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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | AdamGhost@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: Owsley's $200 |
| Date | Fri, 21 Feb 2003 14:07:50 EST |
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Speaking as a guy who's played 250 shows in the last two years, sold barely
1,000 CDs in that time, and is just now getting to the point where there's
more than 20 people showing up to see him in certain markets ("I'm sorry I
couldn't make it to your show when you came to town, but I really support
what you're doing...I've been hearing a lot of good things about your CD"), I
echo these sentiments.
I don't exactly want to sound bitter here, because I'm not, but Owsley could
put out a CD tomorrow, not tour at all, and recoup his costs in a month,
because he's had enough exposure (as Wendie points out, that's one of the
possible benefits of being signed to a major label...I say possible because
it doesn't always follow) to do so.
The challenge these days is for indie bands to stay afloat with shrinking
platforms to exposure themselves to new audiences to buy their CDs...I've
been pricing promotion of my next studio CD, and it's going to cost twice the
recording cost in promotion to cover all the bases at college radio,
publicity, etc., that will need to be covered to move to the next step -- all
things that indie labels used to do and now increasingly cannot. Bruce will
verify this I'm sure.
I'm biased, but I say pick a few bands/indie labels that are working hard and
that you really like, and send them the $200. They will make it go much
further than will Mr. Owsley, with all due respect to him.
<< Here's the problem with democracy - someone throws out a great idea [in
this
case to help Owsley], and everyone else adds their "two-cents" until the
original idea is completely diluted. So in the spirit of democracy, I
challenge everyone who said that they'd put up $200 to go to Not Lame &
place an order for that amount. Not only would you be getting more than one
or two CD's in return, you'd be helping Bruce release that next Shazam album
or Michael Carpenter CD (gotta think ahead a year or two)...or pick your
favorite artist on Not Lame. You want rarities? You could be helping to
release the next [insert band here] Posies or Jellyfish box...and while
you're there, you can help some other struggling bands on small labels (some
self-released). Put your money to work NOW >>
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