the record company? I don't know to what extent the record companies decide who gets booked. I think that within the time pressure of getting 5 new shows a week done, the staff of a show is less concerned with the quality of a band than just knowing that 5 bands are booked for 5 shows. Like with comedy bits, the host/producers/staff know that if a music act bombs it's no big deal - there will be a new show with a new musical act tomorrow. Music acts (especially new ones) want national TV exposure, record companies want to see their acts on national TV, and talk show bookers need to book lots of acts, and if a record company is willing to pay the costs for the logistics of getting the band to the theater/studio, so much the better. And for God knows what reason, every band, no matter how bad, has a following and if the talk show staff can get people pumped up for a show (because of the music act) and getting all their friends to watch, that's free marketing for the talk show. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
