The Charlatans have struck a deal to release their new album exclusively through the website of radio station Xfm.
The trickle through will begin with a new single ‘You Cross My Path’ on the 22nd of October, followed by the entire album in early 2008. Both will be available for free.
Put in context, the most salient aspect of this news story would be that a) If I was in The Charlatans, or in anyway involved in this deal, I would be feeling slightly gazumped at this juncture. An extract from the obligatory press release sticks its chest out and booms:
"The Charlatans and Xfm first started discussing the idea a couple of months ago and were really excited by the prospect of creating an industry first. The band had found themselves in the unique situation of being out of contract with a record label, owning their own recording studio and having the backing of Alan McGee of Alan McGee Management. Everyone thought that it would be a great way of getting their new material out to their fans."
Everyone, it would seem, including Radiohead; even if they did not seek the cooperation of an ailing radio station.
Point #2, or b) if you hanker after continuity - will the 1st of October, 2007 be remembered as something of a Black Monday for the music industry? The spiral's been heading downwards for a while now, but does this represent a tipping point? Is this really, as McGee exclaims: "the future business model!"
He continues:
"Why would you volunteer to join the army for 10 years unless you had no choice? Record companies are kind of like the army; very regulated. We were really excited when Xfm got behind us and were as enthusiastic about the download as we are - they are the first people to embrace music for the people. The band will get paid by more people coming to gigs, buying merchandise, publishing and synch fees."
Plenty here to DiScuss, if you'd like.
No
Again, this works with established artists, not new ones. So it's a "new model" for those that can afford it, not those that can't. I'm not saying it's a bad thing by any means, just that it's never going replace the methods of old for new artists. Is it?
No.
Because XFM won't touch anything that isn't "approved" by the right people. So it's basically no different to the Mail On Sunday giving away Prince's album, except that XFM have never explicitly supported the nazi party, hounded jews, muslims, the irish, single mothers, poor people, eastern Europeans, homosexuals, and Ken Livingstone. Well, not publicly anyway.
i love Les Charlies
but a bit of a PR stunt, and the fact that they can't actually get a record deal??
Aren't they
signed to Sanctuary, or was that just for the one album?
Anyway - I love the Charlatans. Tim Burgess has already admitted that he was taking rather too many drugs when they made Sympatico, which may go some way to explaining why it was shit.
They've made at least 16 surprise comebacks now, so another one wouldn't be too much of a, er, surprise.
If they can do a "Wonderland" on us again...
...in comeback terms, not necessarily sound (although that wouldn't be unwelcome), I'll be happy.
I can't believe
they are still putting albums out. Despite it being available for free this wont rejuvinate my interest in these very dull musicians.
only for established artists?
more like only for bands who aren't selling any records any more and hope they can at least get a few people to gigs by giving their albums away. radiohead excluded, natch.
Radiohead
aren't selling records any more?
1)
"Alan McGee of Alan McGee management": LOL
2)
thats not a quote from him, as it's not in CAPS
FINALLY
MCGEE CAN ACTUALLY CLAIM TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING 'REVOLUTIONARY' ON THE INTERNET AND MENTION IT IN A MILLION BLOGS ON HIS MYSPACE PAGE.
HE IS SO DOWN WITH THE KIDS AND THE INTERNET, I WONDER WHAT'S ON HIS IPOD THIS MONTH...........!
I know the answer to this
a gangsta bagpipe crew from Lothian called CAPS LOCH
^lolz^
mcgee = nathan barley uncle
Its the future innit?
The only way to make money from music is through gigs and 'merch' as Mcgee says.
The Charlatans are just 1990 to me. Go away.
i'd still like to go and see them live...
but the last tour was so expensive there was absolutely now way i was going to go.
if they wanna get people going to their gigs again maybe they could just charge less...
Haha!
That's more 'punny' than Glasvegas..!
I laugh..
.. and I laugh again...