Topic: Record Distributors

1 chapters across the catalog

94: Helping Our People
• 47:08 - 54:58

94: Helping Our People

Barney Ales Pressure Tactics and Diana Ross Promotion

An archival recording features Barney Ales speaking directly to record distributors, applying heavy pressure to ensure Diana Ross's single "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" reached number one. Ales uses aggressive language, telling distributors their "careers and lives are at stake" if they fail to provide strong reports to trade papers like Billboard. The hosts analyze this as a masterclass in record promotion and the "calls from the field" system.