I just read that EMI are putting out Air Traffic's 'Fractured Life' album in the States through Astralwerks.

It didn't make the anticipated impact over here, but do you think that the American record buying populus will dig the 'Traffic?

Interesting question.

There are two options to look at to meet the market criteria out there after the songs ,I think.

Firstly, "AT" are very much the voice and look of a large group of people there age, but notably from a European point of view.
I don`t believe in any way they are typical of current UK bands, but are very typical of European young pop bands, which has been proved by the pretty decent sales accross Europe but not fantastically in the very typically cynical UK.
Therefore, I reckon this would be nicely played on in the USA, with the product as is.

Failing that, a remix of the whole lot may well be required or it may sound a little un-radio friendly out there right now.
Much as I like being true to roots in an act, I think this is the option I would go for, and really make the Euro-pop sound much more obvious, even emphasising pronounciation of certain lyrics to cause slightly OTT quaintness which us lot might have chringed at on a release here.

Just thoughts, but either way, it really is essential to hit the USA with AT and it`s quite well timed.

the LA set are going to love them and many of the album's tracks will surely feature in films and TV Mini Series ( perhaps with a remix ) this exposure leads to around 500K downloads for something like a song in SCRUBS finale ( G Tom Mac - who just played a UK Tour )

In Europe the band are flying.

I actually think EMI have intentionally undersold the band in the UK. This has meant very little heat on the band from the media at such an early stage in their career. The tracks from the album have been used extensively on Sky TV and in adverts - more so than the supposed big hitters like the Arctics etc.

I still believe they are the most talented pop/indie writers of this generation and will eventually sell many more records Worldwide than any of the other bands around at the moment.

The internet supposedly saw 80K illegal downloads of their album BEFORE it was released - hence the position of 42 in the UK. This actually shows that fans were not prepared to wait and that their fanbase is being driven by the internet.

If their next UK album has better security and is released immediately accross both formats then it is a shoe in for the Top 10 and once the main record buying public in the UK can hear the band regularly on the Radio 1 A list the singles will go top 10 as well.

The most exciting signing that EMI have on their books in my view because they have genuine talent and are not just a "marketing man's" dream.

Actually a good bit of "new model"(?) , thinking was done by EMI here that nobody seems to have picked on.

ALL the "singles" are on the album.

Agreed Mart.

This is a major label attempt at the new model and the team behind Air Traffic are very talented yet experienced.

Be interesting to see it develop.

Notably, the EMI people whom I have met have been very young.(if I can`t be ageist against myself etc..)

Anyway, to quote back to somebody from another label "not bad for a band from a boring town is it?"

I'm sorry BR but the "The internet supposedly saw 80K illegal downloads of their album BEFORE it was released - hence the position of 42 in the UK" reeks of something now commonly trotted out by a record company employee to excuse disappointing sales.

There is no way EMI have a clue as to the number of illegally downloaded copies given the variety of p2p networks, and links to the album on file upload/dowload sotes popping up on blogs on a daily basis.

ALL albums get downloaded illegally. This changes the overall amount sold across the chart and has little effect on positions in the charts. Despite this talk of the "new model", the core fanbase who have dowloaded illegally still rush out to buy the album legally to support the artist in question, particularly one like Air Traffic starting out on their career.

The band have had support from Zane Lowe and Steve Lamacq on Radio 1, but what they need to break into the daytime schedule is to come out with a killer single. That still remains the best way of breaking a band.

Sorry to be a wet blanket but I hear no Air Traffic hits.

I don`t really here hits in the classic format either, but I do hear an enjoyable band.


The crux question to ask oneself is this.

Would you, yourself have put the money up for it?

Despite liking them, I wouldn`t have done so.

The album has been nominated for best new album of 2007 by XFM.

They have been nominated as best new band by TMF in belgium.

I dont think they are a band which necessarily have the "hits" thing going on. Bowie never had number 1s nor did Zep. Even Slade took from 67 - 71 before they decided to write a few hits on the kitchen table.

Some bands write what I call instand pop hits others write songs which gradually creep into our lives and consciousness.

With the singles chart only being sold via the net and without the General public really knowing much about it anymore now that TOTP has gone the idea of a hit single in the traditional sense of the word is basically left to one chart a year - THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE chart - which is the only chart that anyone seems to bother with now. Even Leona's new single and album seem not to have touched the general public that much and they have been big sellers for recent times.

Times are changing and I think that in another 10 years time the New Model will be with us.....and I for one have not got a clue what it will evolve into.

I listen to the album at times when I would have previously played a Joe Jackson LP, pop, but not selling zillions.