Motörhead and Nirvana are probably in the same situation.
The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
201–210 of 232 posts
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#202I was reading an interview with the band "Agriculture" recently and they had a really interesting take on this. From this interview https://www.treblezine.com/agriculture-interview-quiet-viole... : "DM: We exist as a band because we sell t-shirts. Our job is that we sell t-shirts and the way we promote those t-shirts is by playing music. If we were talking strictly economically, that’s just a fact. LL: Weirdly, it’s…
MC Frontalot and MC Lars had a fun take on this same concept in "Captains of Industry", which you may enjoy, depending on your feelings on old nerdcore hip-hop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTrKmP7oU9U It's pretty funny, and includes Fronalot's characteristic wordplay with lyrics like: > Captains are we. Of what? Industry. Which could also be taken as: > Captains are we, of what industry?
I was hoping someone made this comment! It remains high on my list of Frontalot songs. Big fan of “I’ll Form the Head” and “Stoop Sale” also from that album as well.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#203My favorite example of this is Joy Division. They’re the band with that cool white-on-black ridge line plot shirt. If you haven’t listened to their music before, go check it out. You probably won’t like it very much. I don’t know how many records or shirts they sold, but their ratio of shirts sold to records sold has to be one of the wildest.
Has anybody recently interviewed Ian Curtis to get his thoughts about their shirt sales?
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's very smart of them to recognize that. The world is full of these weird business cases where people aren't aware of the actual product, like how Starbucks US morphed from a coffee shop into an iced dessert drinks company that also incidentally sells hot coffee. Edit: Other fun examples - In the mid-2000s, Porsche was an incredibly successful hedge fund that also sold cars who tried to acquire VW using a short squ…
> Most US airlines are profitable frequently flier points companies that also operate airplanes to justify the program. Freakonomics Radio had a series about airlines. They claimed this was not true and that frequently flier points only accounted for 5% of profits. https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/freakonomics-radio-take... WSJ said it was true: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTTW8RDJUEE I don't know who to beli…
The version I've heard is that airlines are credit card companies that also fly passengers on airplanes.
Also the one about Target being a real-estate company I've also heard about McDonald's.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#205My favorite example of this is Joy Division. They’re the band with that cool white-on-black ridge line plot shirt. If you haven’t listened to their music before, go check it out. You probably won’t like it very much. I don’t know how many records or shirts they sold, but their ratio of shirts sold to records sold has to be one of the wildest.
Has anybody recently interviewed Ian Curtis to get his thoughts about their shirt sales?
I doubt he would have much to say on the subject these days.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#206My favorite example of this is Joy Division. They’re the band with that cool white-on-black ridge line plot shirt. If you haven’t listened to their music before, go check it out. You probably won’t like it very much. I don’t know how many records or shirts they sold, but their ratio of shirts sold to records sold has to be one of the wildest.
That's a band I have seen mentioned here on HN quite a bit, but I have never heard of anywhere else. I proably do know a couple of their songs but just in a way that I would say "I've heard that before" not that I would be able to say "oh that's Joy Division."
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#207Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I want to support the band, but feel like only a fraction of the money spent on merch goes to the target. Maybe you don't have any friends that are in a band, but if it's the band members or friends of the band selling the merch, they are getting 100% of the profit. They design the shirts, they pay for the printing of the shirts, they then sell the shirts directly with their own hands. There's no middleman taking c…
I guess they are technically not middle men because they sit one the start of the value chain, but the company making the t-shirts, the one selling it and the one printing on it are still making good profits. On top of the actual costs of making those printed t-shirts. I imagine it's not hugely expensive at the volumes bands need, somewhere from $3-10 per t-shirt depending on quality, and maybe double that for hoodie…
Slight correction: I just received an advertising blow-in from Ollie's listing Hanes and other brand women's tees for $1.99 each. That's for short sleeve, long sleeve or tank top in various colors. The indicated competition is stated to sell them for $2.49. Not that this is RETAIl pricing in the U.S.A.. I'm guessing wholesale will be even less.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#208I’m a big fan of rock and metal music and often go to concerts. I’ll always buy a t-shirt of the main band I go to see, even if I don’t particularly vibe with the design, because I know it’s an additional way to support a band I like. In my opinion that alone is worth it, but it is a fun piece of memorabilia. Although I don’t wear most of them in my day to day, especially the older ones. I’ve got shirts from about 20…
why don't they have donate pages or venmo QR codes at the concert? I am serious. I don't want more stuff. I don't need tshirts. I don't need trinkets. I legitimately love music and want to support, but it is so difficult. Best I can find is digital sales of an album that doesn't cost them any manufacturing/shipping costs.
I go to shows fairly often and I see bands with venmos and stuff all the time. Could just be the kind of concerts you're going to.
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#209Well, Brian Eno said of Velvet Underground's first album that it didn't sell many copies but everyone who bought it started a band.
Yeah, thinking the same with regard to the Ramones. They are name-dropped so often by bands that came since—pretty sure it is not because of a t-shirt.
They're definitely a household name because of the tshirt, same with Joy Division
Re: The truth that haunts the Ramones: 'They sold more T-shirts than records'
#210I was reading an interview with the band "Agriculture" recently and they had a really interesting take on this. From this interview https://www.treblezine.com/agriculture-interview-quiet-viole... : "DM: We exist as a band because we sell t-shirts. Our job is that we sell t-shirts and the way we promote those t-shirts is by playing music. If we were talking strictly economically, that’s just a fact. LL: Weirdly, it’s…
It's very smart of them to recognize that. The world is full of these weird business cases where people aren't aware of the actual product, like how Starbucks US morphed from a coffee shop into an iced dessert drinks company that also incidentally sells hot coffee. Edit: Other fun examples - In the mid-2000s, Porsche was an incredibly successful hedge fund that also sold cars who tried to acquire VW using a short squ…
> Target US is a real estate company that operates also (profitable) stores.
They're exactly as much a real estate company than a mom & pop store that owns their space. They just have a lot of stores.