How does it haunt them when they are dead?
The Ramones are haunting us all.
The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
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Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#12They're played every day on the radio, on streaming services, etc. Billions of listens vs. thousands (?) of shirts.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#13Isn't it normal and typical for musical acts to make more money from concert tours and merchandise sales than the music itself?
I seem to recall reading that Gary Holt or Jack Gibson, either from Exodus, claim that despite being known worldwide as a thrash metal act they have to support themselves selling t-shirts, since their earnings from touring, albums or streamings won't cover their expenses
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#14Isn't it normal and typical for musical acts to make more money from concert tours and merchandise sales than the music itself?
As is noted in the article, selling band shirts was not yet common practice when the Ramones starting doing it. Until Napster came along tours were marketing for albums, which were the primary revenue source.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#15They're played every day on the radio, on streaming services, etc. Billions of listens vs. thousands (?) of shirts.
> Billions of listens vs. thousands (?) of shirts.
how much of the revenue derived from those listens turn into commission to the musicians?
Those t-shirt sales came about because of those listens, so even tho the music wasn't as revenue generating, it acts as the biggest funnel.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#16Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#17I read that Aerosmith made more money from Guitar Hero game royalties than from their albums. And it's been true for a long time that most acts make more from touring and merch than song sales.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#18They're played every day on the radio, on streaming services, etc. Billions of listens vs. thousands (?) of shirts.
> Billions of listens vs. thousands (?) of shirts. how much of the revenue derived from those listens turn into commission to the musicians? Those t-shirt sales came about because of those listens, so even tho the music wasn't as revenue generating, it acts as the biggest funnel.
I mean I sort of believe that most Ramones t-shirt sales came along because of the listens, but then again I see lots of Misfits t-shirts on kids born this century and considering it's in Denmark it seems unlikely it's because their parents were big Misfits fans.
Of course Misfits had a much more impressive visual aesthetic, so that might explain their continuing design relevance.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#19Shawn Stussy printed shirts to promote his surfboards and ended up being the originator of “streetwear”
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#20Isn't it normal and typical for musical acts to make more money from concert tours and merchandise sales than the music itself?
It's not that they made more money from merchandise, it's that they sold more t-shirts than albums. Implying that more people were interested in the "image" of punk rock than the music.
I can wear out a t-shirt much faster than an album, tape or CD, and I am not very caring of the conditions of albums.
I've also never seen anyone slam dance carrying a Ramones album, but I have seen them slam dance wearing a Ramones t-shirt that got tore up.