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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
 Posted - 05/20/2009 : 12:19:17
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Black Francis: 'Record
companies have been
overcharging people for
way too long'
Pixies man discusses the state of
the record industry and his latest
projects
May 20, 2009
Pixies news, reviews, video and tour dates
Now that he has finished producing
Art Brut's latest album, Pixies
frontman Black Francis (aka Frank
Black) has been busy touring with
his latest band, Grand Duchy, and
is gearing up for a handful of shows
with the Pixies, as well as the June
15 release of the band's career-
spanning box set 'Minotaur'.
The prolific singer-songwriter took
some time out to speak with
NME.COM about the challenges of
touring, the release of the new box
set and the current state of the music
industry.
"Grand Duchy is challenging
because mommy and daddy are in the
band," said Francis, the father
of five young children with Violet
Clark, the other half of the Grand
Duchy duo.
"We wish we could just throw money
at the scenario, which is what we do,
but unfortunately we're just not in the
bracket of Angelina Jolie and Brad
Pitt. It's really challenging touring
with little people and making sure
they're comfortable. You can't just
throw them in the back of a van as
we've found out. They have a lot of
needs and touring is hard. We're trying to figure out how to accomplish
Grand Duchy stuff without making it a bummer for the kids."
Francis said that nowadays touring is more important than ever for bands
because fewer people are buying albums.
"The rendezvous point between the patron and the artist has been moved
from a record shop or online…to live shows," he said. "People are excited
about live personal appearances. They'll buy tickets for that. That's a great
thing for live music. But now everyone's touring, which is great for roadies
and nightclubs and theatres. But now everyone and their mother is on the
road. So that means there's a lot of competition for your dollars."
"I think what has to happen is everyone has to get used to making less
money and have to charge less money," Francis declared. "Everything's
got to get cut down to more of a five-dollar world. People will say, "Oh
yeah, I'll pay five bucks to see that or for a T-shirt or a record. I think it's
gonna become more of a five-dollar world than a $25 world, $50, or a
$150 world.
"I realise to some people I may sound like a hypocrite because the Pixies
are getting ready to release a box set. I think the limited edition version
retails for $450. But that art already exists--the demand for that particular
product has been researched by the people putting it out. If people don't
buy it, we'll all be fools.
"I think everyone should sell whatever product they want to sell for
whatever price they want to sell it for, but ultimately the market will dictate
what it is and people will have to charge less money for everything.
Record companies have been overcharging people for way too long and
now this is the trouble that they're in. They created this situation because
they were just a little too greedy," he said.
Pixies are set to perform at the Isle Of Wight Festival on June 14, and
Francis said that the band plan to play a handful of other live dates as
well, but they have not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Francis is hitting the road with Grand Duchy, performing at
summer festivals including New York's Siren Festival on July 18 and
Chicago's Wicker Park Festival on July 25.
--By our Los Angeles staff.
Pixies will play this year's Isle Of Wight Festival. The show, on
June 14 before headliner Neil Young, will be the US...
We7 - Pixies - Where Is My Mind? (Remastered). |
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Ziggy
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
2463 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2009 : 12:39:18
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Thanks, Carl.
Also good to hear a few more Pixies dates should happen. Getting pretty close now, though! |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1017 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2009 : 16:04:59
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| I agree about record prices being too high. The best way to combat pirating is to make albums cheaper - hey, they wont make as much money, but 10 dollars is better than none. Good call Frank |
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misterwoe
= Cult of Ray =
Greece
675 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 03:48:33
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yeah, good call. who is going to pay 20 bucks for a CD, right?
by the way, if Grand Duchy comes through Greece, I'm there!
------------------------------------------------
eyes burning |
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Brank_Flack
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1017 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2009 : 09:25:54
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| The problem is though, i think we are currently seeing that the market doesn't know best. Who knows if record companies will do anything about it. |
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pot
> Teenager of the Year <
Iceland
3910 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2009 : 23:27:03
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Record companies have always fleeced us, and sometimes the artists get a raw deal too.
But what is happening nowadays is decent honest people who do pay for their music are effectively subsiding everyone else who just torrents their music for free, and that pisses me off.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee- |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2009 : 23:44:15
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quote:
Originally posted by pot
... decent honest people...
-cult-of-ray-wassabee-
Thank you for my first laugh of the day.
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
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pot
> Teenager of the Year <
Iceland
3910 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2009 : 23:49:57
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And that's funny because....
-cult-of-ray-wassabee- |
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Levitated
= Cult of Ray =
Chile
652 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 06:02:46
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| Pixies in Santiago, Chile please!! Is it possible? |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 13:48:09
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quote:
Originally posted by pot
And that's funny because....
-cult-of-ray-wassabee-
You left out hardworking. Decent, honest hardworking people.
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
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pot
> Teenager of the Year <
Iceland
3910 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 14:09:20
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I'm not entirely sure I like your tone.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee- |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 14:15:44
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quote:
Originally posted by pot
I'm not entirely sure I like your tone.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee-
Didn't mean any harm pot. I was ribbing on you cos you sounded a bit like a Daily Mail reader. What's being decent got to do with rock n roll?
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
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Skatealex1
* Dog in the Sand *
1670 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 17:04:59
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quote:
Originally posted by trobrianders
quote:
Originally posted by pot
I'm not entirely sure I like your tone.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee-
Didn't mean any harm pot. I was ribbing on you cos you sounded a bit like a Daily Mail reader. What's being decent got to do with rock n roll?
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo
 true. artists can make their most money off of touring IMO - especially indie bands. |
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pot
> Teenager of the Year <
Iceland
3910 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 21:55:24
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quote:
Originally posted by trobrianders
quote:
Originally posted by pot
I'm not entirely sure I like your tone.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee-
Didn't mean any harm pot. I was ribbing on you cos you sounded a bit like a Daily Mail reader. What's being decent got to do with rock n roll?
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo
 How daaaaare you, I've never been so insulted in all my life!
I'd really rather you'd just called me a drain on the system, I was more prepared for that.
And the only decent thing you need in rock n roll is a decent bit of blow, and decent blow job from at least one of the groupies. All the rest is, as you suggest, way down in debasement.
-cult-of-ray-wassabee- |
Edited by - pot on 06/05/2009 00:55:38 |
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Topic |
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BF NME interview, May 20/09.
