My email account is pretty pummeled by music PR, which given that the PR involves lots of opportunities to listen to music for free isn’t really something that I expect much consolation for. Anyhow, the following is, for the record, the current version of the email I reply with, on occasion, the fifth or sixth time I get sent an unsolicited email with a faux-personal introduction, telling me how much they love my blog, and extolling the virtues of this pop-punk band, or that neu-soulful r&b diva, or some country singer with a moving personal story to share:
Hi. It’s really not up my professional alley. I pretty much focus my writing on “technologically mediated sound”— ambient music, sound art, sound design, sound in the media landscape, experimental classical, hip-hop production, that sorta thing. And I write very little about what would traditionally be considered a “song.” Thanks. Best, Marc
It’s amazing how many PR agencies use Constant Contact and MailChimp and other services without the permission of recipients. When I have the time, I forward the offending emails to the abuse accounts of the given service.
It’s amazing what these people think is a good way to handle their business. It seems like they are so desperate to find any avenue to handle promotion that they are really not aware of how annoying they make themselves, and how much they are hurting their own reputation with potential advocates.
George