Cracking America

[Z]

Why are so many British artists concerned with this idea of becoming popular in America? Obviously, increased sales and exposure for the attention seekers, but why put such efforts into becoming popular in one country when artists score hits all around the world without putting in any effort? Is it worth the effort it takes to break into the mainstream of America? What benefits does it actually bring to artists?

[cub]

The Beatles started it.

[Smithy]

Cracking America means there's the potential for massive sales, Sales = Money

tbh I think it's just that simple

[Shaun]

Yeah I doubt anyone has the real incentive of wanting to make a connection with some Louisianan fans. They probably just fancy a bit of sightseeing and something to do.

[GiRTh]

Cracking America effectively means the artist will sell records for life. Brits are too quick to grab onto the next big thing where as Americans tend to stay loyal to artists.

Also, the entertainment indusrty in this country is a fraction of the size of the entertainment industry out there. There more scope for any potental artist.

[Zippy]

sales in America are pretty pathetic these days anyways. You can actually sell almost as much in countries like the UK, Germany and France. Ridiculous considering America has 4-5 times the population.

but I guess it's still a big nut to crack.

[Tom.]

The bottom line is 60m in the UK vs 300m in the USA

[Z]

Sure, but then British stars are effortlessly successful across Europe (population of way over half a billion) but seem to focus on the USA, which always struck me as odd 'cause it's just one country and seems really limiting as far as career moves go.

To give an example; Joss Stone's spent the last god knows how many years trying to make it big over there to the extent that while her music still filters through to the UK today, nobody talks about her anymore (some of her stuff's being used in adverts on TV at the moment, the James Bond game gig etc) - why go to that length?

[Tom.]

Sure, but then British stars are effortlessly successful across Europe (population of way over half a billion) but seem to focus on the USA, which always struck me as odd 'cause it's just one country and seems really limiting as far as career moves go.

To give an example; Joss Stone's spent the last god knows how many years trying to make it big over there to the extent that while her music still filters through to the UK today, nobody talks about her anymore (some of her stuff's being used in adverts on TV at the moment, the James Bond game gig etc) - why go to that length?

The US is the biggest entertainment market in the world, so naturally theres more money in it, and if you can make it in America than you can make it anywhere in the world. Europe isn't a hard market to break

[Zippy]

The bottom line is 60m in the UK vs 300m in the USA

but that doesn't translate to record sales. TT sell over 2mill in the UK per album. These days thats a HUGE number even in America.

Europe is a much bigger market.

but if you're talking about lucrative commercial deals then, yes, America is big business.

[Tom.]

but that doesn't translate to record sales. TT sell over 2mill in the UK per album. These days thats a HUGE number even in America.

Europe is a much bigger market.

but if you're talking about lucrative commercial deals then, yes, America is big business.

If you can crack America you'll get respect everywhere for it, whereas you ca crack Europe and still be a laughing stock. Its more of an ego thing for some too

[GiRTh]

If you can crack America you'll get respect everywhere for it, whereas you ca crack Europe and still be a laughing stock. Its more of an ego thing for some tooIndeed. :thumbs:

Average artists like the Taylor Swifts and Miley Cyrus' of this world acquire huge world wide sales mainly due to their status in America.

And the scope for other ventures is much greater. Joss Stone has branched out into acting both film and TV. She'd have never had those opportunities in this country.

[Zippy]

Average artists like the Taylor Swifts and Miley Cyrus' of this world acquire huge world wide sales mainly due to their status in America.


I don't think either of those are huge outside America. In the UK their albums struggle, same elsewhere in europe.

but they do get huge exposure because America is the central media focus of the world. It kinda owns the global main stage.