News from Nick Barrett

 

This is the challenge of the modern prog band. Without a large fanbase, the musician may not be able to continue putting out material. But regular people have expenses too. And would I be wrong in saying CD/LP prices in the 70s/80s were much less than their equivalent now. In that case, people would be able to more easily buy music. $14-18 for a CD is a lot more than $10-11.

prog-chick wrote: stonebeard wrote: If Pendragon performs a concert near me, I'll fork over so much cash to see them, but like so many Euro prog bands, they don't have the fanbase or the funds. The Pendies are exploring the idea of a US tour next year, obviously they can't play in everyone's back yard, (as much as I am sure they'd love to!!!)as to lack of funds...... well, lets return to the original issue shall we??? Downloading damages all aspects of music. When folk buy the cd's a band can see where there fan base is, and tour accordingly, if it's nicked then you have little chance of seeing them, they don't know who you are, where you are, and the funds are lacking.

Too true, but we already know touring is so hard for prog bands, and I'm willing to bet this is one of the more primary reasons Pendragon is in debt. Studio time is not that expensive (and I think Nick has a home studio anyway), pressing CDs, etc cost probably a good chunck of the cash, but imagine the costs of putting on a tour! Of course, to me it doesn't matter if they tour much because I can't see them because they haven't yet come in range. For the record, I've bought everything I have from Pendragon, so they know where I am!

prog-chick wrote: stonebeard wrote: but they'd still not come where I am. .......ach Stonie, don't be so defeatist! ............. where are you? P-C

Edited by stonebeard - September 05 2007 at 12:44

 

1) Not getting the money for the album because the person cannot afford it.

 

2) Not getting the money for the album because the person cannot afford it, but they at least listened to it from a download, and your fanbase is likely strengthened.

 

Choose your option. Either way, you're not going to get the money.

 

If people have the money, then the situation is irrelevant. But expecting people to work enough to support their college expenses, living necessities, and also their "new music desire," is unrealistic. If I were the musician I'd rather people like my stuff while hearing it illegally than not even knowing about it.

 

If Pendragon performs a concert near me, I'll fork over so much cash to see them, but like so many Euro prog bands, they don't have the fanbase or the funds. Now if everybody bought all of their stuff legally, they'd have a lot more cash and could probably make the trip to the USA, but they'd still not come where I am.

 

Nick keeps saying that that downloading is like stealing, and in most cases it is. But you have to realize that many people wouldn't spend the money on a CD anyway, so there would be no money going into Nick's pocket at all, instead of it being taken out. A poor college student probably shouldn't spend $18 on a CD when they don't have to. I love Pendragon, so I will buy Pure, or whatever it's called when it's released, but don't blame the person, blame the circumstances. Some people, of course, aren't in such circumstances, so they deserve the blame, but I would never be too upset at a student with little spare money getting my CD, as long as they don't put it up on a torrent site.