[Dixielandjazz] Re: Rock Band Giving Away Music

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Thanks Bill:

I had not yet had time to do the follow up to Nancy's post to run down 
the OTHER side of the story rather than the obvious Spin story from the 
Powers that used to be Big BROTHER  Record label and Protection 
association who lost out big time by being one upped by the band.  With 
as you said a simple but brilliant idea,  some of these kids are not so 
dumb after all.

The last time I saw a marketing maneuver that smart by a Major record 
label was when the cleverly invented the Columbia Record Club,  
followed by BMG Record Club,  whereby they devised the old buy any 12 
albums for $.01  when you join and agree to buy only 6 more at regular 
club prices over the next year.    They sucked in all the rural folks 
who were too far away to drive into a city to find a major record store 
to by their records.  Did the lose money on those 12 albums,  of course 
not, because they charged a shipping and handling fee, and doubled it 
for rush service.   They also had clauses in all their "STANDARD" 
recording contracts with all artists that excluded the artists from 
receiving any royalties for any promotional copies or copies sold at 
less than their normal wholesale price.  :))   For years those of us 
who were involved with those labels tried desperately and at great 
expenses to get explanations for this situation from the Major labels 
during discussion panels at industry conventions, where the Standard 
answer was always " You will have to speak to Columbia Record Club on 
those matters as Columbia & RCA  Records has nothing to do with that 
operation.   etc. etc,.   And the Beat goes on and on and on and on 
till everybody just gives up and goes away.

They sold far more records through those record clubs than they do in 
retail stores and never give any artists an accounting of the 
operations either.   Licensed themselves to Steal once again.    And we 
wonder why we continue to see legendary performers and recording artist 
that we know sold million of recordings die broke?   While a few in the 
know insiders have been socking away millions of dollars for decades.   
  If you think the copyright laws are confusing, you should try auditing 
a major record label for a royalty check clarification.   ROTFLOL.     
You can send your best Accountant there but if he does not know where 
and how to look he will come home telling you that your statement is 
correct according to accepted rules of accounting just like he was 
taught to believe in accounting school.   Anybody wanna buy some stock 
in ENRON ?

TAKES MORE THAN CHEESE TO CATCH THOSE BIG RATS!!

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
To: Robert S. Ringwald <robert at ringwald.com>; dixieland jazz mail list 
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 17:22:32 +1100
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re:  Rock Band Giving Away Music

    > If I were trying to sell CDs, I certainly would not give them 
away.<

Dear Bob,
I followed Nancy's Arctic Monkeys' story via Google.
It seems that the 'giveaways' were only demo discs of one or two songs 
made
independently of the official CD release.
Given away at their packed jobs as a taste of would be heard on the
'official' CD and forthcoming concerts. The customers and audience were 
then
out there - eagerly waiting.
The kids were encouraged to pass the music on over the net.
A simple and brilliant idea.
The same idea as trailers for upcoming films.
Or CD label samplers.
Kind regards,
Bill.




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