It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 40 years since Bob Seger released his album, “Live Bullet.” The album was recorded at the legendary Cobo Arena in Detroit and went on to become one of the best-selling live albums of all time. What many people don’t know is that the success of “Live Bullet” can be attributed to Seger’s ingenious marketing strategy for the album. True fans would never! Let’s take a look at their brilliant marketing strategy to promote music back in the day.
Small Gigs
Bob Seger as big of a star he is remembered, had humble beginnings. He started out playing small gigs in the Detroit area, often opening for bands like Three Dog Night and Black Sabbath. Playing these smaller shows helped him to build a following and create a buzz about his music.
Radio Airplay
Seger’s record label knew that they needed to get airplay for Seger’s songs on FM radio stations if they wanted the album to be a success. So they hired a top Detroit promotion man named Rick Cramer to help get the songs played. Cramer was successful in getting many of Seger’s songs added to the playlists of local FM stations.
Live Album
Rather than releasing a studio album, Seger’s record label decided to release a live album instead. They believed that a live album would be more appealing to fans and would help to sell more copies of the album. And they were right – “Live Bullet” went on to become a best-seller.
Record Studio Deals
Bob Seger’s record label also inked deals with two of Detroit’s top recording studios – United Sound Systems and Motown Recording Studios. This helped to give Seger’s album a more polished sound. The brilliance of Bob Seger’s Ozark marketing strategy back in the 70s can’t be denied. By playing small gigs, getting radio airplay, releasing a live album, and making deals with top recording studios of the time.
Seger was able to achieve great success with “Live Bullet.” Thanks for the memories, Bob. If you liked this post, be sure to check out our other posts on music marketing. And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more great content like this. Please share this article with your friends and families to help remember the late great Bob Seger.