You can tell I never went to school in Scotland. Mind you, even in England the education system has changed so many times since I sat my GCSE's in 1997. In my case, I sat my mock exams in Year 10 then my actual exams in Year 11.

Aww, don't worry about the broad accent comment. It's the one thing that comedians always tend to mock the Scottish for. Blame Robin Williams for that (from one of his stand up comedy gigs where he's talking about Scottish people - I'm sure you'd find it funny rather than offensive).

Nicky clearly loved my track Forever On The Dancefloor and wanted a professional producer to basically do my own remix properly.

I wish!!!

With me also doing the other remix (One Night) I'm really intrigued as to what these dance tracks might sound like.

I'm liking the idea of this being a bit pick n' mix. It might not sound cohesive in that all the tracks are similar in sound/lyrical themes (like Ed Sheeran's album X for e.g.) but as long as the songs chosen to make the final cut are brilliant then I don't care if it's not considered cohesive in that respect.

NB; If anyone from Nicky's team are actually reading this, make sure the music videos are really cool and awesome. Not meaning to blow my own trumpet, but I really loved how my video to One Night turned out.

Also great that there is the possibility of a new single getting released before the album. That's exactly the right approach, and hopefully radio stations will play the song too. Hopefully Capital FM get on board (they're better than Radio 1's minimalist faux-hipster station as it seems to have become in recent years).

Since I needed some gift material for an event in Central Russia in the 2d week of July I ordered 10 more ITAOAA at amazon.co.uk for GBP 4.45 each.
This time I received them all with undamaged jewel cases.
They all still have the XF Finalist sticker, and they are individually packed in shrink foil (what they forgot in the very beginning).
The only thing I feel less happy about: the (facial) picture of Nicky on the cover is pencil enhanced and looks like stuff from before WWII.
I suppose it all had to be done in a hurry at the time.

Are you able to scan one of the covers so we can see what you mean?

I'm surprised they're now using pencil enhanced covers. I'd have thought every CD pressed would've had the exact same covers (as part of the inlay booklet) - no pencil enhancement extras.

I wonder how many copies ITAOAA has sold since its release last March.

cf. detail
https://twitter.com/spooling3/status/614906091453947908
It's still the same cover

clips:
Nicky McDonald - Dancing on my own - 27/06/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYfUb51Kjas
Nicky McDonald - Steal My Girl - 27/06/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDbgybDkPI
Nicky McDonald - Uptown funk - 27/06/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJThsrWuBk
Published on Jun 27, 2015 by Diane Andrew
part of a series recorded at the Braveheart event
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCny...259s8N-g9GQKPg

In the press:
X Factor winner Sam Bailey is looking forward to reunion with Nicholas McDonald at Sunday Mail race night
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/enterta...bailey-5960794

two more clips from the Braehaed gig:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp8iEE5YvVU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR18OH22fVs
Nicky McDonald at Braehead 27-6-15
Published on Jun 27, 2015 by 5SecondsofDougie

In the press:

X Factor's Nicholas McDonald shops for present for Sam Bailey's daughter before performing at Braehead
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/1...g_at_Braehead/

one more clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USv9ccPrLxY
Nicholas Mcdonald - Answerphone (Braehead)
Published on Jun 28, 2015 by JamieLeexMx

Is the RCA house of much added value for launching young new artists with new music?
These two had both marketing advantage as "XF celebrity".

With RCA

Luke Friend, "Hole in my Heart" (RCA)
peak position in UK charts: 40

Promotion:
Official clips by LukeFriendMusicVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hiGI7-Vzmo Feb 8
Luke Friend - Hole in My Heart 1,051,320 views (17,231 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svf_92wOzr0 Feb 16
Luke Friend - Hole In My Heart - Behind The Scenes (Part 1) 17,935 views (495 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEa0kmPwiR4 Feb 20
Luke Friend - Hole In My Heart(Behind The Scenes (Part 2) 20,453 views (444 +)

Not with RCA, or any other Sony cy

Stereo Kicks, "Love me so" (James Grant Music)
peak position in UK charts: 31

Promotion:
Official clips by StereoKicksVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qotVg5rGnWU April 20
Stereo Kicks - Love Me So (Lyric Video) 566,733 views (14,859 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvWo9pgsEcA May 6
Stereo Kicks - Love Me So 874,135 views (24,043 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnkokLPy9MY May 19
Stereo Kicks - Love Me So (Behind the Scenes) 78,415 views (3,074 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2nPEc-wXXk May 30
Stereo Kicks - Love Me So (Live Acoustic Rap Version) 349,003 views (12,372 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xjmxh8UcgY June 14
Stereo Kicks - Love Me So (Live Acoustic Version) 31,839 views (2,804 +)

Compare with Nicky's official clips (NicholasMMusicVEVO):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ko2QU6ZPiU Feb 3, 2014
Nicholas McDonald - Answerphone (Official Audio) 153,469 views (3,065 +)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKDa6GE--KI Feb 18, 2014
Nicholas McDonald - Answerphone 436,613 views (8,611 +)

Nicky has 349,205 followers on twitter.
This actually means that only a small part of the followers on twitter are sufficiently interested in spending 3 minutes on YouTube for getting an idea how the music sounds.
Add to that the clip with the light bulbs was a low budget creation.
Maybe time pressure played at the time.
As for the tour I hope they use other channels of promotion additionally than just only twitter.

I don't think I will ever understand why Stereo Kicks were put together. What exactly was the point of an 8 piece boyband when only one of the lads has a decent singing voice?

You also have to take into account that Love Me So had another 2 or 3 versions of the song released to iTunes in a desperate attempt at keeping the song inside the top 40.

My gut instinct is that SyCo were aiming for top 20, so the fact the song entered at #31 - even with the extra versions - is a catastrophic fail imo.

The combined sales for Love Me So are 15,755 - I suspect about 11-12k were just from the original so they would've sold similarly to Hole In My Heart.

As for Answerphone, it wasn't a great debut single and at the time might've put some fans off. I know I wasn't impressed when I first heard it. Even moreso, since getting the album I even deleted Answerphone from my iTunes library - I just have no desire to listen to that song. So that could very well explain why the figures on YouTube are so low despite having over 300k in Twitter followers. Then again, Nicky has 256k followers on Facebook and I still read comments by trolls who, I'm guessing, follow Nicky just to post crap. Sadly, it inflates the figures who are genuine followers and those who are just there to mock Nicky at any given opportunity. It's sad, but that's social media for you.

About the band:

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/what-...star-1-3812904

Local musician David Johnston landed a dream gig providing some guitar backing for X Factor star Nicholas McDonald.

The 22-year-old former Grangemouth High School pupil impressed Nicholas and his management team so much they also hired David’s fellow bandmates, Gregor Coleman (guitar), Harris Hiscoe (bass) and Graham Brown (drums), to play behind the talent show highflyer when he goes on his UK Tour next month....


Now also in the Daily Record:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/incomin...donald-5976173

I hope Nicky, David and the rest of the band remain really good mates. It could be cool if they went on to become Nicky's permanent band at all his gigs.

I still think RCA are missing a trick with Nicky's fans further afield - like Indonesia and Russia (although the fans on VK have been quiet these last 6 months ) where Nicky seems to be really popular. If they did a gig out there and advertised the concert on Indonesian/Russian radio and TV I really do think it would sell out.

All in all, it's a very interesting 12 months that lie ahead. Tour, single, album and then who knows what 2016 is going to bring. That's not even including private gigs that won't be advertised on Facebook and Twitter.

There is a demand for Nicky in certain countries and RCA should start tapping into this.

I think a couple of fans here or there don't make the world (unfortunately).

For ITAOAA, RCA clearly counted on the XF public (UK & Ireland).
Since the album contains mostly covers, they may not have bought recording rights for distribution in other countries.
I'm sure that if Answerphone topped nr 1 in the UK, they would have lauched it in other countries too. But I'm sure they knew before it would not do and they didn't invest very much in promoting it. I think they retweeted a message coming from Nicky at the time.

Important is that some very good singles get released (worldwide). Singles get radio airplay, albums not.

What do you pay elsewhere for the ITAOAA CD?
For the uk: I recently paid £4.45 at amazon.co.uk (10 pcs with order confirmation date June 23)

Prices this morning:

amazon.co.uk
In The Arms Of An Angel 2014
by Nicholas McDonald
Audio CD £5.00
--> It's going up again!!!!

amazon.com
In the Arms of an Angel 2014 | Import
by MCDONALD,NICHOLAS
Audio CD $27.50
--> £ 17.55

amazon.ca
In the Arms of An Angel 2014
by Nicholas Mcdonald
CDN$ 38.18 Audio CD
--> £ 19.46

amazon.de
In the Arms of An Angel 2014
von Mcdonald,Nicholas
Audio CD EUR 9,61
--> £ 6.81

amazon.fr
In the Arms of An Angel 2014
de Nicholas Mcdonald
CD EUR 9,61
--> £ 6.81

Line-up Jersey:
Last year they had Tom Jones on Saturday
and Rough Copy, Nicky, Conor Maynard and Lawson on Sunday.

Here's what they have this year:

Big Gig's Legend in the Park - Saturday 4th July

Last year’s Legend in the Park event saw the formidable Sir Tom Jones wow the audience at Howard Davis Park and this year, the Legend in the Park event is set to really shine; gold! Spandau Ballet recently almost scored the number 2 grossing film in the country for 2014, with the critically lauded ‘Soulboys Of The Western World’. Now following up with their live return, a twelve-date arena tour for March 2015… Spandau Ballet is a band in demand…
Returning to touring for the first time since their 2009 Reformation tour which saw the band finally reunited, after some two decades, they are once again the hottest band in the UK and Jersey will be welcoming them on Saturday 4th July to perform in the beautiful, unique setting of Howard Davis Park. Back in 2009, Spandau Ballet tickets for London’s O2 Arena sold out in just 20 minutes! The six year gap since then, has meant that the eagerly anticipated return of the UKs pioneering New Romantics band means added dates and sell out shows across Britain starting this Spring.

Sure's Big Gig in the Park 2015 - Sunday 5th July

Sure’s Big Gig in the Park is the second event of The Big Gig weekend in Jersey this summer. A family focussed, community spirited event that brings world class acts to the island of Jersey for a weekend of music and outright fun! Set within the beautiful grounds of St Helier’s Howard Davis Park, Sunday 5th July sees a pop fuelled extravaganza bring the park to life for a night of top class entertainment and music.
With headline acts, THE VAMPS taking to the stage following recent sell out shows in the UK, Asia and Australia, Sure’s Big Gig in the Park is set to be BIG indeed. Undoubtedly, one of the most sought after boy bands on the planet, The Vamps have soared to success since 2012. Having supported the likes of Taylor Swift on her Red Tour, The Wanted and McFly, The Vamps are a huge live act and as such, tickets for Sure’s Big Gig in the Park will be in high demand!
As if one boy band wasn’t enough, Sure’s Big Gig in the Park will also see the hugely popular UNION J take to the stage!

EDIT: added
The event is not sold-out yet.
I got a mail from "365 Tickets" this afternoon with a final offer.
Jersey is not that big, and last year most people I saw around me were from St Helier.

UPDATE: as far as I can deduce from miscellaneous tweets, Nicky's tour support is about this:

Tour music team:
https://twitter.com/DavidJ_music - David Johnston - guitar
https://twitter.com/GregorColeman - Gregor - singer (+guitar)
https://twitter.com/HarrisHiscoe - Harris Hiscoe - bass guitar
https://twitter.com/GrahamBdrums - Graham - drums

Supporting acts:
Mon 07-13 Manchester+++ Austin
Tue 07-14 Dublin +++ Fresh Ré
Thu 07-16 Southampton
Fri 07-17 Brighton
Sun 07-19 London +++ Austin
Mon 07-20 Birmingham +++ Austin
Tue 07-21 Liverpool +++ Joe Woolford +++ Austin
Fri 07-24 Belfast +++ Michael Sutthakorn +++ Austin
*** 07-25 Bluefest Writhlington, Bath ***
Mon 07-27 Newcastle +++ Michael Sutthakorn +++ Calum Scott +++ Austin
Tue 07-28 Aberdeen +++ Emily Middlemas +++ Austin
Wed 07-29 Glasgow +++ Emily Middlemas +++ Austin

https://twitter.com/michaelsutthako
https://twitter.com/emilymiddlemas_
https://twitter.com/calumscottmusic
https://twitter.com/OfficialFreshRe
https://twitter.com/austinnband
with list: https://twitter.com/austinnband/stat...784960/photo/1

Just published but referring to an old event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VBH1iPnASA
Nicholas McDonald - Midnight Memories (mac music Dublin 1.11.14)
Published today by Samantha Patterson
see other clips from this event at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNy...-FoJh85tR57SFw

and from the very same Samantha Patterson
Published on Jul 4, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFwA2di3ObM
Nicholas McDonald - Answerphone (mac music Dublin 1.11.14)

Nicky was a guest on Xposé, a showbiz TV show broadcast in Ireland. Below is a LQ clip of Nicky talking about the new judging panel on X Factor.

https://twitter.com/1DMeg5SOS/status/619564906459828224

LOL at his comment about Nick Grimshaw. Finding out that Nick Grimshaw will be overlooking your category would seem like winning the booby prize!!!

(he might turn out to be alright on X Factor but I'm not convinced)

All the support acts for Nicky's tour are here -

https://twitter.com/NickyUpdatesUK/s...302592/photo/1

I hate to think how much work must have gone in to organising the tour, but what a great line up with loads of up and coming youngsters. Good luck to them all, I hope it goes brilliantly

Nicky at the Jenners For Genes event that took place in Edinburgh. Nicky does a speech from 0:34 in the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwYv0pxSv3A

...and on another note, Nicky chillaxing with fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1skl3m_xG4

Wet, raining and miserable. Welcome to Manchester Nicky for his gig at The Academy. The weather really is atrocious tonight up here.

A first clip from the tour

https://twitter.com/Claudiafitzxx/st...070848/video/1

Lovely clear sound too

Today at 2 pm:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJ4fXxFUYAAklwQ.jpg:large

A few more turned up for the doors ...

https://twitter.com/nickymcdonald1/s...99963514937345

Was that a new song in the clip I posted earlier? it didn't ring any bells with me, but that doesn't mean much haha. It shows a lot of promise, hope we get a full clip soon