The Cure
AN OPEN WORD TO MARK BEAUMONT
MORE FREE MUSIC
I CANT BELIEVE HOW HARD IT IS FOR SOME PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND MY POSITION IN THIS DEBATE ABOUT 'FREE' RECORDED MUSIC...
OF COURSE I APPRECIATE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL VALUE AND ARTISTIC VALUE
BUT THAT DOESNT CHANGE MY ARGUMENT
AS IT ISNT THE POINT
(AND FOR FUCKS SAKE...
THIS DEBATE ISNT ABOUT ME/THE CURE!
IMAGINE IF YOU CAN SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT...
I AM NOT DEFENDING 'OLD BUSINESS MODELS'
I HAVE ARGUED AGAINST 'BIG MUSIC BUSINESS' AND THEIR MODELS FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN MAKING MUSIC...
BUT PRE BROADBAND WEB (AND IT IS SOMETIMES EASY TO FORGET THAT IT IS STILL PRE BROADBAND WEB IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD!), PLACING MYSELF/THE CURE WITH AN INDEPENDENT LABEL DISTRIBUTED THROUGH A MAJOR LABEL HAS BEEN, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE A COMPROMISE OF DEGREE, THE BEST POSITION FOR US TO BE IN - ONE I HAVE GENERALLY BEEN ABLE TO USE TO MY/OUR ADVANTAGE - AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF 'PRECEDENCE' - ONE THAT HAS VERY OFTEN BENEFITTED ARTISTS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED ON BEHIND US...
OF COURSE MY/OUR INDIE/MAJOR POSITION CAN ALWAYS EVOLVE AND CHANGE...
BUT ONCE AGAIN
THIS DOESNT CHANGE MY ARGUMENT EITHER
AS IT STILL ISNT THE POINT... )
WHAT I AM ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS THIS:
WHATEVER 'BRIGHT NEW WORLD' I AM EXPECTED TO ENJOY
ONE IN WHICH SONGWRITERS/MUSICIANS ARE OBLIGED TO MAKE THEIR MUSIC AVAILABLE FOR FREE
IS ONE THAT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR
AND THAT WELL ESTABLISHED AND SUCCESSFUL (IE WELL OFF!) ARTISTS
WHO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD TO DO IT
ARE HELPING TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF EXPECTATION:
THE EXPECTATION THAT ALL MUSIC SHOULD BE 'FREE'
IT IS A DISMAL POSITION
AND I WILL (ONCE AGAIN?) TRY TO EXPLAIN WHY...
ASSUMING THIS
(http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=285)
"The results of the 2008 ASHE show that median weekly pay for full-time employees in the UK grew by 4.6 per cent in the year to April 2008 to reach £479"
TO BE STILL REASONABLY ACCURATE IN THE UK...
THEN IMAGINE YOU ARE A HUGELY PROLIFIC AND HUGELY TALENTED SONG WRITER - WRITING 25 SONGS IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR (TWO A MONTH AND ONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY?), SONGS YOU FEEL ARE 'GOOD' ENOUGH FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO HEAR... (AND REALLY - WHERE IS THIS PERSON?!!)
IN ORDER TO EARN £25,000 P/A (ROUGHLY THE MEDIAN UK PAY - A PRETTY REASONABLE AMBITION I THINK?), YOU WOULD NEED TO...
AND HERE THE PERMUTATIONS ARE VIRTUALLY ENDLESS:
FROM PRICING A SONG AT £1,000 AND HOPING TO SELL ONE OF EACH...
TO PRICING A SONG AT 1 PENNY AND HOPING TO SELL 2,500,000?!!
...BOTH PRETTY UNREALISTIC?!!
SO MAYBE YOU START BY PRICING A SONG AT £1, AND SEE IF YOUR (POTENTIAL) AUDIENCE AGREES WITH YOUR VALUATION...
IF THEY DO, THEN YOU HAVE TO SET ABOUT GETTING 25,000 OF THEM IN PLACE
IF THEY DON'T, THEN...
WELL
AS I SAID
THE PERMUTATIONS ARE VIRTUALLY ENDLESS
AND THIS IS NEITHER THE TIME NOR PLACE FOR REAL NUMBER CRUNCHING SPECIFICS...
BUT PRICING A SONG AT NOTHING?
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
OH I GET IT...
SONGWRITING/MUSICIANSHIP CANT PAY FOR ITSELF
THATS THE 'OLD BUSINESS MODEL'!
NO NO NO...
SONGWRITING/MUSICIANSHIP HAS TO BE SUBSIDIZED BY OTHER MEANS...
LIKE MERCHANDISING
(SHAME I LOOK AWFUL)
OR LIVE REVENUE
(SHAME I CANT PERFORM)
OR PATRONAGE...
PATRONAGE?
SHIT!
I HAD BETTER SIGN A DEAL WITH A MORE POWERFUL 'SOMEONE'...
WHO CAN USE MY SONGS TO MAKE MONEY IN SOME OTHER WAY
LIKE ADVERTISING OTHER PEOPLES PRODUCTS?
BUT WHY MUST I BELIEVE EARNING (INEVITABLY PERCENTAGE/SMALLER) AMOUNTS BY ALLOWING MY SONGS TO BE USED TO ADVERTISE OTHER PEOPLES PRODUCTS AN ACCEPTABLE ('NEW/MODERN'?) ALTERNATIVE TO EARNING FROM THE DIRECT SALE OF MY SONGS BASED SOLELY ON THEIR ARTISTIC MERIT?
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS - IT IS AN IDIOT CONCEIT!
OR AM I ONCE AGAIN TO BE TOLD I AM CLINGING TO AN 'OLD BUSINESS MODEL'?
(AND THAT ENOUGH COOL NEW ARTISTS HAVE ADVERTISED ENOUGH SHIT FOR IT TO BE OK NOW...
WHO IS REALLY FOOLING WHO HERE DO YOU THINK?!!)
SO...
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I KNOW MY SONGS ARE 'GOOD'
AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY FOR THEM IF ONLY IT WAS CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE
(LIKE IN 'THE BAD OLD DAYS' WHEN RECORDED MUSIC HAD ACTUAL VALUE?!!)
IT SEEMS I HAD BETTER FIND A 'REAL' JOB
OTHERWISE I WONT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE...
SERIOUSLY
HOW CAN THERE BE ANY OTHER CONCLUSION TO THE MISERABLE ARGUMENT THAT RECORDED MUSIC SHOULD BE 'FREE' FOR ALL?
JUST BECAUSE ITS NEW
DOESNT MEAN ITS BETTER
ONWARDS...
RSX
MA KHIN KHIN LEH RELEASED
MA KHIN KHIN LEH RELEASED
('OLD' NEWS THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE EVER WIDENING NET... )
FROM 'the person who organized all the Amnesty International tables during The Cure 4Tour'...
"Some really GREAT news to share with all!
Ma Khin Khin Leh was released from Insein Prison in Myanmar (Burma) 22 February 2009 - she was in prison nearly 10 years!
This is the case we had on the Amnesty International info/action petition table during The Cure 4Tour.
Thankyou for all the opportunities you provided for this happy outcome!"
(BELOW IS THE PETITION... AND THANKYOU FROM US TO ALL WHO SIGNED IT... )
Freedom for Ma Khin Khin Leh
Senior General Than Shwe
Chairman, State Peace and Development Council
c/o Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
2300 S Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Senior General Than Shwe:
We respectfully urge you to take swift action to free prisoner of conscience Ma Khin Khin Leh, who has been imprisoned solely due to her peaceful political activities. Ma Khin Khin Leh and her husband were among a group of people planning a demonstration to take place in the town of Bago on July 19, 1999. Days before the demonstration was to occur, security agents arrested Ma Khin Khin Leh and her three year-old daughter. Although her daughter was released after five days in detention, Ma Khin Khin Leh was transferred to Insein Prison in Yangon, where she is believed to be held today. Following an unfair trial, a court sentenced her in December 1999 to life imprisonment under vaguely-worded security legislation. Ma Khin Khin Leh reportedly suffers from a lung problem, rheumatoid arthritis and dysentery. Amnesty International is concerned for her safety and well-being.
We are alarmed that broad security laws are used in Myanmar to prosecute people for peaceful political and religious activities. As you know, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that all people have the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association.
We respectfully urge you to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Ma Khin Khin Leh and all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. Thank you.
FREE MUSIC FOR ALL
i posted this on the forum yesterday - please see http://www.thecure.com/forum/default.aspx?cid=621&tid=321181 for the initial responses... on reflection i thought i would go more public - widen the debate!
rs
(gulp... i found the caps lock off button? oh nooooo!)
SO
IT SEEMS A FEW PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS (YOU HAVE TOLOVE THEM!) OUT THERE DISAGREE WITH MY "EVERY ARTIST SHOULD VALUE THEIRART" MUSING
AND THINK ITS OK FOR ART - MUSIC IN PARTICULAR - TO BEMADE AVAILABLE FREE FOR ALL...
NO I AM NOT CONFUSING 'ARTISTIC VALUE' WITH'COMMERCIAL VALUE'
MERELY QUESTIONING THE DUMB ACCEPTANCE OF THE 'FREEART IS THE 'NEW' PARADIGM - THATS JUST THE WAY IT IS' MANTRA
IN THE WAY OF OUR BRIGHT AND BRAVE NEW WIRED WORLD
THESE IDIOT CRITICS HAVE TRIED VERY HARD TO TURN MYGENERAL POINT - A POINT I MADE USING RADIOHEAD'S 'IN RAINBOWS: PAY WHAT YOUWANT' MARKETING RUSE AS IT IS THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN EXAMPLE - INTO A MOCK SHOCKHORROR "HOW DARE ANYONE QUESTION THE FAMOUSLY INDEPENDENT ANDANTI-CAPITALIST RADIOHEAD, THEY SELL MORE 'PRODUCT' THAN THE CURE SO THEIRSTRATEGY OBVIOUSLY 'WORKED' (HUH?!!)... AND ANYWAY, ROBERT SMITH IS WAY TOO OLDTO COMMENT ON CONTEMPORARY CULTURE" MOMENT...
MY POINT IS NEITHER PARTICULARLY NEW NOR ORIGINAL
NOR EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT RADIOHEADS 'IN RAINBOWS'
BUT IT IS I FEEL STILL COMPELLING
ANY FAMOUS ARTIST WITH A HUGE AND DEVOTED FAN BASE(OFTEN ARRIVED AT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM A WEALTHY AND POWERFUL 'PATRON' ORTWO?) CAN AFFORD TO DO WHAT HE, SHE OR IT WANTS...
INCLUDING GIVING THEIR ART AWAY AS SOME KIND OF 'LOSSLEADER' TO HELP 'BUILD THE BRAND'
ALL WELL AND GOOD (WELL... NOT REALLY! 'LOSS LEADER'?'BUILD THE BRAND'? AAGH! BUT THIS IS THE LINGUA FRANCA... )
HOWEVER
IF THIS 'ART FOR FREE' IDEA BECOMES THE CULTURAL NORM
THEN HOW DO ARTISTS EARN THEIR LIVING?
HEY
HANG ON
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT A WEALTHY AND POWERFUL 'PATRON'
LIKE... A BIG RECORD LABEL?
EXCELLENT!
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN UP AND AGREE TO ITS TERMSAND CONDITIONS
AND IT WILL MARKET YOU DECISIVELY
AND IF YOU PLAY IT RIGHT ITS EVEN WEALTHIER AND MOREPOWERFUL PARENT COMPANY WILL AIR YOUR WORDS AND PICTURES AND VIDEOS AND MUSICAND ADS ON ITS MANY AND VARIOUS WEB/TV/RADIO CHANNELS
AND CHARGE ADVERTISERS HUGE AMOUNTS TO ADVERTISE TOTHE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CONSUMING ALL YOUR FREE ART...
AND YOU THE ARTIST WILL OF COURSE GET A 'FAIR' REWARDFOR YOUR EFFORTS... ?
BAH
SOME 'NEW' PARADIGM!
SO
I STAND BY MY POINT:
AN ARTIST HAS TO VALUE THE ART THEY CREATE
OTHERWISE I DONT BELIEVE THEY CAN BELIEVE IT TO BE ART
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY AN ARTIST FOR HIS OR HEROR ITS ART
AS IT OBVIOUSLY HELPS ENABLE THAT ARTIST TO KEEPCREATING
AND QUITE HONESTLY
AS ANYONE THAT DISAGREES WITH THIS POINT
IS UNLIKELY TO BE AN ARTIST
I DONT REALLY CARE TOO MUCH WHAT THEY THINK... !!!
I JUST WROTE ALL THIS BECAUSE I GOT PARTICULARLY FEDUP TONIGHT WITH THE SQUEALING HIGH DRAMA OF THE 101 STORIES A DAY AND NONE OFTHEM PARTICULARLY TRUE BRIGHT AND BRAVE NEW WIRED WORLD MEDIA THAT WHINES ONAND ON WITHOUT RESPITE OR REFUTATION…
CRETINS!
OR MAYBE ITS JUST MY POST BIG GIG HANGOVER TALKING?!!
ONWARDS...
RSX
PS
I WONDER HOW MANY OF THE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS OUTTHERE WRITE THEIR SHIT FOR FREE?
HA!
The Cure To Perform at Pearl Concert Theater
On sale Saturday, February 28th at 1pm. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets or http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/915776.
To charge by phone call - (702) 474-4000
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TRINITY STREET... IT WORKED?
IT SEEMS ALL THE OUTCRY PAID OFF
AS THIS LETTER IS ABOUT TO GO OUT...
SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!
RSX
GREAT NEWS FOR CURE FANS AND NME BIG GIG TICKET HOLDERS
Original Purchases are now Valid.
Dear xxxx,
We are extremely pleased to be able to inform you that we arenow in the process of making a settlement agreement with Trinity Street, theproviders of your pre-sale tickets, that will allow your original purchaseof Big Gig tickets featuring The Cure to remain valid. These tickets will be despatched to you on Monday,by registered post. Please note that they will need to be signed for upondelivery.
If you have already re-purchased tickets via the link andpassword we supplied to you, we will automatically have these tickets cancelledand your repurchase monies refunded to you in full, including all transactionfees. If you purchased replacement tickets via any other source, or direct tothe Ticketmaster site, please contact us at enquiries@aeglive.co.uk with yourpurchase details and we will arrange to have these refunded.
If you requested complimentary tickets this order will nowbe cancelled as your original tickets are on their way to you.
Please do not continue with any claims from your paymentcard provider, there is no need to request a refund as your original ticketsare on their way to you.*
We would like to take this opportunity to offer oursincerest apologies for the inconvenience that you may have experienced. Theunexpected demise of Trinity Street so close to the concert and the resultantfinancial issues led us to initiate a repurchase and refund process. However NMEand AEG Live have been working non-stop to find a resolution and we are pleasedto be able to end the week with this great news.
So please do look forward to receiving your tickets and ofcourse we hope that you enjoy The Big Gig itself.
See you on Thursday!
NME & AEG Live
BIG GIG TICKETS AND TRINITY STREET
TRINITY STREET ('TOTAL MUSIC MARKETING') HAS GONE BUST...
THIS HAS AFFECTED THE CURE ONLINE STORE
AND ALSO, MORE PRESSINGLY, A LARGE NUMBER OF PRESOLD TICKETS TO THE NME BIG GIG HAPPENING NEXT THURSDAY
I WAS SENT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT YESTERDAY NIGHT
Due to circumstances beyondour control, Trinity Street, a company responsible for a limited pre-sell ofNME Big Gig tickets, has ceased trading without any warning. This affects around500 people who made a Big Gig purchase via Trinity Street.
Unfortunately, TrinityStreet did not despatch these tickets nor account for any of the ticket moneyfrom these sales to AEG Live, who are the promoter of the Big Gig. TrinityStreet is now in the hands of an administrator.
Big Gig is just one of anumber of high profile events affected by Trinity Street’s circumstances. Sincewe became aware of the situation, we at NME have worked with AEG Live tocommunicate directly with those affected. We have done our very best to supportthem by either offering complimentary seated tickets or the opportunity topurchase new standing tickets. And we have provided them with the informationnecessary to make a claim for a refund from either their credit card company orTrinity Street’s administrators.
If you bought Big Gig ticketsfrom another official ticketing agency then we would like to stress that youare not affected by this news. For anyone who has already received tickets,these are completely valid. If you have recently ordered tickets from any officialagency other than Trinity Street then these will be with you shortly and againare completely valid.
Finally, we apologise to allthose people affected for these circumstances, which are unfortunately beyond thecontrol of both NME and AEG Live.
I HAVE BEEN PRESSING ALL PARTIES TO BE SYMPATHETIC, PROACTIVE AND TIMELY IN EFFECTING A BETTER SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAN "BUY WHAT SEATS ARE REMAINING AND HOPE YOU GET A REFUND ON YOUR ORIGINAL PURCHASE", BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS PROVING "VERY DIFFICULT" TO TRACK DOWN THE DETAILS OF THE APPROXIMATELY 500 TICKETS THAT ARE AFFECTED IN THE "FROZEN" TRINITY STREET DATABASE...
I WILL KEEP ON IT AND LET YOU NOW HOW I GET ON...
RS
GET TICKETS TO THE SHOCKWAVES NME AWARDS 2009 CEREMONY AND SEE THE CURE PICK UP THE GODLIKE GENIUS AWARD PLUS PLAY LIVE ON THE NIGHT
There are a limited number of £10 tickets for the ceremony on sale from 11am (UK time) on Wed 11th February especially for Cure fans from this link here.
If you miss out, don't worry - we have an exclusive, guaranteed pair of tickets up for grabs as well for 1 lucky winner to take a friend. Click here to enter now.
PICTURES OF YOU - FREE CURE COVERS CD TO BE GIVEN AWAY WITH NME
