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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
 Posted - 10/19/2004 : 13:51:53
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The "other" thread has become a bit of a debacle so I didn't want to post this there, but how do you guys feel about the possibility of Frank signing to a major label? I'm afraid I'm not very well versed in the ways of the music industry, but I think if it happens it could be a very good thing, for us and for him. Here's my humble, thoroughly uninformed opinion:
Pros: All that well deserved publicity, a larger budget to play with, his work being more accessible to a mainstream audience (I've had to hunt around for new releases in the past), he can finally get that private island he's been wanting.
Cons: I know there are at least 2 albums ready (or almost ready) to be released. Would what happened with DW/BLD be possible on a major? Frank has had so much musical freedom in the past, which is what makes him so amazing, and I'd hate to see him have to compromise.
As you can see, I have no idea what I'm talking about and I'm interested to hear what everyone else thinks. Let's try to keep it fun and peppy, kids.
-Dayna |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2004 : 14:10:01
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Frank would never sign a deal that would limit the freedom he has worked so hard to attain. If something is signed with a major, I'd rest rather comfortably knowing that it will probably be distribution only.
 "Join the Cult of Frank 2.0 / And you'll be enlightened (free for 1.x members)" |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2004 : 18:42:43
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i think that signing in a major isn't a priority for the man. if it was he would have never made an album like "cult of ray". maybe it would be a good thing since i would find his records in whatever record shop instead of having to mailorder them and it would be sure a good thing for his pocket. said that i still cannot believe that a major could boost record sales more than a little unless they started a radiohead-type of promo campaign, the type of campign that force feeds you an album. unfortunately seems that 90% of the people want the pixies from him. at least this is my personal experience. i've put more than a few people into the pixies but only my gf into fb solo stuff.
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
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the tolerant
= Cult of Ray =
298 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2004 : 19:01:45
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If he decided to go to a major (this is all hypothetical by the way), I know it will be because Frank made the decision, and for whatever reason it may be, he would believe its the best for both him and his music. The man is in control of his own destiny. All he has to do is keep them songs coming. He's been playing this game for a long time, been there, done it. bought the t-shirt then reunited one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. no doubts!
The mans back catalogue and influence on music is much greater and powerful than anyone who dares to try and control his creativity. I believe anyone in the business who knows or has heard of Charles Thompson knows he demands respect. I trust whatever he does 100% and look forward to the future as passionately as I hold onto the feeling his music gave me in the past.
as he once sang......"Maybe you've got faith in where this is going, Maybe I’ll pull up the stakes..."
this is just the next chapter.
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Edited by - the tolerant on 10/19/2004 19:06:30 |
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =
France
2010 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 06:02:49
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Well, wasn't Cult of Ray edited by Sony ?!?
Wasn't he actually fired by Sony when they heard FB&TC ? |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 15:33:13
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I don't think it's necessary for Frank to sign to a major label. He seems to be getting excellent distribution and a fair amount of promotion without one. Like Dean suggested, he might well end up having a major distribute an album at some point, but, if you're a good enough negotiator, that doesn't necessarily mean having your soul bought by that label.
"Signature quotes are so lame." --Nathan |
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 15:35:17
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anyone else think this was about singing in a major key?
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 15:40:33
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Well, if you don't like my melody...
To be honest, the artist is more likely to end up with more money from signing to an indie. Much as I dislike quoting others for this sort of thing, read Steve Albini's 'The Problem With Music' or Moses Somethingorother's 'Confessions Of A Record Producer' - I believe these are pretty accurate representations.
Until you make it really big on a major (something Frank is unlikely to have to worry about), you'd end up owing money rather than making it.
"You ever seen a man say goodbye to a shoe?"
"Yes, once..." |
Edited by - Cheeseman1000 on 10/20/2004 15:41:24 |
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 15:42:29
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| steve albini's problem with music is like 10 years old isn't it? is it still relevant? |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 15:45:40
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I think it still is, pretty much. Depressing, innit.
"You ever seen a man say goodbye to a shoe?"
"Yes, once..." |
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 16:24:40
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| Well I only started this thread after Tiven said that they were shopping around to several major/near-major labels. Of course I waited too long to quote that and now it's gone. I know Dave Grohl owns all his music and just licenses the Foo's stuff out to whichever major distributes for them. I'm thinking Frank will probably go this route, if any. I'm just nervous because majors are notorious for pushing back releases when they don't feel there are enough "radio friendly" tracks on the album. |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 19:00:41
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quote:
Originally posted by The Holiday Son
Well, wasn't Cult of Ray edited by Sony ?!?
Wasn't he actually fired by Sony when they heard FB&TC ?
for what i know the reason was that COR sold too few copies but regardless that i don't think that someone that records 2-3 albums a year waits for a major to distribute. BLD and DW were released in the same day, so my guess is that honeycomb or whatever other album will find their way major contracts or not. i sure wish that the man gets some money this time tho'. maybe a better contract could be made due to the pixies reunion, but if that doesn't happen i'm pretty confident that the man will keep on recording.
join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 19:56:29
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It doesn't necessarily have to be a major label like SonyInterscopeCapitolVirgin.
I imagine Frank working with a prominent independent with a diverse roster that goes beyond the indie rock scene, like Sanctuary (who are signing up old, respected names left & right and are the current home of the likes of Morrissey, Megadeth, De La Soul, the Blues Explosion, Jonathan Richman, KMFDM, Tommy Stinson, and Blondie) or Artemis (Steve Earle, Al Franken, ELLIS HOOKS, the Pretenders, Jill Sobule, the Warren Zevon tribute CD that the Pixies are on). Both of those seem like labels that are big enough to successfully push Frank to a new (or renewed) audience while also small enough to have to care about the artists they sign and not just let them fall through the cracks (like the 2,001 stories you hear about the Sonys and Interscopes out there).
Or there's a label like Nonesuch, which is owned by a major label, but successfully markets more "sophisticated" fare (David Byrne, Emmylou Harris, Wilco, Kronos Quartet) to its appropriate audience.
WHATEVER decision Frank makes at this point in his career we know it's gonna be an intelligent one so I'm not really "concerned" about it. |
Edited by - Jason on 10/20/2004 22:31:47 |
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jo
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
516 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 10:07:59
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quote:
Originally posted by dayanara
Pros: All that well deserved publicity, a larger budget to play with, his work being more accessible to a mainstream audience (I've had to hunt around for new releases in the past), he can finally get that private island he's been wanting.
bear in mind, any larger budget that might exist in any way would still have to be paid back out of the money made on each record, before FB would get any payment.
In my opinion, he's best off doing it himself. Yeah, you might have to mailorder albums, but the bands tend to get more money that way if you go direct.
Also, one problem you can have with someone getting the stock out there (and this could apply to anyone), is that if it doesn't sell within a certain time limit, the shop is either stuck with the stock, or can return it, and wont order as much the next time, should it not sell so well, or should it have a bigger push than the last record that (whichever) artist released... so it's a risky one. |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 10:21:37
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quote:
Originally posted by jo
quote:
Originally posted by dayanara
Pros: All that well deserved publicity, a larger budget to play with, his work being more accessible to a mainstream audience (I've had to hunt around for new releases in the past), he can finally get that private island he's been wanting.
bear in mind, any larger budget that might exist in any way would still have to be paid back out of the money made on each record, before FB would get any payment.
In my opinion, he's best off doing it himself. Yeah, you might have to mailorder albums, but the bands tend to get more money that way if you go direct.
Also, one problem you can have with someone getting the stock out there (and this could apply to anyone), is that if it doesn't sell within a certain time limit, the shop is either stuck with the stock, or can return it, and wont order as much the next time, should it not sell so well, or should it have a bigger push than the last record that (whichever) artist released... so it's a risky one.
Its also a risk if you're relying on a label to help you sell music at a gig even. If you get one unreliable contact, your whole night could be ruined and you end up selling bootleg CD's from the sidestage at the end of the show.
"You ever seen a man say goodbye to a shoe?"
"Yes, once..." |
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Signing to a major (hypothetically, of course)
