Assertion Supported AI assessment confidence: 88% certainty 4/5 debate potential 1/5

Pavitt: Sub Pop took off in 1987 via dual record promo

Bruce Pavitt · Sub Pop Records: Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman · Jun 1, 2020 · at 26:06

Sub Pop co-founder Bruce Pavitt explains the early promotional strategy that established the Seattle music scene.

0:00 / 0:49exact quote · 49.8s
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“This decision was made in spring of 87, and when the Green River Record Release Party happened in June of 87, by that time we had the Soundgarden single pressed, so when we mailed out the Green River EP to radio stations and press and so forth. We included the Soundgarden single, which was kind of a teaser for their upcoming EP that had to have made an impact because we're, what we're essentially saying is, this is a scene. This is Seattle. And Green River and Soundgarden both got really good college airplay. So that was really when things took off, was kind of like In a way, June of 87, we did the record release party, and we mailed both of those records out.”

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