Friday, May 15, 2009

What's in a Rename album?

Real Music for Real People
Weblink http://www.berlin-bridge.de/real/

Rename is doing a sort of subscription album. They’re not the first, not by a long shot, but they are the first in the synthpop scene to do this.

Some positive observations –
1. Most synthpop releases sell less than 500 copies. With this they sell to about 115 die hard fans, the ones who would have picked up the CD anyway, but get a premium for it. Instead of about $5 a sale they get about $55 a CD sold. Not bad.
2. And they get to make the album, press it, all at not cost to them. And key is there is no upfront cost, no credit card interest to pay etc.
3. It certainly has generated some buzz (i.e. – uhm, this blog!)

Some not so positive observations –
1. My impression is, and tell me if I am wrong, is that they are going to get $250 from Joe Smith and then record a song called “Joe Smith.” Not a song dedicated to Joe Smith (like others doing this scheme have done), but the actual song will be about Joe Smith. Pretty cool if you are Joe Smith, everyone else? Not so much.
2. In my mind music is about art, in the broadest way possible. Especially at this level where you don’t make real money. Art means different things to different people, but having someone pay you money and then say – write a song about this one thing – that’s uh, not art, it’s commerce, it’s Britney Spears territory. Now I know that patronage is an age old way to get art made, and often the patron would direct the artist to paint or sculpt something directly, but this feels different.
3. Ok, but, you can say, the band is still making music their way, it’s not like they are going to do a country song if Joe Smith likes country. True, but this leads me to my third point – by catering soooo much to fans are they going to Trekkie themselves (yes I just made that up, © 2009 me)? That is, will they appeal only to the people who already like them and not try to expand at all? Where is the incentive to chase new fans (however hopeless that is these days)? They made their money up front – Frankly they will come out of this (if it sells) just slightly ahead- why bother pimping the album when there is no reason (beyond fame, etc.!)

In short. I think it’s a trap. This particular idea. I will say that I have been watching these ideas (particularly the Jill Souble one) and have an idea to try it with Spray. Say $30 gets you the 3 Cd limited set, a T shirt and all of the digital singles that will come off the album…

I like something like this better because it does not tie the artist down at all yet it still gives the fans the feel of being on the inside.

Still, when all is said and done I wish Rename the bets of luck.


Children of a Laser GodSpray
"Queen Of Summer" (mp3)
from "Children of a Laser God"
(Ninthwave Media)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
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Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Puretracks
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB / Groupietunes
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

16 comments:

Arron said...

I have to admit : i was very skeptical about committing to write songs about subject matter supplied by someone else: but having had time to ponder it a bit, i don't think its such a bad idea.

After all, you can take an idea anywhere.

Often, in the stuff we do, some stuff is written by one member about something and their lives, and is finished by someone else in the band. SO the second person is doing exactly what rename intend.

Then of course, pop musical is supposed to be universal. Why would some relate less to a song about XYZ person, than ABC person who happens to be in a band ? Im not even sure that songwriters' have the most interesting lives anyway. Sitting in front their computer, or holed up with their friends the synths and drum machines :)

Im pretty sure it will be a good record !

john said...

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家出 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Todd Durrant said...

Well, as one of the people working on that Rename project, I can promise you, it is very artistically satisfying to be presented with an idea from Song Sponsors and then turn it into a fun song. I've had a lot of fun with the two songs written so far: "What's Wrong With You?" (observations from a farmer who gets flack for wearing a kilt), and "Mimo and Joe" (a song purchased as a gift to two friends getting married).

Is it a rip-off to pay $250 for a custom song? Well, if you don't have $250 and aren't interested, then sure. If you're a fan and love the idea of a song you helped to thematically create, then it's a huge bargain. Heck, you're paying MUCH less then minimum wage for a couple of guys to make you a song, if you figure in the time involved.

As for the sales figures...the conclusion that any synthpop band is catering to about 115 die hard fans is based on an assumption that...well, I don't know where it comes from. Rename sold out of 500 copies of the limited edition of the first album "Culture" in a couple of months. "Energize" has only a few of the 2CD editions left, and that didn't sell out as quickly because the 1-CD was sold at the same time. The band has also sold out of both previously released CD singles (500 units each) and singles are definitely a fan-only item. Despite the downturn in CD sales in general, it is pretty safe to say that there are more than 115 Rename fans out there.

One more quick note... 8 of 11 "Song Sponsor" spots have been filled, with many other "Fan Followers" who subscribed to receive all demos and the finished album. With that in mind, we feel the album is already a success and the project is in motion. We're excited to share the music with those who have been kind enough to support this unique effort :-)

-Todd

家出 said...

家出中の女性や泊まる所が無い女性達がネットカフェなどで、飲み放題のドリンクで空腹を満たす生活を送っています。当サイトはそんな女性達をサポートしたいという人たちと困っている女性たちの為のサイトです

セレブラブ said...

セレブ女性との割り切りお付き合いで大金を稼いでみませんか?女性に癒しと快楽、男性に謝礼とお互い満たしあえる当サイト、セレブラブはあなたの登録をお待ちしております。

夏フェス!! said...

夏フェス一緒に行ってくれる人募集!!夏の思い出一緒につくろぉ☆ megumi-0830@docomo.ne.jp 連絡してね♪

無料ゲーム said...

あなたのゲーマー度を無料ゲーム感覚で測定します。15個の質問に答えるだけの簡単測定で一度遊んでみませんか?ゲームが得意な人もそうでない人もぜひどうぞ。

素人 said...

Hな女性たちは素人ホストを自宅やホテルに呼び、ひとときの癒しを求めていらっしゃいます。当サイトでは男性ホスト様の人員が不足しており、一日3~4人の女性の相手をするホストもおられます。興味を持たれた方は当サイトにぜひお越しください

出会い系 said...

実は出会い系には…関係者用入り口があるのを知っていますか?広告主やスポンサー用に用意されたIDではサクラや業者が立ち入ることが出来ないようになっているのです。当サイトでは極秘に入手した関係者用URLが公開されています

逆援助 said...

男性はお金、女性は快楽を得る逆援助に興味はありませんか?お金を払っても性的欲求を満たしたいセレブ達との割り切り1日のお付き合いで当サイトでは大金を得ることができます。無料登録なのでアルバイト感覚でOK、詳しくはTOPページでどうぞ。

友達募集 said...

ホムペ完成記念!私の事みんなに知ってもらいたくて頑張りましたぁ。色々とご感想をお待ちしているので思った事を意見してください。メアドはほむぺにのせてありますぅ!★ fan.jna@docomo.ne.jp

家出 said...

夏休みで気軽に家出する女子○生が急増しています。しかし家出したはいいものの泊る所やお金が無い彼女たちは、掲示板などで泊めてくれる男性を探す子も多いようです。当掲示板にも夏休みに入ってから通常の3倍以上のメッセージが寄せられています

人妻 said...

今最もアツイバイトは人妻とのセフレ契約です。当サイトではお金を払ってでもセフレがほしい人妻が集まり、男性会員様との逆援生活を待っています。当サイトで欲求不満の女性との出会いをしてみませんか

素人 said...

素人ホストでは、男性のテクニック次第で女性会員様から高額な謝礼がもらえます。欲求不満な人妻や、男性と出会いが無い女性達が当サイトで男性を求めていらっしゃいます。興味のある方はTOPページからどうぞ

友達募集中 said...

少し魅惑な自分をネットだから公開してみました。普段言えない事など、思い切って告白しているプロフなので興味ある方はぜひ除いてみてください連絡待ってまぁす。 hinyaaaaa@docomo.ne.jp

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