We live in a data world. Exactitude vs sampling and demos. One thing I've noticed about film studios and television networks is their lack of data. More succinctly, the lack of a direct relationship with their audiences.
They distribute their programming directly to cable companies or theathers. They sell tickets via sites like Fandango. DVDs, downloads and streaming are provided by the likes of Amazon, iTunes, Best Buy or Netflix. Consumer products sold by Toys R Us, Amazon and others. Everyone of these companies picking up lots of consumer data and email addresses that they do not share with the aforementioned industries (for the most part).
In most cases, studios and networks start from scratch each time they have new product that needs to reach their audiences.
From what I understand companies like Disney and News Corporation have initiatives afoot to pool data from all areas of their businesses. CRM systems are beginning to be implemented and used, but in general this is a massive hole that hurts their future.
I watch a lot of television. I see a lot of movies. I listen to a lot of music.
Access to that content in a place-shifted and time-shifted world has only increased the amount I spend with media.
I subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. I rent stuff off of iTunes. Use Amazon Instant Video's Prime Access. I use tons of "TV Everywhere" apps from HBOGO to Showtime Anytime. I rarely buy (though looks like I'll be buying Thom Yorke stuff for a while), but then again, I believe we will live in a future of access not ownership.
Most of these products deliver their content via streaming
Of course, streaming requires that you have a really fast mobile connection or wi-fi. And whether you believe it or not, we don't live in a completely wi-fi world yet. Data connections, while getting better, can be shotty depending on where you are: Try making a phone call or getting a data connection reliably on where I spend weekends, it will make you grind your molars. Oh, poor me, I know. #firstworldproblems.
That said, I love my tv, movies and music and want them when I want them.
My music service Spotify has a content sync functionality that deals with this issue. I choose the songs, playlists or albums I want synced offline, and when I'm taking my morning walk (where I think a lot and make mental lists of those that wronged me), the tracks don't cut out because of AT&T: "The nation’s fastest 4G LTE network. All backed by our 100% dedication to quality and service."
Simple. Easy. Totally useful.
I travel a lot. I am on a plane constantly. Gogo Inflight internet is great for e-mail, not awesome for web and non-existent for streaming media. It is getting better, but I have to download before I board to watch up in the air. Just one use case.
I want the ability to sync the movies or tv I want to watch within Netflix or Hulu (or any service) for mobile usage when I don't have good coverage or none at all. I would even pay extra if I had to. And don't give me content protection excuses. It's relatively simple.
When speaking to my friends at these services the answers are:
Not worth it, mobile connections and wi-fi will get better before we can get rights
Users have't asked for it
Just another set of rights we need to get and it can be cost-prohibitive
And content guys?
They can't stand rental
Want us to buy more
Haven't totally accepted the access economy as they speak of revenues past
Downloading is dying, "streaming won", and yet we are in a no man's land of not always being connected (at least for bandwidth hogging media).
"In a world" (say it in a movie trailer voice) where I have to watch live TV, use a DVR, multiple VOD services and my Slingbox to get all the video I want: if I could have just one functionality it would be offline syncing of selected video content.
So, Netlfix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, Showtime and others, whaddya say?
"It's good to be in something from the ground floor. I came too late for that and I know. But lately, I'm getting the feeling that I came in at the end. The best is over." - Tony Soprano
If you read my newsletter, you know I love the current golden age of television. That all started with what I think is the greatest show ever, The Sopranos. A story that used the mafia to reflect on aspects of american life.
Actor James Gandolfini was the star of that show. A guy I saw well over 100 times in my neighborhood, TriBeCa, over the years. He lived there. Sadly he passed away yesterday.
I'm on my 6th time around watching the series in full. The creator, David Chase, is a clearly a genius. The acting and stories are phenomenal. But Gandolfini was beyond words. He could convey in a look, or a movement, in pure physicality what words can never get across. From rage to guilt to love to sympathy in one scene. Many say he was playing a version of himself or just a stereotype. No. That was pure talent and emotion. On par with the greatest artists, musicians and other exceptionals we so rarely see. Every nuance of that role was something special. Again, the show was about the mob, yes. But it also wasn't. It was about life, family, marriage, appetites, greed, guilt, happiness, good, evil, compromise, addiction and every human emotion that's part of all our experiences. I recommend that you watch it again at different periods of your life because you take different things away each time.
Even with all it had going for it - the actors, the scripts, and more - James Gandolfini took it to another level. He was a genius. Very sad to hear of his passing and my condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. We lost a truly unique and great one yesterday. - JH
If I could watch television 24 hours a day, I'd give it serious thought. TV is on a creative streak that I've never seen in my lifetime. Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, Homeland, Suits, Sons of Anarchy, Revenge, Eastbound & Down and on and on. There's a surplus of the deep & heavy to the fun & entertaining (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives is a national treasure). Channels that years ago were licensing also-rans like AMC, USA, FX and others are now putting out huge amounts of awesomeness.
I just happened to come across two early contenders for this season. Both from same network, ABC. For all the talk about cable channels (and many deserve the praise all the way up and down the guide), the network that brought us LOST has two promising new series debuting this fall and winter. LAST RESORT and RED WIDOW. A friend at ABC (who knows I'm a TV fiend) graciously hooked me up with the pilots, both of which I just finished.
500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receives their orders. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, they're told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan.
Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. Now, with nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island. Here they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home.
Loved it. Andre Braugher is a rock star in the first episode. Hoping for big things from this one. A little war, conspiracy, cover-up and more.
When Marta Walraven's (Radha Mitchell) husband is brutally murdered, her first instinct is to protect her three young children. Her husband's business partners - Irwin Petrova (Wil Traval), Marta's scheming and untrustworthy brother, and Mike Tomlin (Lee Tergesen) -- were involved in an illegal drug business deal with rival gangsters, and Marta's husband paid the ultimate price. She already knows the violent world of organized crime; her father, Andrei Petrova (Rade Sherbedzija), and loyal bodyguard Luther (Luke Goss) are gangsters too. She and her sister Kat (Jaime Ray Newman) had always wished for a safer life without bloodshed and fear. For a while Marta lived happily as a stay at home housewife in San Marta's cooperation, FBI Agent James Ramos (Mido Hamada) now promises justice.
Marta discovers a tenacity she never knew she had, and takes on the gangsters and the FBI to unveil the truth about her husband's death. As she digs into this dark underworld, she'll test her own strength, relying on her resourcefulness, determination and family ties like never before. To get out of this mob, she needs to beat the bad guys at their own deadly game.
Based on the Dutch series Penoza...
I'll watch anything about the mob at least once. "Mob" and "Mafia" are my saved Tivo keyword searches. Dug it, great set-up. Radha Mitchell is going to turn into a shrewd bad-ass, I can feel it.
Now, I can never tell why a show makes it or not. Plenty of awesome shows don't make it past the first season. But these play to my tastes and I'm rooting for them.
Stack Revenge and Scandal with these two and ABC is the big net to watch.
Some deranged individual walked into a Colorado movie theater showing The Dark Knight Rises and murdered and wounded innocent people. Press reports have the death toll at 13 and over 70 injured. The tragedy is unspeakable and all of us are grief stricken for the victims and their loved ones. We're also scratching our heads at another event that defies all that's right in the world.
After the shock, what happens in these events is sadly inevitable. Leaders step up and politicize it. False reports of political associations. Discussions mount on whether Hollywood instigates this kind of violence. Who knew about this maniac and when? News reports that frighten us.
Though I do hope that this brings up yet another conversation on assault weapons. Do you really need an assault rifle to hunt with?
What happened to crazy?
Hear me now.
Sometimes crazy is just crazy. Evil is just evil.
As one of my favorite societal truthtellers Chris Rock once said:
"Everybody wants to know what the kids was listening to. What kind of music was they listening to? Or what kind of movies was they watching? Who gives a fuck what they was watching? Whatever happened to crazy?"
This guy wired his apartment to blow and it would have taken out his entire neighborhood. There is no explanation but crazy. Those people exist in the world. They are not the majority. They are few and there's no shot we're going to change the way we live because of crazies.
Here were hundreds of people staying up late to see the most anticipated movie of the summer. To have fun, to experience wonder. To see something they likely followed since childhood. A superhero re-made by the finest Hollywood has to offer. Christopher Nolan is pure and simple, a genius. One of the greatest filmmakers of our lifetime. Christian Bale, since he was a child prodigy, an amazing acting talent.
And now, some nut tried to stop all that.
Well, don't let him.
I ask of you, get up, rise, go see "The Dark Knight Rises" this weekend. I've been trying for two weeks to get tickets on Fandango and every show, every theater is sold out. Not a Batman fan? Not your thing? Then see any movie.
Me and Movies
2012 has not been my year. On a personal front, I've been figuratively "punched in the face" a few times with health issues plaguing me and loved ones. One bad thing happening after another. I wouldn't walk under any scaffolding with me right now. Sometimes you just hit a bad streak.
Going to the movies has always brought me great joy. I can have the worst day and yet when I walk into a theater and those lights go down and the picture starts, for few hours I drift off into another world. Completely displacing any bad thoughts and problems with fantasy, emotion, fun and laughter.
Movies have often healed me.
MySpace, Saving Private Ryan, Goodfellas and Avatar
A few years ago I was President and Chief Product Officer of MySpace. I joined at a time of complete turmoil. The business, product and audience were plummeting. Someone asked me what it was like during that period and I could only answer in movie terms. It was like the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan" mashed up with "Groundhog Day". Every single day.
Weeks into my job I got a call from Jim Gianopulos, Co-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, which like MySpace at the time, is owned by News Corp. He invited me over to the studio lot for lunch. For 90 minutes I raddled off questions about movies at an alarming rate and Jim rolled with it. Specifically, I couldn't shut up about Avatar. It was still 7 months away from being released but I had heard so much about it and wanted to know more.
Later that day I got a call from his office: "Jim has set up a screening of Avatar for you tomorrow, bring whomever you like."
Wow! With all that was going at MySpace I was thrilled. I took as many of the staff as I could and we made our way over to the studio.
I still remember what it was like. We walked down a dark stairway and hall into the basement of one of the buildngs which eventually led to a small, private screening room. The walk reminded me of the one in Goodfellas when Henry Hill takes his date, Karen, through the back entrance of the Copacabana.
As we piled into our seats Jon Landau, the producer of the movie, welcomes us and begins to run through 45 minutes of footage. I remember the first 3D scene of the fictional planet "Pandora". I just yelled out loud, "No F*cking Way". Jon showed us other scenes with raw special effects and tons of other cool stuff. For a fan, it was an unforgettable experience. And for those 45 minutes and much of the rest of the day. I forgot about the stresses.
On that day, a movie healed me.
My Eye Sight and Prometheus
Recently, I had a 3 month bout with double vision brought on by diabetes complications. I'm all right now. But for those 90 days I could barely see. That meant almost no movies or television, two of my greatest passions. But on June 8, 2012 I woke up and it was almost all gone. I could see again. What did I do? What was my first instinct? I called up one of my closest friends and movie-going buddies and went to the opening of Prometheus. I loved that movie. What it said. The questions it asked. The world it created. How it looked. Amazing.
On that day, a movie healed me.
Mom, Me and Ted
When I returned home late that night I got the worst news of my life. My mother called and told me she had lung cancer. I was in shock. From elation to sadness within minutes. Weeks later I'm with her in Los Angeles as she undergoes treatment. Anyone that has gone through this knows you have good days and bad days. Not just the patient, but the family. On one of those bad days I needed a break. I went down to Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade with two friends and saw Ted. For 106 minutes, I forgot the sadness. I laughed so hard I missed a ton of the lines and had to see it a second time. After that, I felt great for hours and begged my mom to see it, which she did and loved.
On that day, a movie healed me.
And my mother, with all she's going through, still pushes herself to see around two movies per week. Clearly, that's where I got it from.
Take Back Your Weekend
Warner Bros is in a tough position. They have pulled ads, press events and no public box office comments for the time being. It's a tough call for a studio that's grieving for the victims and in a no-win situation. Especially in this environment of finger pointing. But The Dark Night Rises is still in theaters as are many other wonderful films. Thousands of creative people worked to bring you this magic. Don't miss it or any movie you want to see.
A monster was on the prowl and tried to take happiness from us. That's not going to happen.
Movies deliver a sense of wonder. Go have some fun, forget about your problems. Honor those innocent souls that wanted nothing more but to fall into an entertaining fantasy world for a few hours.
If only for today, let the movies heal you.
You Have My Persmission To Republish Without Edit - @JasonHirschhorn
I spent a lot of 2011 traveling around the world and watching good TV. When I say TV I mean video created for television, watchable on any screen. It was a good year. Whether live, DVR, via Slingbox, HBO GO, Netflix or iTunes/iPad on a couch, plane or whatever I spent real time watching everything below. Here are all my likes and season pass choices in alphabetical order. Those notated with "*" were at such a level of excellence IMHO that my jaw often dropped wipe open. But all relatively pretty great for different reasons. We're in a golden age of television my friends, soak it in and watch. Thank you to the creators!
NOTE: I probably spend the equivalent of at least 1/3 of my yearly cable bill total on buying catch up show on iTunes.
Yesterday brought us the the news that Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, had resigned.
I've known Judy for a little over 11 years and admired her for many more. We met in 2000 when I sold my company Mischief New Media to MTV Networks. We've been friends ever since.
Yes, I was friends with my boss.
That sometimes made it more difficult to have debates and disagreements... and we had many as I was a big pain in the ass back then. I actually thought all those television channels were there to promote our websites and mobile products. But that was the culture that Tom Freston, Judy and the rest of the management team fostered.
What many don't realize about the history of success of MTV Networks is that culture is the key ingredient. It's a different kind of place. It's not something you see in a spreadsheet or budget. It's a respect and admiration for creativity. A non-elitist management style at all levels. It's a love for pop in the best sense of the word.
It's easy to devolve into gossip about other explanations for her departure, who will leave next or any kind of intrigue. But what gets lost in that nonsense is the kind of person Judy is and the mark she had on the company, pop culture and really anyone who crossed paths with her. So when I think of Judy I think lots of things:
She started as a copywriter 30 years ago when she moved from Scranton, PA.
30 years later she leaves a company that may be valued at $30 Billion dollars, MTV Networks is the large share of Viacom.
She is 30 for 30.
She knows almost every name that walks the halls.
She is the creative beacon for the company.
She is kind.
"Judy is a punk" (thanks to The Ramones)
She is Irish.
She loves Neil Young.
If a new band was in town, you were likely to see Judy right there on the general admission floor with the rest of us.
She is a great mother and wife.
Judy is a fan. Of movies, music, art, literature, you name it.
She sent me matzoh ball soup from the Carnegie Deli once when I was home with the flu
She hates to talk about herself, but is a great storyteller. Family, MTV folklore (The Axl Rose VMA stories were my favorite).
She is a loyal friend.
She championed women in the executive suite unlike any other CEO that I can remember.
Even when you left the company to pursue other opportunities, she always made you feel part of the MTVN family.
She cares and has time for everyone.
She was always a great left of center.
A CEO yes, but also a Chief Creative Officer and guardian of the brands.
She is a trend spotter, trend magnifier and champion of creative risk-taking.
"To be creative, you have to focus on the creative, and that's the way she always ran things for us," said Tony DiSanto, who until early this year was MTV's head of programming. "We were shielded from a lot of the business and were allowed to focus on the creative, which is what MTV is all about -- taking chances and shedding your skin and trying things out with every new generation."
"Judy always made the atmosphere at MTV rock 'n' roll," said Liz Gateley, an MTV programming executive until earlier this year when she left to form a company with Tony DiSanto. "She knew how to hang with the boys and the girls, music artists, and always got along with everyone. But she also was MTV's moral compass -- you knew if Judy saw a show and thought it was too racy that you'd stepped over a huge line. She cared deeply for the brand and its ability to touch youth in important ways."
"Judy is the last of the original team at MTV. Although she began as 'the writer' on the team, Judy has had more impact on MTV than any of us," said Bob Pittman, who recruited her to MTV and who now serves as chairman of media and entertainment platforms at Clear Channel. "From the beginning she created the language that set the attitude that was MTV. Over time, she did the same with the on-air look, the programs and the network overall. She brought those same values to the creation of the culture of the company and how it did business with the creative community, advertisers and partners. And she did it all with grace and great success. She was the keeper of the vision."
"Judy virtually wrote the book on how to brand a television network," said Mark Rosenthal, a former MTV executive who worked with McGrath for 22 years and who now runs the Current TV channel. "She reinvented those networks multiple times. She broke them when they weren't broken, so they could be reinvented in order to stay fresh and alive."
She truly is loved. So much so that last night, just hours after her resignation, hundreds of family, friends and staff (past & present) poured into Ink 48 in NYC to say thank you and celebrate her. The Roots rocked the joint. Bono, The Edge, Stephen Colbert and others stopped by to give her a hug.
WOW!
If you recall, when Tom Freston left the company thousands of employees lined the lobby out into the street to cheer and send him off in grand style. I can think of no better way for Viacom and it's employees to say thank you for a stellar 30 year career. What a classy move that would be. A torch passed with thanks is a wonderful thing.
Judy leaves the best group in place. Doug Herzog, president, of MTV Networks Entertainment Group, Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music & Logo Group and Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon & MTVN Kids & Family Group are all awesome and creative business leaders.
Viacom will go on, companies do that. They announced they won't replace her, but the plain and simple fact is Judy McGrath is not replaceable.
For now, I hope she goes on a trip with her family, takes a deep breath and digests what she has accomplished. I am excited to see what Judy does next. I can see her back running a company or doing pro-social work on a global scale.
Whatever it is... what a run. The sequel will be even better because Judy McGrath fucking rocks.
At 39 years old, I'm still a pop culture kid. I love media, entertainment and technology. I can't sit still when I discuss them. It's not only a hobby; it's been my job for 15 years. That love is rooted in my admiration for the creativity and art that propels all forms of the industry. Music, television, movies, video, games and apps: all of it and more. I tend to explain things or compare them in those terms.
My favorite movie is Goodfellas and one of my favorite lines is when Ray Liotta, as Henry Hill, says, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."
Well, "I always wanted to be a rock star!" I suspect that singing your song in front of thousands of fans that sing it back to you is the ultimate rush.
As fate would have it, I didn't follow through on that one (and a lot of other things, see: astronaut). But since an early age I've been a rabid music fan. As someone once said, "Without music, life is a journey through a desert".
On a daily basis I think I've heard the greatest song ever and yet without fail some other artist comes along with a tune to knock it off the pedestal. When I hear it for the first time I get those chills induced by its simplicity, complexity or perfection. A feeling you've heard it before (because it's so great) even though you hadn't.
This is the story of how I got the chills about 10 months ago and wanted everybody else to get them too.
I was president at MySpace at the time and we were planning the launch of our music product in the UK. The marketing team was working with a few bands on the branding campaign. They filmed some video segments about what songs moved them when they were coming up. One handpicked by the music team stood out: Florence + The Machine, an English artist that was new to me but established in the U.K.
The lead singer, Florence Welch, has a voice that few possess. A very human gift that seems supernatural. One of the songs that moved her was from her youth: En Vogue's "Don't Let Go". The minute I heard her voice, I got those chills. I played it about 50 times that day. Over and over like a mental patient. So many times in fact, I thought my co-president, Mike Jones (we shared an office), was going to strangle me. I was drowning out the sounds of his favorite artist at the time, Girl Talk.
A few weeks later I was sitting at home watching Sundance Channel and I dozed off. I was awoken by a voice that just so happened to be Florence + The Machine.
I was up until about 3 AM that night, replaying each song on my DVR, continually amazed by how eclectic the music was (there is actually a harp on almost every song) and how exciting she was to watch.
Florence + The Machine are not easily categorized. I hear Kate Bush and Mary J. Blige. I hear dance, house, rock, gospel, r&b amongst other influences and yet they are unique.
And Florence herself? By now, I've watched many interviews with her and she's so sweet and polite. But then when sings... WOW! Look out! Her voice seems to lift her off the floor. It's a powerful weapon, one that overtakes her during her performances. What many artists call "the zone". It's awesome to witness.
After watching her on the rough cuts from the MySpace campaign and then on television, I went to YouTube for every live performance and music video I could find and ultimately fired up iTunes to download her album. I tweeted links and shared videos on Facebook. Just another typical daisy-chained media experience of today's fan.
From that moment on, every conversation I had, business or otherwise, included "You have to hear this new (at least to me) artist I love."
The first person I mentioned this to was president of MySpace Music, Courtney Holt. Of course, he knew them (He should, he runs a friggin' music company). His team was an early supporter of the band. And as luck would have it he was on his way to see them perform at Coachella over the weekend. On Monday, he walked into my office and said something to the effect: "J, from the second stage tent, they stole the festival. Best performance of the weekend."
At this point, I'm rooting for them. They are my home team now. The mission is to help them break in America.
I've been known to obsess about ideas and the only cure is to fulfill a vision. It's like the character Kyle Reese says of The Terminator: "Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." Of course, "dead" in this case meant something more mischievous and positive.
Fast forward a few weeks later when Courtney and I were having dinner at BOA Steakhouse in Los Angeles with an old friend, Van Toffler. Van is President of MTV Networks Music Group. I've known him for about 10 years, from when I was Chief Digital Officer of MTV Networks and we've remained pals ever since. He is a smart, fun, loyal and down-to-earth guy. More importantly, he has a child like passion for music (and movies). Bring up Gov't Mule or Warren Haynes and kiss at least an hour goodbye while he froths at the mouth.
The two of them talked me into a shot of Patron, which I almost never do. Not that I have a problem expressing myself without a shot, but with one, it was on. I was going in for the kill and wasn't subtle about it. The conversation went something like this:
Me: "You know what I would do if I was president of MTV?" (Courtney starts to crack up knowing my "smooth tendencies".)
Van: "What that's Beavis?" (His nickname for me as he rolled his eyes having heard this from me at least twice a month for years.)
Me: "I would book a relatively unknown (in the U.S.) band to perform on the VMAs. One without a hit yet."
Van: "I assume you have a band in mind, genius?" (Sarcastically, of course)
Me: "Florence + The Machine"
He knew whom the band was and MTV was playing their video a bit. I spent the next few minutes like a preacher spewing the gospel. I swear I heard Courtney continually saying "go tell it" before he detailed his Coachella experience. Van then calmly sent himself an email about it via his Blackberry. That was it for the night.
But this was a mission and I wasn't about to leave it there. I'm not going to lie, for the next few months I tortured Van Toffler. I mean that in the best sense of the word "torture". I called. I emailed. I sent notes. I told other people to call, email and send notes. All in all, well over 50 times. I would end conversations that had nothing to do with it: "What's up with Florence, are we good?" Florence, Florence. Florence.
It reminded me of another of my favorite movies, Wall Street. I was Bud Fox trying to bag the elephant in Van's Gordon Gekko. I can't find the clip from the movie. Some damn DMCA notice probably forced it down... But Gekko says of Fox: "This is the kid, calls me 59 days in a row, wants to be a player. There ought to be a picture of you in the dictionary under persistence kid". For the record, Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas unfortunately do not resemble either of us.
In May, Van called with some promising news. "I'm going to London in July to see Florence play live. If we dig it, she's on the show." The ball was rolling. He invited me to join him along with MTV's head of music and talent, Amy Doyle, and producer Jesse Ignjatovic but I had plans I couldn't get out of easily. This moron (me) now clearly regrets that decision.
The show was set for July 15th in London, her hometown. The band had a sell-out headlining gig at the Somerset HouseSummer Series. A venue that is not only breathtaking but as the show's promoter, Raye Cosbert (who also happens to be Amy Winehouse's manager), told Van: "...is older than your country."
Van promised that he would email me throughout the show with updates:
Update 1: "At her show now, miss ya, u should be here"
Update 2: "A few new songs early. Noel Gallagher next to us."
Update 3: "Done. When she dances and sings her ass off, it's magical."
The next day I emailed him to say that the song "Dog Days are Over" would be a great one for her to perform on the VMAs. It just so happened it was now being featured in promos for the new USA Network show, Covert Affairs, as well as the movie Eat Pray Love.
He was already ahead of me: "Yes it is, we're booking her today to do that song thanks to you."
About a month ago, Van was in Los Angeles at Soho House meeting with the band's manager, Maired Nash, to discuss the show. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Courtney walking over. He introduces them. Courtney then stands there and stares at Van with a big grin. They both explain how their friend was a huge fan and obsessed with getting the band on the show and how it had all led up to this. He called me later that week and jokingly said: "Beavis, truth be told, had our buddy not been there, they wouldn't know who the hell you are or what you did." Of course, I know that's not true. One of Van's many great traits is that he's always been one to give credit where credit is due.
Does it matter that the manager or band knew what I did? I'll admit it, yes it does. I'm a fan no different than any other. It made me feel pretty great.
I want to be very clear that at the end of the day, Florence + The Machine were booked on the VMAs for no other reason beyond their talent and MTV's belief in them. The VMAs have a history of featuring bands that have not broken yet. For example, they did just that last year with the first U.S. television performance by Muse. Today, there are more ways to expose fans to new music than ever before, and even so, MTV is still a kingmaker.
I'm proud (and really excited) to have played a small part in helping to get an artist I was passionate about on a show that a lot of people watch.
Up until now, their debut album, Lungs, has sold about 115,000 copies in the U.S. Her video "Dog Days Are Over" was nominated for four awards, including video of the year.
She recently said: "For this song to be recognized at such an iconic event is a total dream... Dog Days symbolizes apocalyptic euphoria, chaotic freedom and running really, really fast with your eyes closed. I hope to somehow encapsulate those things in my performance."
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. That night, Florence + The Machine will crush it. They will undoubtedly leave the artists and fans attending, as well as those watching, with those chills. It's an important night for the band and they will break in America. When that is done: mission accomplished.
And that is what Goodfellas, music, chills, social media, DVR, tequila, torture, Wall Street, persistence, The Terminator, and the MTV Video Music Awards have to do with me and Florence + The Machine.