Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

english.elpais.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 232 posts

Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

#21

Post by lb1lf »

hvs wrote: post #8
TMWNN wrote: post #4

Isn'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 guess that's the definition of 'iconic' - many a time I have approached someone wearing a Ramones or Motörhead T-shirt trying to chat a bit, only to be told 'Sorry, don't know the music at all, but the shirt is cool...'

Gabba gabba hey!

Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

#22

Post by mosessupposed »

deeg wrote: post #7

If the Ramones put their name on all sorts of merchandise does that make them sellouts? I joke, of course, and I'm a big Ramones fan. I've had numerous iterations of that shirt over the years. I often use them as an example when discussing "what is good art?" They are one of the most influential bands of all time and yet they were terrible musicians.

I believe in the idea that if you really do the hell out of something, you can make up for a lot of shortcomings. Quantity and spirit can substitute for quality in almost all artistic pursuits.

Here's Bill Withers on selling out: “Sellout… I’m not crazy about the word. We’re all entrepreneurs. To me, I don’t care if you own a furniture store or whatever – the best sign you can put up is SOLD OUT.”

Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

#28

Post by follie »

jimt1234 wrote: post #5

Seems like The Ramones were way ahead of their time, whether they knew it or not. Before the digital age, most bands made the bulk of their their money from record sales. Concert tours were just promotional events for the latest album. That model has since been flipped to what The Ramones were doing 50 years ago - "music sales" earns little compared to concerts and merchandising. Now that's punk rock! LOL

I think you are describing the most successful bands. I wouldn't be surprised if the average band good enough to play a small venue made more money on the shirts than the records and tapes. People weren't choosing them from among all the bands at the record store but from all the experiences in the town that night.

Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

#29

Post by mtts »

deeg wrote: post #7

If the Ramones put their name on all sorts of merchandise does that make them sellouts? I joke, of course, and I'm a big Ramones fan. I've had numerous iterations of that shirt over the years. I often use them as an example when discussing "what is good art?" They are one of the most influential bands of all time and yet they were terrible musicians.

> they were terrible musicians

Not only are the songs they wrote really good and catchy, Ramones are one of those bands where it sounds so easy anyone can do it but if you give it a try, you quickly find out it’s difficult to get the nuances right and your results, unlike theirs, sound crude and obviously amateurish.

They’re like AC/DC in that respect. Or Melvins.

Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'

#30

Post by noobermin »

mrandish wrote: post #17

I 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.

If you read the article, it will be clear that one of its core theses is that their lighting tech and graphic designer was essentially a pioneer of selling merchandise as a revenue generator for a band.
Post reply on HN