djcalpal Posted February 8 Posted February 8 The Last Payola Party. Don't get me wrong, some of the songs on the album are decent (Nothing Matters is great), but the overexposure of this band in the UK press / media vs. actual demand and consumption of their music is beyond suspicious. 1
headztrong Posted February 8 Posted February 8 57 minutes ago, djcalpal said: The Last Payola Party. Don't get me wrong, some of the songs on the album are decent (Nothing Matters is great), but the overexposure of this band in the UK press / media vs. actual demand and consumption of their music is beyond suspicious. I agree about the overexposure. But why suspicious? It's not like they're a indie band, they have a whole label behind them and they're doing their job.
djcalpal Posted February 8 Posted February 8 4 minutes ago, headztrong said: I agree about the overexposure. But why suspicious? It's not like they're a indie band, they have a whole label behind them and they're doing their job. Suspicious that a band who had only released 5 songs prior to last week, with most underperforming (1-2M streams total), very little radio support, highest charting single at #22... are only worth 3,000 tickets in London (their biggest market)... but are on every magazine cover, billboard, winning Brit Rising Star and BBC Sound of 2024 awards... it all just came out of nowhere? The label have seemingly haemorrhaged money into their marketing budget, but based on first week numbers there's no chance they will ever recoup on the spend. Labels are very unlikely to spend like that in the current climate unless they know they're going to get a return on their investment, so I just wonder if there's a third party investor at play here. 2 1
headztrong Posted February 8 Posted February 8 28 minutes ago, djcalpal said: Suspicious that a band who had only released 5 songs prior to last week, with most underperforming (1-2M streams total), very little radio support, highest charting single at #22... are only worth 3,000 tickets in London (their biggest market)... but are on every magazine cover, billboard, winning Brit Rising Star and BBC Sound of 2024 awards... it all just came out of nowhere? The label have seemingly haemorrhaged money into their marketing budget, but based on first week numbers there's no chance they will ever recoup on the spend. Labels are very unlikely to spend like that in the current climate unless they know they're going to get a return on their investment, so I just wonder if there's a third party investor at play here. Yeah, you have a point. I still think they're just on the cusp of stardom and their label sees that so that's why they're getting all this promo. Their concert was seriously one of the best I've seen and the album is projected to sell 30k first week, which is a really good number for a debut album. They also have 2 dates at Eventim Apollo in London for their autumn tour, let's see how it goes. 3
bruninho Posted February 8 Posted February 8 1 hour ago, djcalpal said: Suspicious that a band who had only released 5 songs prior to last week, with most underperforming (1-2M streams total), very little radio support, highest charting single at #22... are only worth 3,000 tickets in London (their biggest market)... but are on every magazine cover, billboard, winning Brit Rising Star and BBC Sound of 2024 awards... it all just came out of nowhere? The label have seemingly haemorrhaged money into their marketing budget, but based on first week numbers there's no chance they will ever recoup on the spend. Labels are very unlikely to spend like that in the current climate unless they know they're going to get a return on their investment, so I just wonder if there's a third party investor at play here. it's called investment...and a lot of artists have it. It shouldn't be labeled as payola. It's the most normal thing to happen in the music industry once an artist is discovered and signed by people who truly believe in their potential. Doesn't make sense to be bothered about it 3
djcalpal Posted February 8 Posted February 8 4 hours ago, bruninho said: it's called investment...and a lot of artists have it. It shouldn't be labeled as payola. It's the most normal thing to happen in the music industry once an artist is discovered and signed by people who truly believe in their potential. Doesn't make sense to be bothered about it I've worked in the music industry for over a decade and run an independent label. This level of investment for a band with 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify is very unusual. I haven't seen such a punchy ATL or OOH marketing campaign for an emerging act in this country in years, that's all I'm saying! Major labels don't sign artists on potential anymore, they sign them on metrics. Artist development doesn't happen the way it did 10 years ago - artists are expected to do the ground work themselves and demonstrate moderate success before a major label will give them any consideration. I'm not bothered by it, but I'm sceptical.
bruninho Posted February 8 Posted February 8 7 hours ago, djcalpal said: I've worked in the music industry for over a decade and run an independent label. This level of investment for a band with 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify is very unusual. I haven't seen such a punchy ATL or OOH marketing campaign for an emerging act in this country in years, that's all I'm saying! Major labels don't sign artists on potential anymore, they sign them on metrics. Artist development doesn't happen the way it did 10 years ago - artists are expected to do the ground work themselves and demonstrate moderate success before a major label will give them any consideration. I'm not bothered by it, but I'm sceptical. well...the thing is: what is payola if not investment? Just a different name, but a bit pejorative. Someone's investing, whether it's unusual or not.
djcalpal Posted February 9 Posted February 9 8 hours ago, bruninho said: well...the thing is: what is payola if not investment? Just a different name, but a bit pejorative. Someone's investing, whether it's unusual or not. I think it comes down to ethics. Payola suggests DSPs / radio / award show bodies etc. are being bribed or incentivised to support an artist, rather than just pitched to.
Pendulum Posted February 11 Posted February 11 On 2/8/2024 at 11:26 AM, djcalpal said: Suspicious that a band who had only released 5 songs prior to last week, with most underperforming (1-2M streams total), very little radio support, highest charting single at #22... are only worth 3,000 tickets in London (their biggest market)... but are on every magazine cover, billboard, winning Brit Rising Star and BBC Sound of 2024 awards... it all just came out of nowhere? The label have seemingly haemorrhaged money into their marketing budget, but based on first week numbers there's no chance they will ever recoup on the spend. Labels are very unlikely to spend like that in the current climate unless they know they're going to get a return on their investment, so I just wonder if there's a third party investor at play here. it's Wet Leg all over again 3
Cooper Posted February 11 Posted February 11 Saw them live last summer, very good. Liking the album as well. Nothing groundbreaking or anything, but a good listen.
ATRL Moderator khalyan Posted March 12 ATRL Moderator Posted March 12 The Feminine Urge was recommended for me on AM and I immediately fell in love. Going through the album there really isn’t a bad song! Such a great debut! 1
JoeAg Posted March 13 Posted March 13 Caesar on a TV Screen has to be one of the catchiest songs ever written lmao it’s just so f*cking brilliant, the chord progressions are so thrilling the chorus and the outro WHEW
luxtronica Posted May 3 Posted May 3 10/10. one of the best albums ive heard this year so far, excellent <3
makeawish Posted May 3 Posted May 3 i've been listening to this and parts of it are absolutely amazing (the singles esp but also feminine urge and beautiful boy are terrific) but it does drift off into more gothy territory at times and their posh kid theatricality can bug me a bit. i feel like i haven't given it enough attention yet as there have been so many great releases already this year and thru the end of 2023, parts of it feel like if i knew it better i could get along with more of it. people inside the uk will know ofc but the promotional campaign for this has been WILD. the amount of money behind this band is very weird for something that seems to have been signed on the basis of "get me the next wet leg!" or something and the sheer amount of industry involvement (BBC R1 and 6, Brits, etc) has felt deeply suspicious. it doesn't necessarily bother me that much because ofc this is how it often works for pop acts but i do wonder what they hope to achieve, the long term return of indie rock to the top of the charts feels like a reach tbh.
makeawish Posted May 3 Posted May 3 actually giving it a listen now and really enjoying all the bits that i'm not usually that bothered about when i'm walking around with it on lol. also, reminded of this for atrl pop crossover reasons (they turn it into something that sounds like a queen song and it's not bad)
makeawish Posted May 3 Posted May 3 that transition from the orchestral bit into sinner really is terrific isn't it (i'll stop)
coldoutside Posted May 4 Posted May 4 i still havent listened to the whole album, shame on me. :D spotify is always pushing nothing matters on me though, and IVE ALREADY LISTENED TO NOTHING MATTERS LIKE 80 TIMES SPOTIFY, NO NEED.
makeawish Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Yeah, I'm not a big autoplay conspiracy theorist, it's usually people still on about it when a song has a billion streams or something, but nothing matters charted on autoplay is a hill I'm absolutely dying on, it comes on after everything (still a bop but like I say, the promotional cash behind this thing!)
glitch Posted May 25 Posted May 25 I just saw them live at Radio 1 Big Weekend and the lead singer is such a star wtf 1
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