From Keysnews.com: Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett waves to fans Saturday at the Key West Bight en route to Sunset Key. Buffett was in Key West over the weekend producing the music of Ilo Ferreira, a young musician he met in Cape Verde off the western coast of Africa.

wish he'd devote some of that help to some of these indie trop rock artists

I know he uses many of them as back-up bands at some events. I wonder why there isn't more activity on this. Now that I am thinking of it . . . Here is yet another revenue stream Jimmy is missing.

He could be signing these acts to Mailboat and making them part of an all-day event . . . Imagine seeing some of these groups on a stage in the parking lots . . . Jimmy could capture some of the tailgating market . . .

oh that would be very cool. like the day before a show. get people in the area, hotels, restaraunts-- all could benefit.

the ticket prices . . .

the Landshark Beer . . .

All the Jimmy CD's . . .

and the fact that, for years anyways - perhaps not THIS year but for years . . . part or perhaps all of the reason people went to the shows was for the tailgate . . . I am not one of these people but I do know many people who don't necessarily like Jimmy's music but go for the party . . . sad but true; but I think that is why in most venues don't charge for the tailgate.

what a great song!

Great smile, too!
And that last name sounds familiar...

The sad thing is that many venues discourage tailgating. But yeah...it would be extremely cool to see Jimmy support the genre he started in this way. (Especially if I got to play! Hehehehe.....)

I wonder if we're related?

He doesn't even need to charge tickets but he can draw the tailgaters to this stage featuring Mailboat artists and lookey there right next to the stage is a tent featuring more T-shirts and CD's of these Mailboat artists.

Hell even just signing these artists and having them tour area with Jimmy . . . like Mac does his friday night shows before Alpine and Tinley . . . These artists can spring up around the area . . . .

By signing these artists to his reocrd label and then promoting them to varying degrees immediately creates a new revenue stream.

It doesn't need to be an all-day festival by any means . . . .

The reason he will not sign independent artists to Mailboat is it would not work. The label is not like Margaritaville Records, which was seeking out new artists.

Mailboat is for established artists that do not need radio airplay, promotions, etc. They do not really work like a traditional record label in trying to publicize or promote an artist.

James Taylor is someone who would do well on Mailboat. Independents would have a hard time with that label.

One quick glance at the picture and I thought the other guy partially in the pic was z-man!

The other factor, aside from Mail Boat's position, is are the worthy? If they were, it wouldn't take JB to be the only one to think about signing them. Maybe they are just 9 to 5ers having fun, who knows, I don't. But they aren't signed, don't know if they'll ever be signed, and besides, being signed these days doesn't mean a whole lot anyway.

And by all means don't assume that Mail Boat would have a plethora of CDs of their signed acts available when they can't release things on time as it is or things they say they are going to release.

True.

Wish he would be there when I head to Key West in March!!

I missed him by 2 days. I Left Thursday... Oh well!