More on the Target/Pearl Jam commerical

I found an article from billboard that has an interview with Kelly Curtis, longtime manager for the band. Here it is:

From Billboard.com

Exclusive: Pearl Jam Confirms Target Tie-Up

Pearl Jam was indeed recording a Target commercial under the direction of Cameron Crowe last week at Seattle's Showbox theater, Billboard can confirm. But there's more to the story than an exclusive retail relationship

While it has been known that Pearl Jam are no longer under contract after 18 years of recording for Sony-affiliated labels, there has been only speculation about who would release their next album and how. Kelly Curtis, who has managed Pearl Jam since day one, conducted a wide-ranging interview with Billboard on Sunday night, confirming that the band's next release - rumored to be called "Backspacer" and currently scheduled for an early fall release - would come without a U.S. label, but a consortium of partners, including Target as the "big box" retail partner.

"We'll have a lot of partners," said Curtis, who confirmed that deals were also finished or in the works with an online retailer, a mobile partner, a gaming company and with a network or possibly networks of indie retail stores. "Target ended up allowing us to have other partners. We'll be able to take care of all levels of the Pearl Jam fan...We wish we could tell the whole story right now, but all the deals aren't done. Target was cool enough to realize that little independent record stores are not their competition." Curtis was also quick to note that the album would be for sale via Pearl Jam's fan club, Ten Club.

News of the Target commercial taping first broke last week on antiquiet.com, which is also hosting a bootleg recording from the Target taping of a song that Curtis confirmed was called "The Fixer." While a first single hasn't been definitively chosen from the new album yet, the song is in the running. An official first single will likely be released in July.

Curtis said that the Target commercial was only one reason for the Showbox session; with singer Eddie Vedder on tour supporting his solo work for the next month, "we had a narrow window to get some footage," says Curtis. "We shot three or four songs that night." Curtis said that some of the footage may be used for a project that Cameron Crowe is working on in connection to the band's 20th anniversary.

Pearl Jam will play at least one new song tonight on the debut of "The Tonight Show" with Conan O'Brien. "That was booked months ago," said Curtis. "We didn't even know if the album was going to be finished when we booked it. It isn't like we're releasing a single after the show or anything." And while blogs are rampant with speculation that the band will play "The Fixer," Curtis said the band was still kicking around "two or three songs, all of them new" to perform.

Curtis also confirmed that the band would tour to support this latest album, and that internationally, the album would be released via Universal Music Group.

"I make decisions around the band's business that are consistent with their overall philosophy," said Curtis, "which is to sell music in a way that's accessible and affordable to their fans, on every distribution platform that their fans access music, and in a way that takes care of the little guys.

Everyone's making assumptions because Target is a big corporation," said Curtis. "Its important to remember we just got out of this 18 year relationship with Sony, and I'm pretty sure they are a bigger corporation than Target. We have the freedom to pick our partners and more control when we've ever had before. We're excited to choose who we're in business with."

Curtis says it was important to him and to the band to redefine the notion of an "exclusive" retail partnership. "I appreciate the efforts of bands like AC/DC and Radiohead," says the manager, alluding to two of the bands that have self-released albums recently. "But I wanted our plan to be multi-dimensional to address old and modern ways of fans accessing music. It will allow all of our fans to have the same access."

"This is an ongoing experiment," said Curtis. "Every time we do something it's new for us, and were not trying to tackle the whole world at once. All we've been searching for forever is independence and control over our own stuff. The way of releasing records is changing every day. This is the best way we could do it ourselves in America. Right or wrong, we'll figure that out and make it better the next time."

Pearl Jam make a commercial for Target? Not really. Let me explain

It seems that the world is coming to an end. Not only are icons dropping like flies, i.e. Farrah Faucett, Michael Jackson, but now the day that I thought I'd never see will be here soon. No, not my 40th birthday. Pearl Jam has made a commercial for a major corporation. I hear they have already filmed it, with Cameron Crowe directing. Well,if you have to make a commercial, it's always good to get a great director.

Now, I know what you're thinking right about now. "It's not like they are hawking hamburgers or cars. They're trying to sell an album." I know. I know. I guess I never wanted to see them go so mainstream.

But the more I think about it the more I can understand them having to do it. For the first time, they won't have a major label to help sell their new CD, "Backspacer". They have to do it themselves. This could be a very interesting thing to watch when you think about it. Not alot big names have done this to sell their latest album. The only other I can think of is Prince.

I think this helps both parties. The band gets their album in front on people that they may not otherwise have access to and the big box store gets exclusive rights to sell the CD. They like the money part (like I had to point that out to you).

I guess the jury will be out until September but I think Prince moved alot CD's when he sold his CD exclusivly and i think it hit number 1. What do ya think?

Backspacer Track Listing has been leaked

According to Pearl Jam Evolution fan site and a German magazine "Visions" the track listing for the new Pearl Jam CD has been leaked. It's as follows:

BACKSPACER
1. See My Friend
2. Got Some
3. The Fixer
4. Johnny Guitar
5. Just Breathe
6. Amongst The Waves
7. Unthought Known
8. Supersonic
9. Speed Of Sound
10. Force Of Nature
11. The End

For a full description of each song head over to www.pearljamevolution.blogspot.com
The site is in portugees but you can convert to English by using an online transator like BabelFish. You can get the meaning of the translation even though not true English format.

New Pearl Jam songs on Rock Band

If you're a fan of Rock Band and PJ like myself, then you're gonna love that Pearl Jam has decided to release a whole game of 50+ Pearl Jam songs. But if you can't wait 'til 2010, you can download a bundle of three songs from the rock band website. The songs include “Brother,” a live version of “Alive” and a live version of “State of Love and Trust.” The live versions are taken fron the "Drop in the Park" CD. It’ll run you 2 bucks if you buy each song separately, or $5.50 if you pick up the bulk of ‘em.

Help Pearl jam make a video

Hey guys,

Ever wanted to see a video of "PORCH" buy Pearl Jam never made one? Well, here's your chance to do just that. Here's the article that explains:

from FuelTV.com

Tickets to ACL taping in October

Hey guys,

Just want to check in with everyone and let you know that I have emailed the powers that be at Austin City Limits TV show and asked for media creditials to the Oct 3rd taping. I will be in Austin for the concert on Sunday and would love to see the taping. Cross your fingers. Post any comments. Thanks

Pearl Jam New Album Release Date set for Sept 22nd

Hey guys,

Just wanted to update all of you and let you know that Pearl Jam will be releasing their new album "Backspacer" on Tuesday, Sept 22nd, 2009. If you haven't heard "Got some" from the tonight Show, you can head over to www.tenclub.net and hear it there. Counting the days to album drop and ACL Festival.

BTW, if you are going to ACL on Sunday to see Pearl Jam, email me at mario@giventocast.com so that we can meet in person. I still want to do a podcast from there but I may not be able to... more info. on that as the date gets nearer.

I hope to get next podcast up as soon as I can. Just started a new job so my free time has been cut bigtime.

Pearl Jam to tape Austin City Limits on Oct. 3rd

It seems my sources were correct when they told me that PJ would be taping an episode of Austin City Limits on the weekend that they would be in Texas for the ACL festival. austin360.com has confirmed that they will be taping on Sat., Oct. 3rd. I am going to try very best to snag a ticket to the show, but with a capacity of 320 seats, it's gonna be tough. I will be at the ACL festival on Oct. 4th to see the guys close out the 3 day event. Stay tuned for more details.

If you want to read the whole article click here.