Archive for March, 2009
Gavin DeGraw’s “FREE”
Be sure to pick up a copy of Gavin DeGraw’s new album, “FREE,” in stores today.
Adrina Thorpe Website Launches
We’re proud to announce the launch of www.halflightandshadows.com, the official website for Adrina Thorpe’s new album: Halflight and Shadows.
Duran Duran and The Bootleg Issue
Many hard-core Duran Duran fans woke up yesterday morning to discover their favorite fan site duranduran.no had been taken down due to a cease and desist order involving the band and its lawyers. This site was an infamous hangout for the band’s fandom for many years – a place to listen to and download bootlegs of Duran Duran performances, but also a place to hear demos of unreleased tracks. The site had co-existed peacefully with the band up until yesterday when the webmaster took down the site and replaced it with this message:
Following receipt of a letter from Duran Duran’s lawyers, Grubman Indursey & Shire P.C., on the 23rd of February 2009, duranduran.no has ceased to exist.
We cannot comment further on the actual contents of it, however we’d like to say thank you to everyone who has visited us over the years & helped to make the site what it was, as well as for the hundreds of messages of dismay, support & good wishes which we have received over the last week – Klaus & PocketDemon.Separately, since I am deeply upset by their actions, a list of “For Sale Items” of my entire collection of official items and memorabilia, can be found here
- Klaus.
So my question is this? Are bootlegs and this sort of material bad for business? Or do they keep fans interested in a band that many already feel don’t truly care about fans. Could this be the sort of attitude that prevented the band’s last album from pushing many copies? Or is the band in the right in requesting that such a site be taken down? Also, why the wait? This site has been around for many years… Why request it be taken down now?
My personal opinion is that the fans come first, no matter what. Especially if you’re struggling with album sales and maintaining your current deal with your label. This sort of material has always kept fans energized in the past, especially with new album releases. It kept fans engaged in a way that the band doesn’t seem to understand is so important. So why not embrace this site and its fans? Why punish it? Because, in the end, the backlash from taking this fan favorite down is going to be more hurtful than helpful. The message boards are full of angry fans right now.
Angry fans are not good for business, in any shape, form or fashion. Also, there was no profit being made from this site.
But that’s my opinion. What’s yours?
(Speaking of fandom, I really should blog about my experiences at the Gallifrey 2009 Doctor Who convention. That was such a positive and great lesson in fandom that I should really share.)