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benwin
- FB Fan -
21 Posts |
 Posted - 09/25/2004 : 00:56:23
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Disc Live is no longer Disc Live not just becuz it was bought by Immediatek, but becuz the people that started DL and ran the DL that the Pixies knew are all gone. I've heard this - Pixies mgr is really pissed - he loved the original DL and thought they were a great company, but thinks the new DL under Immediatek control is "the worst mother-fucking company I have had the displeasure of working with in 23 years of managing." He's also said, "Truth is I never really worked with them, how can you work with a lie? The first conversation I ever had with them was one long 15 minute bullshit story and it went down hill from there." And there's this, "The guys that run Immediatek are the single most devious fuckers I have ever dealt with in business."
This came from a friend of one of the manager's best friends in the business and he knows everything, I think. If there's enough interest in this thread, there's a lot more to this story, so we'll see where this thread goes.
benwin |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2004 : 03:12:35
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Interest is shown here!
give us more!
ohh great benwin...
 "I joined the Cult of Serge/'Cause he invented indierock before Frank did" |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2004 : 13:01:55
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I know the Pixies are going to have music we can down load which is so cool. But was there any mention of the Pixies putting together their own cd's to sell after the show or mail them out soon after?
The reason why I ask is that I'm dying for more DL cds. I was holding out on the warm out tour-- I only have 2 because I thought I would save up for the fall tour.
I know that it's not the Pixies fault-- that they were just put in a bad scene. And I know something like this takes people, money and time to set up but you know, if the Pixies could do it on their own, it would rule if I could get a hard copy of those shows. |
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twist
- FB Fan -
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2004 : 22:26:40
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| What a shame. Drat. Was looking forward to buying one for soon to be historic Amherst show. Any plans for those of us who don't get music out of our computers? |
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johndietzel
= Cult of Ray =
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
464 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2004 : 01:48:45
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I know this is impractical and unlikely, but it would be a nice coup to have a soundboard patch requirement for Pixies' shows; so a couple lucky fans at each show are given the chance to capture their own soundboard quality show, to be shared online or otherwise traded. They could have fans sign an agreement that the Pixies own the rights to the recording, signifying an understanding that making copies for resale would be just as illegal as with studio releases.
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Thank you for the help that I like it. |
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ShakeyShake
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1058 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2004 : 06:08:14
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Tell me more,tell me more
"I joined the Cult of this guy / 'cause they took my other picture away |
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Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2004 : 06:21:06
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benwin has showed in the past that he know's what he is talking about. Preach on we are all ears.
"Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard" |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2004 : 11:13:52
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quote:
Originally posted by johndietzel
I know this is impractical and unlikely, but it would be a nice coup to have a soundboard patch requirement for Pixies' shows; so a couple lucky fans at each show are given the chance to capture their own soundboard quality show, to be shared online or otherwise traded. They could have fans sign an agreement that the Pixies own the rights to the recording, signifying an understanding that making copies for resale would be just as illegal as with studio releases.
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Thank you for the help that I like it.
That's a great idea, if there was no other ways to get the show, but there will be MP3's on sale for each show. http://www.pixiesmusic.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4262 |
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rivum
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
265 Posts |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 11:56:57
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I bought a show (Berkeley 9/25) but when I go to the download page they sent me, there's nothing there.
Hmmmm. |
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rivum
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
265 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 12:21:30
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that can't be good
rivum |
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 13:42:59
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ahhh, that's a great shame! i was talking to some artists/people from bands about this (people my dad was promoting), and they all thought it was a fantastic idea and seemed keen into looking into it... shame they sold their company and it's now like that! 
The Monkey Helper has arrived http://www.monkeyhelper.co.uk (that is my band) |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 14:29:52
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Hmm, now all the shows they had on sale are gone.
I wonder what I bought and if they are going to charge me? It looks like this company is doing all their work on a live server and someone put up somethig they weren't supposed to....
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 14:33:36
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Hmmm, now Pixies doesn't even appear on the dropdown list. Only in the event listing.
Someone screwed up apparently. I wonder if they actually have the shows, or if someone jumped the gun.
They did have a couple of mics up on the soundboard stage during the 9/26 show, so someone was recording something. That something is probably worthless since the sound board kept cutting out every couple minutes though. |
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Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 15:02:56
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| Jefrey, I also ordered that show and I too got a dead download link, so I sent an email to their customer service people. Did you? My guess is that this will be fixed and we'll get the goods. |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2004 : 15:28:41
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benwin, that's a crying shame. DiscLive were a shining example to the Music Industry that on demand good live music for the people can be a solid business case. I would love to know the details of this debacle, cause this type of corporate nonsense needs as many cautionary tales as we can get our grubby hands on.
You buttered your bread, now lie in it. |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 12:45:09
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Yeah, I got a response from customer service saying their records show that I should have the stuff there in the downloads section, but it's still not there.
I told them so, so hopefully someone's looking into it. |
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Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 13:26:45
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Jefrey, this morning I received an email saying "I am checking the status of that show and will advise you shortly. I apologize for the delay."
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 13:54:02
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| I haven't got my japan pixies either, but when i look up my order in the status section it says "Netburn", i hope that doesn't mean they think i just ordered the Netburn service and not that actual disc. Netburn is useless for me, i sent them an email so i should get a reply in a few weeks! |
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Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 13:58:20
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| Got my Fuji DiscLive disc two days ago, so they are still trickling. Hope that encourages. |
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audiodr
- FB Fan -
77 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 19:45:16
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well, this is a crying shame.. first off, mp3's are OK from a listening point of view, but from a collector's point of view MP3's are SHITE. When you compress music, it is never the same regardless of what anyone says - and to add to the already shitty fact that these shows will not be true uncompressed soundboard recordings - you don't get a collector style package with downloaded MP3's.
My Japan Fuji cd's arrived today - and the packing list has a return address of a company called "Music Today" in Charlottesville VA ... WTF is up with that? Well i'm glad that these are atleast genuine silverback cd's, and not CDR's like the first batch that disclive released.. but seriously, does anyone know if "they (immediatek, Music today, disclive, discmakers, or whatever pseudo sub contracted corporate bought out and resold corporate label they want to put on themselves) is gonna release any more of these?
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Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 13:06:22
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Got a message from the musictoday folks. Jefrey, seems you ought to have received one also.
Dear Pixies Customer -
We recently tested the Pixies Download store. Unfortunately, your recent download purchase was completed before the store was ready to go live. Your order has been cancelled and your credit card has been refunded in full for the purchase. The credit will appear as Musictoday.
We are working with the band on the finishing touches for the downloads and hope to launch the download service in the very near future. At that time, we'd like to offer you a complimentary download. When the Pixies Download store opens, please reply to this email and we will provide you with a free show of your choice.
We apologize for the confusion and encourage you to revisit the Pixies Live Download store in the near future.
Thank you,
Customer Service
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cross morris
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
26 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 03:07:12
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quote:
Originally posted by chineselover
I haven't got my japan pixies either, but when i look up my order in the status section it says "Netburn", i hope that doesn't mean they think i just ordered the Netburn service and not that actual disc. Netburn is useless for me, i sent them an email so i should get a reply in a few weeks!
I sent off a support query which is probably identical to yours! I ordered a physical CD, but the order status says "Netburn". My response was:
"You did order a physical CD. The Pixies Japan CDs shipped on Tuesday 9/14. These will all go US Mail and take 7-10 business days to reach their destination. That means you should receive your order no later than Sept. 30. International orders will take at least three weeks to arrive."
If it helps, my Fuji-Rock CD arrived in the UK yesterday, Monday the 4th October. |
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 07:33:56
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| thanks for that, mine did arrive yesterday.. its def the most impressive package to date - tracklistings too. i never did get a reply to my e-ticket, i closed it now since it arrived anyway.... i don't think i would order another one (that is of course if pixies allow the now 'corporate' disclive to do another one) unless there was some shakeup to the playlist... thanks again for progress report! |
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ITEKCEO
- FB Fan -
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2004 : 21:22:12
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To Frank Black fans and Pixies fans:
As I have posted to this forum several times before and believe in dialog with the fans, I thought that I would take a minute to provide you with a fresh perspective directly from someone in the company, although I cannot say too much until certain issues are resolved. I'm probably still going to get yelled at by our lawyers, but the "truth" isn't always what it seems. Normally I wouldn't bother to even respond to such an inflamatory post, but this being Frank's website, I am taking exception.
DiscLive is still very much alive and well, and will continue to provide the same if not better product to the industry that is has since its inception. Most of the same people are still with the company. In fact, with Immediatek's NetBurn and NetBurn Secure, along with some other innovations and alliances we are building, we hope to really provide some cool things to the fans and industry alike as we grow and expand the business.
First, a little about the "situation" from our side, and then a little about our philosphy.
In late July, we did experience an unexpected management change within DiscLive. This resulted, unfortunately, in an exodus of some of the employees a couple of days later that were loyal to that person. This situation is not uncommon for any company which has either merged or been acquired, especially a startup.
The phone conversation apparently referenced by "benwin" was between me and the Pixies manager the day after the aforementioned manager departed from the company. I called him directly because I felt it was my duty to inform him of the management change rather than for him to hear it from someone else. At the time of that conversation, in full crisis mode, I attempted to reassure him that despite the DiscLive manager's departure, we would work through the situation and that we would employ the same crew he had before. The conversation did not go well.
At the time of that call, none of us had any idea that three (only three) of the eight-plus original crew members on the spring tour would also leave the company without even so much as giving notice, so two days later the parameters had done a complete 180.
Despite this unfortunate series of events, DiscLive still had other quality people who had played key roles on the spring warm-up tour and were familiar with the band and its personnel, and we had in fact retained even more experienced personnel to augment its existing staff. And, DiscLive also still had 2/3 of the same senior management (and still does) that has been with it since the early days.
The exodus, although it did cause a few headaches for our shipping (as evidenced below), has not affected our technical ability to perform our services and deliver the DiscLive product that everyone has grown to love, and in fact has not affected our ability to date as evidenced by other tours which will be announced soon.
The manager of the Pixies was uneasy about having personnel unfamiliar to him and the band (which I truly understand), and he was apparently not happy about the way we were attempting to manage a situation that we had not expected and were simply dealing with as best as we could (as you could imagine, it was quite a shock).
We tried every way possible to reassure management that our performance would be nothing less than stellar, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to change his perspective. We provided bios of the replacement/augmenting crew and examples of prior gigs that they had worked on (FYI the additional crew members came from our exclusive alliance partner Moving Records, recognized by Mix Magazine recently as having a state-of-the-art engineering team); offered to meet with the manager at his location which was declined; offered a significant up-front "advance"; placed phone calls to the manager which were short and unproductive, including those from remaining long-term DiscLive managers; and much more. Nothing seemed to help and we bent way over trying to get the situation resolved.
During the course of weeks of negotiations as a result of the change in personnel, the Pixies management placed numerous demands upon us to modify our services contract we had in place with them, some of them unreasonable by any business standards, but despite this and other road blocks that were thrown up along the way, we worked hard and diligently through our attorneys and the Pixies attorneys and agreed to a significant number of their demands to amend our existing contract in order to insure they knew without a doubt we were ready and able to perform on our contract with them.
Despite our own understandable misgivings for having to work with employees who walked off their jobs only weeks before, we even brought the three people in question back under contract to satisfy the management's concerns about having the same personnel on their tour - just to have these people walk out on us yet again (which is why we had insisted upon having our other personnel available just in case, as on the spring tour).
After a significant amount of upheaval, huge expense, sleepless nights, and many hours of dialog, our full crew, backup crew, and mobile recording rig arrived at the Pixies show in Mesa, AZ, per our contract, ready to perform it services, just to be turned away at the venue gates by the band's road manager.
As you could imagine, this was a huge disappointment not only for all of us and our families at Immediatek and DiscLive, but I am sure a major disappointment to Pixies fans as well, especially after the length of time we had put into working through the negotiations.
DiscLive and Immediatek continue to stand by in the hopes that this situation will eventually be resolved and that the Pixies management will decide to give us another shot - one which we were never truly afforded to begin with (as further referenced by the comment below in which the "friend" says that the manager stated "I never really worked with them"). Maybe if enough Pixies fans believe we haven't had a fair shake, that could change. Only time will tell. If not, DiscLive will continue to provide it services to other acts and their fans.
I truly believe some of this problem started with simple misunderstandings between phone calls and emails (admittedly not the best form of communication at times) in a time of high stress for everyone. I harbor absolutely no ill will towards the Pixies or their management and hope one day our side of the story will be heard. I am sure there are many, many disappointed fans, too, that would certainly love the product, and we would still be more than honored to provide it for the Pixies - and I'm totally confident of our abilities to do so. I'm a Pixies fan myself.
As for the philosophy of Immediatek, you guys should know that Immediatek is not some big fat faceless corporation run by "suits". I am as anti-corporate as they come and I started this company because I hate corporate crap. We are a small, tenuous company with a group of highly passionate people, many of us musicians, who believe in our products and what we are trying to accomplish in the music industry and for musicians and artists (and labels).
I am personally a musician who still plays in a band (when time permits - see http://www.no-control.com for a first-hand view for those of you with any question), and I can tell you point blank that NO ONE in our company is anything less than ethical and we all mean well and want to do the absolute best for our clients. I've poured my life over the last several years and a lot of money and resource into Immediatek and especially DiscLive, and I can tell you I truly believe in it as does everyone else here.
Our motto is "Burn Music. Not Artists" and I fully stand behind that. We are artist-friendly and will always be that way. I am also not a CEO who is afraid to state his opinion. If anyone should be upset (other than the fans of course) it should be me, after the $100,000 or more we spent on getting prepared to execute on our contract (a lot of money in anyone's book but especially for a growing company), having the Pixies CD blanks and packaging manufactured and delivered which are now stacked in our office; the thousands of dollars of legal fees due to having to go through weeks upon weeks of negotiations just to get blown off anyway; and most of all, I'm upset because of the looks on the faces of our tired and disappointed people who rode a bus 1200 miles to Mesa and then back to Dallas. My guess is that their looks are probably a lot like the fans who really wanted a CD. I am very proud of our team and their resiliance in the face of adversity and disappointment.
With that said, there is certainly nothing "devious" about trying to do your job and follow through with your passion, do it well, and simply perform on a service you were contracted to do.
I am truly saddened by this entire episode, but hopeful that at some point Pixies fans will again enjoy the excitement of a DiscLive product.
Incidentally, it was Immediatek that enabled DiscLive to provide CDs on the spring warm-up tour - our resources, our infrastructure, our funds, and our risk - mine and my partner's - in acquiring a brand new company which showed promise but had no real track record. When we acquired the company, it was out of steam and funding. So the "devious f------" described below are the guys who stuck their necks out (and continue to do so) because of a concept we truly believe in.
As always, our company is an open door, and you can feel free to send comments or questions to info@immediatek.com and one of us will respond.
Thank you for reading through my rather lengthy posting!
Sincerely,
Zach Bair
CEO, Immediatek
quote:
Originally posted by benwin
Disc Live is no longer Disc Live not just becuz it was bought by Immediatek, but becuz the people that started DL and ran the DL that the Pixies knew are all gone. I've heard this - Pixies mgr is really pissed - he loved the original DL and thought they were a great company, but thinks the new DL under Immediatek control is "the worst mother-fucking company I have had the displeasure of working with in 23 years of managing." He's also said, "Truth is I never really worked with them, how can you work with a lie? The first conversation I ever had with them was one long 15 minute bullshit story and it went down hill from there." And there's this, "The guys that run Immediatek are the single most devious fuckers I have ever dealt with in business."
This came from a friend of one of the manager's best friends in the business and he knows everything, I think. If there's enough interest in this thread, there's a lot more to this story, so we'll see where this thread goes.
benwin
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Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2004 : 06:19:08
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I don't harbor any ill will to you or your company. I find it funny that a company, Disc Live, has very little success until the Pixies show up. Disc Live is raking in the money. Good for them. All of a sudden the little company that couldn’t is the little company that could. High visibility. Someone at the top sees a big payday in selling the company. You lose. We lose. He wins. I'm probably reading all this the wrong way, it's just my guess.
Zach did your employees get the memo about the new coversheets for all the TPS reports.
Hope to see you at Hammerstein.
"Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard" |
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Visiting Sasquatch
= Cult of Ray =
USA
451 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2004 : 22:01:23
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| I **reeeeeaaally** hope you guys work out your differences before Hammerstein! Its a CC event...so does that mean even if you work things out, you probably wont be able to record there? |
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2004 : 09:27:16
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| After reading the long post from the CEO of DiscLive, it sound to me like a really petty squabble, like a kids "Did, didn't, did too, you said such a thing, did not, did!" type fight, the only difference here is that its disguised behind a long post, with big words and an apparent stream of reasonableness... but strip it down and its no better than two six year olds fighting… |
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frankblacktaper
- FB Fan -
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2004 : 10:09:36
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This entire sequence is maddening. It is clear after that little test drive on the musictoday site where they were on sale for 10 minutes or something only to be ripped down, some other legal paperwork hadnt been signed and that deal is falling into trouble. If they dont get it fixed soon there screwed because let's face it, these discs are the definition of an impulse buy, and trying to go back and sell shows from months ago vs. capturing the fan at the venue or the night after the show is going to lead to much lower sales. So the opportunity cost of everyone screwing around (and this is probably the pixies side) to get another nickel costs them a quarter with each passing week.
And in the end, do you really need to "love" who your working with. If they can execute it, pay you and keep the fans happy, who cares if one guy vs another is on the road crew doing the discs.
Get it done, this is rediculous..If I didnt know any better I would think Paul McGuinesss from U2 was managing the Pixies |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2004 : 10:42:33
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So let's say that the people who started Disclive are friends or have a good relationship with you, as a manager. All of a sudden, you find them gone from their job as a result of the parent company horning in. They've effectively been screwed out of the little company they dreamed of making, though perhaps by the same hand that allowed them to become the little company that could.
So, do you say, "Well, too bad for the people who started this and who I've developed a liking for and a good relationship - they're out on the streets now and that's their problem". Or do you say, "I don't respect how you treated so and so, and I'm not doing business with someone who does business like that" And then, maybe they realize that whatever reason they might have had for getting rid of the founders was not worth losing one of the only touring acts that is doing well this year and the people who brought them all their success, and they ask for them to come back. Maybe some come back, and some say, "No, here's what you did to me and I won't work my ass off to make you money now". Does this change anything as far as who you're doing business with or whether you want to do business with them.
Of course, this is all conjecture and hypothetical as I don't really know what happened , but this is sort of how I see it if you read between the lines. Maybe it really is something petty. Maybe it's something ethical. Maybe it's really nothing at all other than a misunderstanding. I just find it interesting that if this is all above board, that certain people have been issued gag orders...
But don't get me wrong, I'd love to see DiscLive (or SOMEONE!) recording them again.
 "Join the Cult of Frank 2.0 / And you'll be enlightened (free for 1.x members)" |
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grope4luna
- FB Fan -
6 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2004 : 02:24:57
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I agree with frankblack taper completely.
I wouldn't put it past Frank Black to make outrageous demands on anything for this reunion tour, but there are two sides to every story.
I wish they could just iron it out. If they can't get it done, settle the contract, and find a company to burn the #@$%! show, b/c you're losing literally thousands of dollars a day.
You know, the stuff that will put your kids through college or buy you a bigger house?
For now, guerilla tapers, I'm begging again: come out of the closet w/ the ATL shows.
Thanks. |
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justahangwire
- FB Fan -
45 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2004 : 13:19:32
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while i didn't get to record the pixies, i do record a lot of other atlanta shows. mainly indie/college rock type stuff (death cab, mates of state, pinback, plusminus, dismemberment plan, cat power, yeah yeah yeahs, etc and a few local bands). if you're interested, drop me a line and we can work out a trade. if you want a sample, check out this les savy fav show i recorded about a month ago:
http://hangwire.com/music/lsf/09-15-04/
the only way i could have recorded the pixies show was if i had front row center balcony seats. i might have been able to tape my mics to the railing or something. but as it was, i was lucky to land a ticket from a friend of mine in row R on the floor, so i'm just glad i got to go at all.
i do have an old fb+tc show that i recorded in tallahassee, fl during march 2003. they played several pixies songs. i'm working on remastering it this week, i'll post here on the forums when it's up for download. |
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donna
- FB Fan -
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2004 : 11:51:52
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| Latest news on the street is that DiscLive won't be at any more Pixies Shows at all. . . after all that crap and they're still having issues. CEO-boy claims on here that it's not his fault for the original screw up, but what the heck now? None of us are going to get our shows, the Pixies, thinking DiscLive's doing the recording, surely aren't going to get another recording company in time, that's thousands of hours of great music lost for posterity. All I'm saying is listen well, those of us who attend the shows, because DiscLive's screwed up our chances of hearing any of it again. This is the end of DiscLive. I don't want to tell anyone else what to do, but I'm not even going to bother buying any previous shows from them, either, considering they won't likely be in business long-enough to send them to me without this Pixies gig. I mean, what else are they recording out there, anyway? All their eggs in one awesome basket, and they still f*ck it up. Way to go, DiscLive. Dumba*ses. |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2004 : 11:59:56
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Great.
I still believe in the excellent joy of the Frank |
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disclive
- FB Fan -
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2004 : 21:38:22
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Those who are involved know the truth of what happend. I do have to say that it's not just the delayed shipment of CD's from the Amherst shows that ended DiscLive's run. This is much bigger. It really is a pathetic shame when greed can blind those who find themselves in a position of power. It's one thing to look out for the band, it's another thing to abuse a company for attempting to simply provide the service of recording a live show and letting people take a decent sounding copy home with them legally. The whole premise of this idea, and as it once was independent, it still is, it's not freakin' clear channel it's another company that was able to keep DiscLive going back when they were going to lose it. This group consists of music lovers as well who are trying to help out bands and fans alike by using our resources to make a mobile live recording company/CD manufacturing/shipping & receiving/grapic design business work. By giving the bands a new resource of income, it's unfortunate that in this case we were so taken by everything we hadn't even gotten yet, that we were forced out of completing the tour.
The idea really was too ideal, apparently.
Now, let me tell you all, I have come into contact with this company myself as a freelancer from an alternative mobile live recording company. I've seen drastic ways in how each company has been run. I was on the road for this fall run, while it lasted, and certainly there were definitely problems that surfaced. Aside from general logistics of running an operation on the road, a lot of the major issues came down to shipping problems from manufacturers that the Pixies Management contracted us to use. This is not an attempt to pass the buck, just mearly inform you more on one part of the larger picture. There were many stipulations but on Disc Live to be a part of this tour. At the same time, I understand the fact that we didn't have the product at Amherst, regardless of shipping complications or not. We did record the show and will have it shipped out. And as deal breaking this event has been made out to be, the new recordings for the rest of the tour done by pixiesmusic.com will be operated in the same way as Amherst was. So how big of a deal was the change to online orders for that night then?
Despite Amherst, we arrived in Lowell at 4am that night and the next day we were ready to record the Lowell shows, we had all of our product ready and our mastering/duplicating trailer there. (and by the way, all shows were also professionally mastered on the fall tour as well, this was done behind the scenes in the trailer). It was not because of our on the road services that we were not able to do the show. We were even more disappointed than the fans to learn that we were done with the tour. Not just because of loss of income for ourselves before the holiday season, but for what appears to be the larger picture behind this. And remember, I'm a freelancer, so my devotions are pretty objective. The only thing I could be accused of is that I have been a pixies fan since the early 90's, and it was inspiring to meet all the fans that bought CD's at the shows. It was so great to meet the people benefitting from the product firsthand and to be a part of the excitement as they recieved their copies 10-15 minutes after the show.
Ok, bring on all the armchair critics...but I was there, worked my 12-15 hour days, sat with 5 other people in a pick-up truck for thousands of miles to get to each new venue driving through the night after each show. Through all the obstacles, we still recorded every show to provide the service. We were given less than a week to get all of this ready for preparation when we had set off a month ago. In the end, we were set up with unreachable demands to continue on with the December run. Convieniently, another company just 'happend' to be ready to continue on for the rest of the shows- the very day after we were asked to leave. The kicker- this 'new' company consists of the very same two who started DiscLive in the first place, and the ones who quit the company the day of the initial start of the fall tour, causing the the Pixies to drop Disc Live back in September. It was only through a huge loss of income that the new Disc Live was able to provide services while they did later in the fall.
Long post- and this isn't meant to sway anyone into picking sides, it just sucks to read all these hypotheticals in posts meanwhile knowing that the ones that were working as hard as they could to make this successful were screwed over in the end, and are getting a bad rap. This is still by no means any official statement, but this is a public forum and I needed to share what I could. And thanks again, really, to everyone who did buy the CD's and for all your encouraging and thankful words at the shows during the last month. |
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Picapiedra
- FB Fan -
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Posted - 12/05/2004 : 22:37:29
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Actually, my wife keeps bugging me for not purchasing both nights of the Vancouver gigs that I flew to. So to get her off of my back, yes, I'll purchase it still if it is made available to me. ;-)
No Impulse Required
-rog.
"Drug run'n on this Panamanian schooner."
quote:
Originally posted by frankblacktaper
...let's face it, these discs are the definition of an impulse buy, and trying to go back and sell shows from months ago vs. capturing the fan at the venue or the night after the show is going to lead to much lower sales. So the opportunity cost of everyone screwing around (and this is probably the pixies side) to get another nickel costs them a quarter with each passing week.
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Edited by - Picapiedra on 12/05/2004 22:46:11 |
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The Truth About Disc Live
