Today’s rhetorical question - would you pay €70.70 to see Radiohead?
They might give your their music for free, but tickets for the Head’s love-in at Malahide Castle in Dublin on June 7 next will set you back €70.70 (plus whatever Ticketmaster will charge).
Please note, Radiohead fans and right-on indie types, this is MORE than what Celine Dion is charging for her Croke Park show. It’s called “monetising your fanbase”, folks. You didn’t really expect Radiohead to play nice with their fans, did you? You did? Oh dear. But, as pointed out in this article, it’s the BAND who set the ticket price so you know who to blame.
Tickets go on sale on Friday. Sure, there’s the Christmas present sorted for your dopey, grumpy younger brother.
(Presses button, sits back, puts on kettle, waits for Radiohead fans to rise to the bait)
Not good. But it’s on a Saturday in Malahide castle, so maybe there will be a few supporting acts?
I’d feel a bit hypocritical paying this much after ranting about PJ Harvey but I really don’t want to miss this…
Comment by Seán | December 4, 2007 at 10:51 amRadiohead live is a really great thing, but €70.70 is kinda pushing it. If they turn it into a full day festival then maybe that will turn into value for money, as their last Irish show in Marlay Park had brilliant support from Deerhoof and Beck, which somehow made the high price tag (I seem to recall it being about €50?) seem slightly more justified.
Comment by Nigel | December 4, 2007 at 10:54 amNigel - Radiohead/Beck/Deerhoof in 2006 was €55 a pop. As a matter of interest and so we can graph Radiohead greed, sorry inflation, can anyone remember how much they charged for their gigs in the RDS (1997) and the tent in Punchestown (2000)?
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 11:00 amHaving forked out for a Brucie’s bonus concert and with Xmas hurting worse than ever, cannot justify this much for Oxford’s finest misery-guts. Gigonomics strikes again!
Anyway, saw this one coming from Day 1, so its well metabolised at this stage.
“Monetising the fanbase” - nice turn of phrase!
Comment by Jim Dubh | December 4, 2007 at 11:12 amcan anyone remember what the ticket price was for the RDS gig back in 97?
Comment by Q | December 4, 2007 at 11:34 amIt was £32 plus booking fee for the Punchestown Racecourse show in 2000 (€40)
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 11:46 amJesus. Again with the Amsterdam comparison but I paid €35 including booking fee to see them there last May. If this isn’t a one day festival job a la BellX1 I’m not bothered.
Comment by Catherine | December 4, 2007 at 11:55 amHi Jim, why are you complaining about the price of Radiohead tickets when you don’t criticise Bruce Springsteen for charging more than a tenner more than Radiohead?
Comment by Conor Furlong | December 4, 2007 at 12:07 pmconor the radiohead superfan - I’m not complaining. As with PJ Harvey - http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2007/11/06/is-pj-harvey-worth-6480-euro/ - I’m simply pointing out how much an act are charging for their Irish show. Is this now seen as a complaint?
In this case, I am also pointing out that, for all their giving-their-music-for-free schtick, Radiohead are still the same as every other band when it comes to charging for the live show. At least Springsteen is consistent in that regard.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 12:18 pmwhat..consistently asking for more money?
surely if anyone has a right to charge 70 quid a ticket it’s a band who turned down a hefty cheque in favour of giving their record away for free.
Comment by Ronan | December 4, 2007 at 12:24 pma band who turned down a hefty cheque
And I’m sure they’re working with XL and ATO on the CD release of their new album for free? Of course, Radiohead got paid for their album - and they’ll get paid even more for this tour.
No-one is saying they should work for free (are they?) but people shouldn’t think that Radiohead are any different to any other act.
“Radiohead, just a band”
Comment by Rasputin | December 4, 2007 at 12:29 pmIt was 22.50 plus booking fee in ‘97.
Comment by colly_browy | December 4, 2007 at 12:31 pm“Hi Jim, why are you complaining about the price of Radiohead tickets when you don’t criticise Bruce Springsteen for charging more than a tenner more than Radiohead?”
I think that’s what you would call a red herring (or a pathetic attempt by some Radiohead fan to spin the arguement)
Talking of red herrings, Tulla were unlucky on Sunday, weren’t they?
Comment by Big Tom | December 4, 2007 at 12:36 pmI’m gonna shut up about Radiohead now.
Being given the moniker “conor the radiohead superfan” is a tad worrying!
Comment by Conor Furlong | December 4, 2007 at 12:51 pm“Radiohead are still the same as every other band when it comes to charging for the live show”
Why is this even noteworthy?
Are Radiohead fans suddenly finding that their gruntles are dissed because they are being asked to shell out to see their favourite band of all time, ever, in the universe?
Comment by Brock Landers | December 4, 2007 at 12:51 pmI wouldnt want to be a teenage radiohead fan trying to scrape together 80 *bucks for a ticket.
Comment by Q | December 4, 2007 at 12:58 pm* factoring in whatever bullshit service charge gets added
i’m always trying to justify my downloading albums for free by not griping (too much) about ticket prices for gigs (i figure the artists get my support one way or the other)
radiohead must be trying to get everyone else to play my game.
Comment by Rosie | December 4, 2007 at 1:02 pmI can sense a lot of tension and concealed disappointment in some of the replies to this. Its a shame to see fans of a band renowned for giving a shit about their fans, now put in this position, trying to justify the completely inexcusable. What we are looking at here is a naked case of daylight robbery. Hail to the thieves! If anyone wanted to do the right thing here, a full scale boycott of the gig would be great. Imagine, a radiohead gig in Ireland that didn’t sell out? How much of a message would that be? But its not gonna happen, because like the arcade fire, they are deities that can do no wrong, whether that be releasing mediocre music or charging grotesque prices for their gigs.
Comment by gardenhead | December 4, 2007 at 1:24 pmIt’s worth noting that Radiohead have done quite well out of their ‘free’ download. I suspect that the majority of people who downloaded the album at whatever price will also purchase the physical product when it goes on sale. Very commercially astute guys!
Comment by Brian D | December 4, 2007 at 1:26 pm£22.50 a decade ago works out at roughly €28.50 now, so have all gig prices risen by 150% - 250% over the last decade? IS that in line with other goods and services (apart from housing, obviously)?
I was off sick for the last week and a bit from work, so one of the things I did to stave off cabin fever was ((and this is really sad) to try sort out the 120+ different gig tickets that myself and my girlfriend have amassed over the course of the last few years, and one of the things that struck me was the reasonably low prices charged by some of the bands ten years ago versus the prices charged by the same bands this year. (REM, Radiohead: we’re looking at you (NB: she went to Radiohead)). I might have a trawl through them again and see if I can come up with some other examples for year on year crazy pricing. The other thing that interested me was that despite the increasing ticket prices, we went to more gigs year after year.
I think the Springsteen argument is a fair one however (I’m loathe to admit that since I can’t stand Radiohead or their fawning, over-protective fanbase – they’re just like Morrissey’s). How is it that nobody really objected to the massive prices charged by Springsteen and yet there’s snide remarks made about Radiohead? Is it because In Rainbows is shite and Magic is quite good? I want to believe it’s because all of Radiohead’s output is shite and The Boss’s compares favourably.
Comment by Neilo | December 4, 2007 at 1:29 pm€70+ for a Radiohead ticket? They haven’t put on a concert where fans pay whatever they wish? Great news altogether. I’m sick of all the blather about Radiohead being anti-capitalist, altruistic, anti-industry crusaders. Like Rasputin said above, they’re just like any other band. Fans will pay; for non-fans any amount will be too much to pay.
BTW tickets from €49-60 for their 14 June gig in Nimes, France.
Comment by aidan | December 4, 2007 at 1:30 pmJust to complete the graph - a quick look at the Galway Arts Festival site says it was £20 for Radiohead (and others) in Castlegar in ‘96.
Comment by Eric | December 4, 2007 at 1:31 pmAh who cares? If you think it’s worth it go, if you don’t then don’t.
Comment by Ian | December 4, 2007 at 1:51 pmI’m a really big fan, and bought the Diskbox, but I can’t justify paying this much. Springsteen was bad enough but I’ve never seen him before. I’ve seen Radiohead before.
I might’ve paid it a year ago, but I’m burned on this shit. I’ll go see British Sea Power in Whelans for 18 quid.
Comment by James | December 4, 2007 at 2:08 pmThere’s no need to drag Morrissey into it.
Comment by Liz | December 4, 2007 at 2:08 pmPull an ‘In Rainbows’ and hop the fence. Tell them it was Thom’s idea.
Comment by slab | December 4, 2007 at 2:17 pmIan and Ronan are the only ones talking sense here. Go if you want to go. Fuck the begrudgers.
Is there any real point in looking at old prices and comparing them to today? The, ahem, world is so different in so many ways! We didn’t even have that many methods of releasing an album bar sticking it in a shop (or trying to fit it onto one side of a tape) back in 1996. Or did we? (The lads selling the tapes with luminous covers don’t count)
Comment by Hot Lunch | December 4, 2007 at 2:31 pmwhen i was 14 and starting to go to gigs , i was paying 12:50 to see REM and a few years later Pixies in national stadium was 8:50
I think album prices around that time were between 7:99 and just under a tenner.
if i was a teenager now ,in school, there’s no way i’d be able to afford the current spate of gigs.
prices may be dictated by demographic - 20/30 year old professionals - but it aint fair on the kids.
i think anything over 50 , and even that’s pushing it , is completely taking the piss.
Comment by Q | December 4, 2007 at 2:44 pmGiven that the previous gig in Marley Park was a lackluster performance made worse by an abundance of GAA-shirt-wearing gobshites who scoffed at anything post-OK Computer, I’ll be passing on this. €70 me arse.
Comment by Conor | December 4, 2007 at 2:47 pmThere’s no need to drag Morrissey into it.
I wonder what would happen if I posted about Moz, the NME and racism….
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 3:02 pm“Pull an ‘In Rainbows’ and hop the fence. Tell them it was Thom’s idea.”
Castles, by there very nature, are difficult things to get into. Watch out for the tarpits.
Comment by Peter | December 4, 2007 at 3:12 pmAny particular reason for deleting my comment Jim?
Comment by Enda | December 4, 2007 at 3:25 pm“Castles, by there very nature, are difficult things to get into. Watch out for the tarpits.”
will security be pouring hot oil over the walls at ticket-less punters at this?
Comment by Leigh O'Gorman | December 4, 2007 at 3:27 pmenda - what comment?
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 3:29 pmok, must be a glitch in the auld interweb
Well, i cant rememeber exactly what i said, but essentially its similar to some of the other comments. I agree with you that radiohead are just the same as every other band when it comes to money, but you dont really seem to treat em like that. Especially seeing as Bruce gets away scott free with lots and lots of terribly overpriced shows. And this from a musician who is also reknowned for fighting the industry and looking after his fans? Baiting radiohead uber-fans (or any uber-fans) is lots of fun admittedly, but in the interest of fairness, why not target the likes of the Boss for a change and see how his fans react, I wonder would they be any different to the radiohead fans??
Comment by Enda | December 4, 2007 at 3:35 pmBig apologies enda, I didn’t get that comment at all. Like you said, the interweb must have been on a long lunch.
And you’re COMPLETELY entitled to your point of view and your opinion - just as I am entitled to mine. Bruce fans are a thick-skinned bunch (we’d have to be, did you ever listen to “Lucky Town”?) so please feel free to voice your criticisms. Just don’t expect me to do likewise or to agree with you. I’ll stick with Radiohead
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 3:44 pmha, fair enough
Comment by Enda | December 4, 2007 at 3:51 pmWhat I would love to see is an article similar to albini’s, the problem with music
http://www.negativland.com/albini.html
but about the costs of putting on a live show in Ireland. It would be really interesting to find out the exact breakdown of costs and where exactly the extra money charged for concerts in this country goes to. Youre idea that its all the bands faults (and therefore pretty much every band of any size is culpable) probably has some truth to it. But something tells me thats not the whole story. So, surely theres someone out there who involved in this business who knows the real deal. The only problem is, can we believe them?
‘Given that the previous gig in Marley Park was a lackluster performance made worse by… gobshites who scoffed at anything post-OK Computer.’
Everything post-The Bends sucks. They better not play any of that new crap if I’m going to shell out 70 notes. Just Creep.
(removed fair point re GAA shirts from quote)
Comment by dealga | December 4, 2007 at 3:57 pmThat Albini article is badly outdated now (it was written when majors were prepared to spent stupid money on bands) but it still has its strengths, especially as a forensic breakdown of why major labels never understood indie and alternative acts.
Youre idea that its all the bands faults (and therefore pretty much every band of any size is culpable) probably has some truth to it. But something tells me thats not the whole story.
Obviously there are other factors (costs are always inflated and massaged) but, hard as it may be to believe, it is the BAND who set the ticket prices. That’s a fact, enda, and there is no getting away from it. Put it this way, I haven’t been inundated with irate bands complaining about the piece since it appeared.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 4, 2007 at 3:57 pm“will security be pouring hot oil over the walls at ticket-less punters at this?”
Ah no, they have pity on the peasants outside. Can’t afford a ticket? Let them hear Cake.
Comment by Peter | December 4, 2007 at 3:59 pmPuppets + trashing green room = massive hike in public liability insurance.
Blame weird scientologists and dummies.
Comment by markg | December 4, 2007 at 4:06 pmOk, so bands set the ticket price. That price consists of the bands cut plus all the other costs related to the specific gig. I would have thought if a band was doing a tour, they would want a certain minimum amount per show. Now if the costs in a specific country are higher than elsewhere, and the band stick to their minimum amount, then the ticket prices are going to be more in that country, right? So, is it the case that the costs in Ireland are more than elsewhere, and the bands have decided to not reduce their cut here (and why should they earn less because this is an expensive country?), and hence pricey tickets here. Or are you saying that bands specifically increase their cut for gigs here because they know they can get away with it? If it’s the first instance then you can hardly blame the bands. If it’s the second then we should hang them….
Comment by Enda | December 4, 2007 at 4:17 pmI don’t care in the slightest about Radiohead, but it’s quite clear that these arguments are split down lines of who likes their music or not, in an environment where practically every concert is a ripoff and 99.9 per cent of bands seek to make big sums of money in every way possible.
Comment by Ronan | December 4, 2007 at 5:08 pmAnyone else got a horrid dose of the say-it-aint-sos regarding Thom & Co.? The main point being made here is that we no longer have a justifiable reason to deify Radiohead on any grounds other than the quality of their output over the past 10 years or so. Fair enough. My point is: so what? Jim you appear to be taking too much pleasure in your revelation that Radiohead are just like the rest of them (”Presses button, sits back, puts on kettle, waits for Radiohead fans to rise to the bait”. Ok I laughed…) And devoted fans seem to be incapable of digesting the same fact. I reckon you’re both missing the point a bit. Jim, how would you react if Kid A or Hail To The Thief was just a demo from some unheralded and trendily monikered Canadian band that appeared on your desk tomorrow morning? Given that I tend to react to music almost identically to you (and you could easily ruin me here), I suspect you’d be raving about it. Likewise, it appears the die hards need to forget about the happy-clappy stuff and start enjoying the records again. Rant over.
Comment by Eoin | December 4, 2007 at 5:56 pmI paid GBP51.50 (including all charges) to see them in Copenhagen last year. They’ve never been the cheapest band to go and see, but I think the price they set is in line with what the market will support.
I don’t think a comparison with Celine Dion is fair as Croke Park can probably hold many more people than Malahide Castle.
Comment by Neil | December 4, 2007 at 6:02 pm€70+ for a Radiohead ticket? They haven’t put on a concert where fans pay whatever they wish?
perhaps they should and I reckon that the tickets would cost a lot more than €70.70!!
So, is it the case that the costs in Ireland are more than elsewhere, and the bands have decided to not reduce their cut here (and why should they earn less because this is an expensive country?), and hence pricey tickets here.
that’s basically it. As pointed out in another thread one of the main costs that Radiohead will have here is transport accross the Irish Sea, there is a higher rate of VAT, I’m sure that public liability insurance is also higher here and so on.
Comment by Brian | December 4, 2007 at 6:17 pmFucking Hell! Jim were your fingers trembling as you pressed the Enter button.
If your going to the gig at least rob the album guys.
Ian’s comment was the funniest
“If you think it’s worth it go, if you don’t then don’t”
Comment by Rory | December 4, 2007 at 6:55 pmI have to say I’m disappointed. I couldn’t go the Marlay Park gig but I saw them at the Point and Punchestown and I remember my sister being dropped off at Castlegar long ago (I was too wee 11 years ago) and me wanting to go because I loved High and Dry (it was on the Brits 96 compilation I was enamoured by at the time).
Comment by Major Alfonso | December 4, 2007 at 7:02 pmBut 70 is a bit much. I bought the diskbox, I’ve already shelled out a shitload for the proper album experience and now I have to shell out even more to hear it live? Argh! I’m a student, that’s one weeks shitty part time sunday work for me. Does Radiohead know how much rent costs in this city? Ticket prices growing with their audience or something yeah? I think the Electric Picnic ticket price is still gathering interest on my credit card bill… Grmph.
I’d prefer for them to have released the album normally and charged €55 again. Those cheeky pups.
Comment by Bobby | December 4, 2007 at 8:04 pmIn fairness, Radiohead fans are at an age now where they can well afford to spunk away 70 odd quid to see them play live.
The kids don’t care. They’ve got their own bands to see.
Me personally, I wouldn’t pay a fiver to see Radiohead. I wouldn’t even download their album for nothing.
Comment by OneForTheRoad | December 4, 2007 at 8:56 pmI think what they are charging is really expensive but to be honest, I paid for the Disc Box (can’t wait) and I will pay whatever is needed to see them. Brian is right, if they put on a concert to pay what you like, it would end up more expensive.
I’ve seen them twice and I have no doubt that they will put on a spectacular show and probably have some great supporting acts. Malahide Castle is a great venue too and the day will be brilliant.
Sometimes it also works out cheaper to see them abroad. I went to London and it was cheaper than going to Dublin.
Try see them at a festival too if it’s too expensive, they are playing at hurricane, Germany.
Comment by Emma | December 5, 2007 at 1:01 amImagine if you asked a question that wasn’t rhetorical.
Comment by Liz | December 5, 2007 at 9:59 amI know this is (probably) off topic but: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2221916,00.html
They really are avaricious.
Comment by Neilo | December 5, 2007 at 10:25 amNeilo - I don’t think it is off-topic at all but further proof of the central argument in all this. When people talk about high ticket prices, the ones to point the finger of blame at are the bands and acts. Trying to pin this on anyone else is head in the sand territory. Your favourite band are as greedy and money-hungry as any avaricious businessman you care to mention.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 10:29 amYour favourite band are as greedy and money-hungry as any avaricious businessman you care to mention.
Never have I wished more for my favourite band to be Fugazi then I do right now.
Incidently, I’d consider myself part of the Radiohead hardcore (7 gigs, all the albums, a number of the EPs, loads of singles, bought the discbox, loads of useles trvia stuck in my brain), I’m not sure if I’ll go to this gig.
Comment by Ian | December 5, 2007 at 10:38 amI am afraid that Ian, Ronan, et al. are missing an important point. While its logical in one sense to say “If you think it’s worth it go, if you don’t then don’t”, that ignores the issue of affordability.
As someone who goes to dozens of gigs a year, the current expense of going to the larger ones is forcing me to choose between them. This time it was between Bruce and his gang or Thom and his gang.
As Jim validly pointed out at the time of the PJ Harvey furore, you can go to 3-4 smaller gigs now for the price of one of these larger ones. These bigger gigs are becoming more and more for music tourists (i.e. the people who go to 3-4 large shows a year) only and the dedicated punter is being squeezed out.
Comment by Jim Dubh | December 5, 2007 at 10:41 amThom Yorke to aspiring young musician, “What’s the name of your brand“.
People, successful bands are corporate whores, like any entrepreneur. You mean nothing to them and they do not care about you in terms beyond the fiscal.
Clever marketing and PR are used to cloud this and improve the overall feel good factor, however it is all smoke and mirrors.
Accept it.
Comment by markg | December 5, 2007 at 10:44 amNever have I wished more for my favourite band to be Fugazi then I do right now.
Amen
you can go to 3-4 smaller gigs now for the price of one of these larger ones. These bigger gigs are becoming more and more for music tourists
Too true. They’ve become the equivalent of All-Ireland hurling finals where the fan who goes to the club games and the league games doesn’t get a look in because of the price.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 10:44 amThey’ve become the equivalent of All-Ireland hurling finals where the fan who goes to the club games and the league games doesn’t get a look in because of the price.
You propose some sort of voucher system? If you’ve been to x number of half empty gigs and seen y number of shitty local bands in a 12 month period you get a voucher for 20% off the cost of the expensive gig of your choice.
Comment by Ian | December 5, 2007 at 11:26 amTickets for several European Radiohead shows have gone on sale at W.A.S.T.E. just now. Get your tickets for the Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow shows now. http://tickets.waste.uk.com/Store/DisplayItems.html
Comment by kilian | December 5, 2007 at 11:29 amToo expensive!
Comment by Vince | December 5, 2007 at 11:37 amAs much as it pains me, a boycott is the only way forward. Going to give radiohead a miss!
http://tickets.waste.uk.com/Store/DisplayIndividualItem.html?ID=115
can this be legitimate? and why is everyone not mentioning it? or maybe ye all bought off it and hoped ye were the only ones that knew; tut tut, for shame
Comment by Ferg | December 5, 2007 at 11:47 amSurely this a pre-sale for Radiohead saddos, sorry fans, only?
So they’re charging £46.80 and a per ticket handling charge of £4.50 which makes it £51.30
At today’s exchange rate, that’s €71.79
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 11:54 am“Clever marketing and PR are used to cloud this and improve the overall feel good factor, however it is all smoke and mirrors.”
…or smoke and daggers, as bertie would say
Comment by Ron | December 5, 2007 at 11:57 amWell seeing that link is a real moment of truth type thing (though obviously an ultimately unimportant decision).
Pass.
Comment by Ian | December 5, 2007 at 12:00 pmFerg, it’s a legit link. That’s their merch/ticketing company. I’ve bought tickets off them before.
Comment by Ian | December 5, 2007 at 12:03 pm…or smoke and daggers, as bertie would say
things are bad enough without bringing him into it
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 12:06 pmOoooh, it’s now €5 cheaper than Celine Dion. Think of the savings! That’ll get you 20% of a t-shirt.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Radiohead selling tickets for the gig on another site, Ferg. REM did the same thing for their Working Rehearsal gigs through the Sandbag site.
Comment by Neilo | December 5, 2007 at 12:10 pmi would consider myself a radiohead fan, though they wouldn’t be my “favoritist band in the world ever”!
however i’ve had enough of this crap, it seems to me in the last 6 months in particular with the glut of quality small gigs happening, that ticket prices are actually reducing. some examples - animal collective €20, dan deacon €17, okkervil river €14.50, and just last nite thursten moore €22.50 and liars for €18, (my head still hurts!)
this is where its at for me personally, small venues with proper sound. a big gig in a field is a day out to get drunk and have a ball or whatever…which is fine but there must be cheaper ways of doing it!
Comment by Ron | December 5, 2007 at 12:25 pmseems tht musicians are damned if they do and damned if the don’t.
If you sell your music to brands for advertising use then you are criticised. Then if market your music and tour as independent then you are damned. Radiohead believe they are worth €70 a look. If you don’t believe so then you don’t have to go!
Comment by Brian | December 5, 2007 at 12:32 pmI got my Marlay Park ticket to see them play Creep via WASTE, but it was still a Ticketmaster ticket that came in the post.
Comment by dealga | December 5, 2007 at 1:04 pmDid a price check on their website and surprisingly topping the poll its the Dublin gig! (ignoring 3day festival tickets…)
Jim think you might of forgotten the P&P £5.95 in your price?
The prices look to be:-
Dublin Malahide Castle £57.25 - €79.25
London Victoria Park £52.70 - €72.94
Glasgow £48.30 - €66.86
Manchester £52.70- €72.94
Amsterdam £53.50 - €70.05
Berlin £38.55 - €53.36
I’m beginning to regret paying all of £0.50p for the In rainbows album now….
Comment by ElectricP | December 5, 2007 at 2:36 pmIf you sell your music to brands for advertising use then you are criticised
Can you point out Brian where people on this site criticised any band for selling their music to adveritisers/brands?
I think you are refering to the recent Nokia kerfuffle where all the criticism was directed at the BRAND not the band. Huge difference.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 3:26 pmI haven’t checked that particular thread recently but my recollection was that there were a few remarks made about bands ’selling out’ in that thread. Perhaps it was in another thread or another debate on a different music related boards. It makes no odds, bands are criticised for selling out by allowing brands access to their music for advertising purposes.
Comment by Brian | December 5, 2007 at 3:39 pmPerhaps it was in another thread or another debate on a different music related boards. It makes no odds, bands are criticised for selling out by allowing brands access to their music for advertising purposes
Perhaps elsewhere but it certainly has not happened here.
We criticised brands, Brian, not bands. This was for what happened at a heavily branded gig. Very different set of circumstances. Please don’t try to spin this.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 5, 2007 at 3:45 pmBest priced gig all year was Tokyo Police Club in The Hub the Friday night before Oxegen - €14. Bargain.
Actually, no wait. The best priced gig would obviously have been Willy Mason playing a free acoustic show in your gaff earlier on in the year.
Comment by Pedro | December 5, 2007 at 3:51 pmWhat, no thanks for pointing out to Radiohead fans who - like me - think they’re worth €70 how to get tickets early? Sod ye all so.
Comment by kilian | December 6, 2007 at 10:19 amWe criticised brands, Brian, not bands. This was for what happened at a heavily branded gig. Very different set of circumstances. Please don’t try to spin this.
… I am not trying to put a spin on it Jim. Bands have been criticised by some people for allowing their music to be used in advertising. I don’t see why you getting so uptight about it!!
Comment by Brian | December 6, 2007 at 2:17 pmHow come this Brian geezer only pops up when brands or Big Ticket promoters like Live Nation and MCD are getting criticised? Jim, is the same Brian? Or is he Superbrand Brian, the superhero with bright yellow Y-fronts that brands call when they’re getting a kicking on blogs?
Comment by Rasputin | December 6, 2007 at 2:23 pmBrian - I’m never “uptight”. However, as I have pointed out to you several times, there was NO criticism of bands on that thread. End of story.
Rasputin - yes, there is only one Brian who posts here. He will have to let you know himself about his underwear situation.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 6, 2007 at 2:25 pmWould these criticisms be coming if Radiohead hadn’t given In Rainbows away?
It’s about right for a Radiohead-sized band - just not for one who wants to be considered indie.
Comment by Karl | December 7, 2007 at 12:27 amI just got tickets, and although I’m looking forward to it, and know i will most likely enjoy it, those ticket prices are sickening.
Comment by cait | December 7, 2007 at 9:21 ami love it, choose what you want for the album price then they take it all back with interest for the concert ticket. i can either buy this ticket or a 3 day pass to primaverasound in barcelona for an extra €10. mmmmmm let me see…….
Comment by petee | December 7, 2007 at 9:30 amSo I bought my tickets this morning (it turns out there was no need to rush - there are still tickets available). Radiohead is one of the few bands I’d shell out that much to see - I doubt I’ll be going to many other big gigs next Summer.
Any way, then there’s another little kick in the teeth - when you’re about to finish buying these tickets, you’re told that you must consent to submit your personal information to Radiohead’s management in order to buy the tickets. And there’s a broken link to their privacy policy (that doesn’t even open in a new window).
Text from Ticketmaster: “By purchasing this ticket(s) you acc:ept Radiohead’s terms and conditions and consent that your data can be passed to www.radiohead.com and Radiohead’s artist management.
I ACCEPT.
Comment by Eric | December 7, 2007 at 11:54 am(Required)”
> would you pay €70.70 to see Radiohead?
tickets are still available as of 14.10 - more than 5 hours after going on sale. given the crazed ticket-buying pace of other recent gigs, i think the rhetorical answer is no.
what’s the capacity of malahide castle anyway?
Comment by caitriona | December 7, 2007 at 2:13 pm> what’s the capacity of malahide castle anyway?
got off my arse and googled it…
Seating Capacity: 10000+
Comment by caitriona | December 7, 2007 at 2:17 pmkarl - yes
eric - thats very interesting. I would have thought that Radiohead Inc would already have everyone’s details via the “In Rainbows” download scam. Has anyone seen that permission before?
caitriona - i’m actually very surprised by that. I would have assumed the tickets would have been snapped up all those eager beager Radiohead fans.
I’m not so sure about the Malahide Castle capacity for a standing show like this but i’ll get back to you
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 7, 2007 at 3:05 pmI think the high price would be justified if it was a reunion tour like The Police or something like that, but seeing how they do tour reasonably regularly and there’s no sign that this will be their last ever tour i can’t see the jusitification for expecting fans to shell out over €70. [Whoa, that was a long sentence!]
I am a fan of the band but i won’t be going to this gig because i feel that €70 is just too much to pay for a band i’ve seen quite a lot already.
I’d rather spend that €70 on 2 or 3 other bands’ gigs whom haven’t been to see yet.
Comment by Conor Furlong | December 7, 2007 at 4:29 pmI am not going. This is a bit off topic but tickets for the Boyzone concert in Belfast were 53euro and the RDS is 83euro. I am no Boyzone fan but paying an extra 30 euro to see them play in a worse venue. This does not add up at all. Obviously radio anre not to blame here, it’s the stupid promoters.
Comment by colm | December 7, 2007 at 4:30 pmConor - how is a reunion tour fair grounds for charging higher prices?
Comment by Neilo | December 7, 2007 at 4:50 pmconor - it would seem that a lot of people feel the same as you do about this being “too much to pay”
colm - obviously radio anre not to blame here, it’s the stupid promoters
no, colm, it’s the band who are to blame for the high cost of tickets. Read this article - http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2007/1130/1196263158458.html - to find out just who decides the ticket prices for shows.
The fact that not one band or act or promoter or agent has contradicted the facts of this piece says all there needs to be said about its veracity.
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 7, 2007 at 4:57 pm“I am afraid that Ian, Ronan, et al. are missing an important point. While its logical in one sense to say “If you think it’s worth it go, if you don’t then don’t”, that ignores the issue of affordability.
As someone who goes to dozens of gigs a year, the current expense of going to the larger ones is forcing me to choose between them. This time it was between Bruce and his gang or Thom and his gang.”
Hold on, I agree the gigs are way too expensive.
I just don’t think singling out one particular act is fair. Also I’m not sure I see Jim’s point here, isn’t it obvious that bands are complicit in the whole business? Though there is a sort of “ruining Christmas” feel to this post.
So yeah I agree that all gigs are too expensive. Another problem in Dublin is that there is so little independent promotion, with so few venues to do it in.
Obviously independent promoters are not by default paragons of low prices and value (as we know in Dublin) but you might expect some at least not to bleed fans dry.
Comment by Ronan | December 9, 2007 at 1:50 pmisn’t it obvious that bands are complicit in the whole business?
It may be to you Ronan, but time and time again, when I have made that same point, I have been shot down in flames here. Many, many people have blame the promoters, Ticketmaster, the record label and probably even the ex- Minister for Justice for the ticket price before they blamed the band.
As I pointed out in thsi piece - http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2007/1130/1196263158458.html - it is the band and the band alone who set the ticket price. It’s telling that not one promoter or band or agent have contradicted the facts in this piece.
I just don’t think singling out one particular act is fair.
I haven’t. It started with people talking about PJ Harvey and now, they’re talking about Radiohead. The fact that these two acts are supposed to have so-called “indie” cred may be the reason why people are so exercised about the ticket prices for these gigs.
Another problem in Dublin is that there is so little independent promotion, with so few venues to do it in
And that’s about to get worse - http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2007/1129/1196263120088.html
Comment by Jim Carroll | December 9, 2007 at 7:32 pmthank god I’m leaving
Comment by Ronan | December 10, 2007 at 11:46 amif you are a true fan then the price to see them live shouldnt matter!
Comment by dec | June 5, 2008 at 7:37 pmits worth noting, that muse are charging the same price for there gig, and the killers as well, i’m going to this radiohead gig tonight, i just think that this price is the norm for most gigs in ireland lately, moan all you want, but if you dont wanna pay the prices, dont go, it just seems to be the average price of a gig these days, look at how much oxegen is this year, its jumped up an awful lot since last years price
Comment by Keith | June 6, 2008 at 10:31 am