there's enough here for a book, unauthorized of course

ya got spend money to make money

If past releases are anything to go by, I don't think it will be extensively advertised. I think the success of the album will rest on airplay (Radio 2 is always Ferry-friendly but they're not renowned for instrumentals) and any tour. I can't see a clamour by TV to give it exposure given our man is unlikely to play a major part, although I could see it going down wonderfully were the orchestra to get a customary slot on 'Later'.

A big unknown in my mind is that the label for this release is 'BMG Rights Management'. Is this in some way affiliated to the recent sale of Virgin/EMI or is it a new record deal for BF (either for this alone or for multi[le albums)? If the latter, who knows what marketing the label might have in mind?

That surely is aimed at the record company, not BF? I can't see that BF's motivation to make new music is profit. If it were, this probably wouldn't be the best way of going about it!

BF and the Record Company certainly don't want to lose money on TJA and they will keep a close eye on the bottom line when contemplating expenditures to promote the album. And BF would certainly like to "make" money from the album, so the question becomes: How exactly does BF make money?

BF is now in the business of cultivating "The Bryan Ferry Brand" where businesses and well-heeled businesspersons pay a lot of money for him to perform at Corporate Gigs and Fashion Shows and to promote related products and lifestyles. To keep the BF Brand fresh and current it is in BF's interest to keep marketing new recordings, even if they are not particularly popular. TJA is a great way to promote the concept of BF as a suave hipster who conjoins the glamor of a fabled bygone era with a modern sound and sensibility. TJA doesn't need to sell a ton of records to be a success in terms of promoting the BF Brand. But if it does prove to be a relatively big seller than that will simply be icing on the cake for him.

Maybe the "Bryan Ferry Orchestra" will play some live concerts to promote the album - a booking on Jools Holland's Later would be a Big Plus in terms of promotion. But I think that the BF Orchestra could find a significant audience in playing the "Private Party" circuit where the Euro-Elite pay Big Bucks for a chance to rub elbows with Iconic Pop Stars. Think of it, BF can work the crowd and schmooze the schmooze with glittering guests while "his" orchestra helps create an illusion of Great Gatsby Era sophistication. The BFO could also be a great wedding band (especially for up-scale couples embarking on "second" marriages). I don't think the BFO will play a lot of public gigs, but it could flourish as a High-End Society Band.

Radio 2 weren't overly friendly where olympia was concerned, Jools Holland may have finished his current run by time TJA comes out and another outlet for him, Jonathan Ross, has just finished on ITV. Don't know if Graham Norton holds Ferry in the same regard as Ross did as regards having him on his show. The only possible outlet is if he get's a live slot on Jo Whiley's Thursday night show on radio 2.

The BFO could also be a great wedding band (especially for up-scale couples embarking on "second" marriages).

I appreciate that it wasn't your intention to insult any of the participants, DCJ, but some of the musicians are very in demand for their versatility and ability to play in different jazz styles (e.g. trumpeter Enrico Tommaso, Alan Barnes on saxes/clarinet), so I don't think they'd want to be viewed as a wedding band, however upmarket!

As for BF, I'm sure he only did Kate's wedding reception because she's a friend and it would probably need to be royalty before he agreed to be a wedding "turn"!

Hipsters,
I think the great Mr.Smudge has it nailed.
TJA is clearly a labour of love for Geordie's favourite son and I'm sure he will not measure success solely by commercial achievements and I think it will be a very long time before this particular Orchestra will play anybody's wedding. Albeit Mrs. Windswept would probably serve me the papers tomorrow if she thought she could remarry with him there!
Personally, I hope for a ASTGB2 tour with Ferry mixing things up.
It was his best ever touring band.
regards,
Windswept

Smudge and Windswept:
I respectfully disagree with your comments above . The economics of the music business today have evolved dramatically in the past few years and no shame at all is placed on top flight musicians who are very well paid to play private parties - including weddings.

Is Elton John a HUGE world class star? Yes he is. Does Elton John make his services available for wedding parties. Yes he does. And he is paid very well for his services.

The BFO won't make itself available on the cheap. But if properly compensated I can't believe that they will not be available for private parties. Are these the kind of parties that I will be invited to? Most assuredly not. But don't think that don't exist. In fact, such parties lie at the heart of how BF pays the bills and sustains his lifestyle.

Do we know how much of a "Bryan Ferry" album this actually is? We know that he is not singing on it but what is he actually doing on it? Keyboards possibly, but presumably Colin Good will play piano. It is named as his orchestra but how little BF involvement is actually required for it to be termed a Ferry album? So far it gives the impression of being some members of the admittedly-excellent 1999 touring band but with a front-man gone AWOL.

Cher DCJ,
I know the great one is available for private gigs - I've even been lucky enough to attend one - that said, those gigs are a million miles away from TBFO rocking up to play Edna's wedding.
I know that it is not all about wonga when it comes to Ferry, he loves music and frankly I think his financial affairs are his own business.
As for Sir Elton, if he'd restricted himself to playing every Edna's wedding after GYBR, that would have been a great thing.
Regards Windswept and long live TBFO!