- Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:08 am
#15776
I really am not here trying to pick a fight. I'm a very straight-forward and blunt person, so when I see something I disagree with and it is in an open forum - as long as things don't get out of control then I just might feel a desire to speak up and express my thoughts. It seems some people think I'm out of line for daring to engage Spencer, but I'm merely addressing what I saw as contradictory behavior. I'm not angry here, nor am I trying to be confrontational. It this discussion is uncomfortable for some, don't read!
I do understand Spencer that you get free stuff from some labels and not others, I don't think everyone is sending you free shit non-stop. However, you had tried to tell us all before to take it easy on Mondo, while you're getting free records from them. Meanwhile, we're having a lot of our money tied up in their sales scheme, and all we want is the record or poster or both. We didn't want to be jerked around, ignored, delayed, treated poorly, etc. by them, and to me when you're telling us it's all okay because the owner is a cool guy...that just seems like you're aloof and don't get our concerns because you don't face them. I saw the same line of behavior with the showing off multiples of Last House on IG, while right at the same time coming on here to criticize the newest Waxwork release for having too many variants, and seemingly getting on to those that are willing to buy into that. Again, all that looked to me as though you were were trying to sway everyone with a 'do as I say, not as I do' approach since you have multiples of a new release (regardless of how you got it), and for selling multiples of your own releases.
I can't believe your comment about your experience in the business has taught you that you cannot influence people on what to buy...are you kidding!? Look at pop music! Look at rock! Look at dance music! This has been going on since the 1950s, the ENTIRE industry is built on telling people what to listen to. There is insane proof within the soundtrack community now with these $50 mainstream film soundtracks/compilations coming out from major labels, and people are actually buying theme at those prices! Just because there are some of us that do not follow the major music industry machine does not mean that there aren't those that cannot be swayed within an sub-genre. To be told that it's not possible to tell people what to buy is just disingenuous to me. I'm not claiming you're fully here to do so - you are here open and engaging with your soundtrack peers, yes. Hell that is why half these people in here jump on me immediately instead of listening to what I have to say, they have a strong desire to protect Spencer/DW from any criticism at all times. I guess that is part of the problem I saw with the comments recently in this thread - Spencer, you are well aware that most of these forum members kiss your ass on a regular basis (a crude way of saying they love what you do with DW), love anything and everything you post about, and would never criticize you at all. I'm not saying they are stupid or that it is wrong to do, but my point is that there is such a huge influence you have over these sub-genre buyers - for you to criticize the latest release of Waxwork for doing something you did, just doesn't sit well with me because you are very well aware of the following you have.
I know you said you didn't build your business off of selling variants...that is somewhat untrue. You did build your reputation as a great label by releasing long lost soundtracks, BUT - you became a powerhouse and much more successful more quickly than others by individual customers buying two, three, sometimes four versions of the exact same release. You didn't have them cannibalize your business at all by purchasing multiple variants, you simply put them into the situation where they threw even more money at you to own various editions because they liked the variations of art, colours, limited nature, etc. It is impossible for you to say you would have as much success/profit (and no, I'm not using profit in a negative way) to help you build DW into something this big with just having sold single versions of each release. It seems like the majority of sub-buyers also buy at least one version of the non-sub releases too, so you almost always have that built in - subbers buying two copies, a lot of buyers pick up a direct and store edition these days, and you have people on here saying they'll buy the store or direct editions PLUS the all-black sub if it gets released. You cannot escape what you criticize as long as you provide the means for them to do exactly what you don't want them to do.
With all that said, I love DW. I own every release (with the exception of Twins Of Evil), I have a t-shirt, I have stickers, I have a slipmat...I mean I definitely support DW through and through. I feel like I have to keep saying it, I'm not trying to pick a fight...and my main criticism is not liking what I saw flung out toward the Waxwork release coming from a label that sells multiple variants of every release. So does everyone get that...I'm NOT saying Spencer sucks, so please don't jump me for having a varying opinion! I gladly welcome disagreeing commentary, of course.
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