Post-Riot Act Moneygrab

[stip]

I think I just don't judge a band by the quality of their shirts.

you're right. I left out dog collars.


I don't agree with that position spenno. Not as a blanket statement. I'm not sure what the facebook post thing is referring to, but otherwise I pretty much am not judging the band as a band because of the merchandising decisions the business arm decides to make. At least none of the ones that they've made so far, since the critique of almost all of them seems to be that pearl jam is exploiting their fans by giving them things they want to buy that other fans (or ex-fans in some cases) don't think are necessary.

[given2trade]

looooool

so you go after my 10 club merchandising line because the other stuff is completely indefensible.

music sucks and they are corporate whores. and the 10 club really really sucks but it's ok that they sell dog collars. got it.

That last sentence is correct. Someone, somewhere is a happier person because they have that dog collar.

i contemplated buying a dog collar for about 1 minute...would have been first pearl jam item (including the albums) i've bought in years (besides concert tickets)

[stip]

looooool

so you go after my 10 club merchandising line because the other stuff is completely indefensible.

music sucks and they are corporate whores. and the 10 club really really sucks but it's ok that they sell dog collars. got it.

That last sentence is correct. Someone, somewhere is a happier person because they have that dog collar.

Just because some dolt somewhere will pay money for something, anything with Pearl Jam written on it doesn't necessarily mean the band should aggressively market things to them - or, more accurately, that there isn't any downside to doing so.

what is the downside besides the fact that you, Speeno, don't like it? Please direct your answer to the following poster:

Not to contradict what goes on in other threads around here, but I for one love the current trend of releasing limited edition vinyl to 10C only. They have recognized that there are enough of us who are into this type of collectable and their doing it the right way in offering it to fan club nerds only.

I love the band, I love vinyl and I love collecting... it's the Fanboy trifecta!

p.s. The Sheep figures I didn't really understand, but there seem to be enough people who were into it, so good for them!

[Strat]

Oh my.

[Kaius]

Someone go break the tie between Self & LetMeSleep over here, http://forums.theskyiscrape.com/viewtop ... f=6&t=3790. Neither one of them have any members of Pearl Jam in their bands.

[stip]

looooool

so you go after my 10 club merchandising line because the other stuff is completely indefensible.

music sucks and they are corporate whores. and the 10 club really really sucks but it's ok that they sell dog collars. got it.

That last sentence is correct. Someone, somewhere is a happier person because they have that dog collar.

i contemplated buying a dog collar for about 1 minute...would have been first pearl jam item (including the albums) i've bought in years (besides concert tickets)

If they were cheaper, and not No Code, I totally would have bought one for my dog.

[given2trade]

Let me explain the merchandising criticism in a different way.

Pearl Jam is aware 500-2500 people are so mentally obsessed with the band (in an unhealthy way) they will buy anything they put out, especially if limited edition, and regardless of whether they can afford it.

Pearl Jam has milked the living shit out of these poor people for years now. That's our problem. And it's a MINOR problem compared to all the other problems.

[Norah]

I thought the No Code dog collar was pretty cool, just overpriced. If it was cheaper I was getting one for Maggie.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

Team Thenno.

[given2trade]

I thought the No Code dog collar was pretty cool, just overpriced. If it was cheaper I was getting one for Maggie.

That was on the one I was going to buy. Then I realized it was way overpriced and I hate Pearl Jam now. Otherwise, I had it in the cart.

[given2trade]

Spenno. His name was spenno I think.

[Norah]

I thought the No Code dog collar was pretty cool, just overpriced. If it was cheaper I was getting one for Maggie.

That was on the one I was going to buy. Then I realized it was way overpriced and I hate Pearl Jam now. Otherwise, I had it in the cart.

I still listen to the good old years. Not super regularly, but No Code, Binaural, and Yield are all in my car.

[Strat]

Let me explain the merchandising criticism in a different way.

Pearl Jam is aware 500-2500 people are so mentally obsessed with the band (in an unhealthy way) they will buy anything they put out, especially if limited edition, and regardless of whether they can afford it.

Pearl Jam has milked the living shit out of these poor people for years now. That's our problem. And it's a MINOR problem compared to all the other problems.

Were you were that fan in the mid 90's though? (honest question). Is there any part of you that has such a disgust for it now just because you think the music sucks?

[PryTo]

Skip ahead to the 11:20 mark. Gene Simmons is pretty spot on. "Everybody goes out on tour and sells T-shirts. You're in the Kiss business, baby."

[BurtReynolds]

i dont understand why i'm broke all the time but people can afford to buy dog collars and vinyl copies of music they already have. What am I doing wrong?

[BurtReynolds]

Its probably all the cocaine.

[Norah]

I'd rather the cocaine.

[Birds in Hell]

I think I just don't judge a band by the quality of their shirts.

you're right. I left out dog collars.


I don't agree with that position spenno. Not as a blanket statement. I'm not sure what the facebook post thing is referring to, but otherwise I pretty much am not judging the band as a band because of the merchandising decisions the business arm decides to make. At least none of the ones that they've made so far, since the critique of almost all of them seems to be that pearl jam is exploiting their fans by giving them things they want to buy that other fans (or ex-fans in some cases) don't think are necessary.

The point I was trying to make by way of the strawman picture is that what you wrote is a distortion of my post: nobody claimed Pearl Jam sucks solely because they make bad t-shirts or sell too many silly merchandise items.

My earlier position was simply that it's understandable that people will take those things into consideration, among other more important things like the quality of the music and live shows, when taking stock of how they feel about the band at this point in time. That's all.

[stip]

Skip ahead to the 11:20 mark. Gene Simmons is pretty spot on. "Everybody goes out on tour and sells T-shirts. You're in the Kiss business, baby."

he's definitely onto something. If a band is an important part of your identity you'll want to find ways to attach yourself to that band. Wearing the gear and buying the stuff is a way to make yourself a part of it. Sports teams work the same way. Movies. All of it.

I think Simmons is wrong to reduce the music to the merchandise, but the merchandise is a reflection of the commitment you have to the music.

That's not to say that you need the merchandise to feel that connection, but that's where it's coming from. And to a point any organization that makes this stuff available for people to get is doing a service for their fans.

The difference between the t-shirt and those moonlander figurines is a difference of degree, not kind. And in the absence of harm being done there's no obvious place to draw the finish line

[epilogue]

I'd rather the cocaine.

Real Talk: I've never done cocaine.

Should I?