A point I would like to make about marketing is the cultural and political divide between USA and UK. What has to be taken into perspective is the POND. Nowadays with the speed of light bands can be a huge simultaneous success in every part of the world. Back in the sixties and seventies it was different. There were big differences in what was cool what was not and more importantly what was available. Sometimes musical styles did not travel well or would take a few years to travel at all. We in the UK had slightly different tastes cultures and of course record labels. Certain bands of that era who were monster bands in the states hardly got a mention in the UK and vice versa. Sometimes record companies would not send bands to Britain and I know for a fact that a few top British bands did not jump over the pond. This discrepancy in tastes can firmly be put down to marketing strategy. Some bands pleaded to be sent to America but management refused. Jimi Hendrix did not do much in USA and had to be brought to Britain before he made it. We then exported him back. The sad fact is that a lot of mediocre talent made it whilst fantastic bands with original ideas played pubs and clubs. The reason was simple. The decision to sign or not was down to a middle aged out of touch group of people who were god.
Not much has changed. If these gods are on your side you will make it if not you are doomed regardless of how good bad or indifferent you are.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055