David Bowie (March 17, 1979) Ruling the Airwaves & Waiving the Rules – New Musical Express

A full‑page feature from NME exploring U.S. radio promotion and music marketing, illustrated with a prominent image of David Bowie and references to his American broadcast special *An Evening with David Bowie*.

Writer: Roy Carr 

Artist: David Bowie 

Date: March 17, 1979

 Length: 1 page feature

The article titled “Ruling the Airwaves &  Waiving the Rules” examines how artists and  labels navigate the complex world of U.S. radio promotion. Roy Carr uses David Bowie’s  broadcast special as a case study in creative  marketing and cross‑media strategy.  The layout features a large photograph of  Bowie in a fedora hat from the *An Evening with David Bowie* promotional poster, alongside  smaller images of Elvis Costello and other  artists. A secondary column by Nick Ralphs  catalogues pirate record spin‑offs, adding  context to the era’s music distribution issues.  The page captures the intersection of radio,  promotion, and artist branding in the late 1970s.

PUBLICATION

Publication: New Musical Express (NME)

Date: March 17, 1979

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Page 19 – Feature Article

Title: Ruling the Airwaves & Waiving the Rules

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Analysis of U.S. radio promotion and  artist marketing strategies

Era: Late 1970s music industry and broadcast promotion

Tone: Informative and analytical

Photography: David Bowie portrait from  *An Evening with David Bowie* poster plus supporting images of Elvis Costello and  Angel Station album art

Audience: NME readers and music industry  professionals

"Roy Carr tells you how to play the U.S. radio promotion game."

THE STORY BEHIND IT

By 1979, David Bowie was transitioning from  his Berlin trilogy into a new phase of globa l visibility. His television special *An Evening  with David Bowie* was part of a broader  strategy to reconnect with American audiences after years of artistic experimentation.  Roy Carr’s feature uses Bowie’s example to  illustrate how artists could leverage radio and media to shape their public image.  The piece also reflects NME’s interest in the  business side of music promotion as the  industry became increasingly global.

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Event: Feature on radio promotion and  David Bowie’s broadcast special

Era: 1979

Tone: Professional and insightful

Photography: David Bowie portrait and related music imagery

Audience: Music press readers and industry  insiders

"And Nick Ralphs catalogues the pirate spin‑offs."

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This feature illustrates NME’s shift toward  industry analysis in the late 1970s, balancing  artist profiles with coverage of marketing and media trends. The inclusion of Bowie and Elvis Costello underscores the importance of British artists in the American market.  The layout combines editorial depth with visual appeal, using promotional artwork to anchor  the discussion of radio and record promotion

RELATED MATERIAL

• David Bowie – An Evening with David Bowie  (1979 Broadcast)

• Roy Carr – NME Features on Music Promotion 1978–1980

• Elvis Costello – Late 1970s Press Coverage in NME

Additional related entries can be found via the tag index at the foot of the page.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

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