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Buying Dead Artists Records |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 168
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Buying Dead Artists Records
I don't get it.
People who go out and buy someone's music because they have passed away. Obviously it's sad when an artist dies, but if you are a fan or just liked a particular album, you would have bought it when they were alive. What's the reason for buying it now? Especially if that artist latest work isn't that good, or to your taste? Did it suddenly become better when they died, or you suddenly started liking them more when they passed? It smacks of the herd mentally. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,885
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Quote:
I don't get it.
People who go out and buy someone's music because they have passed away. Obviously it's sad when an artist dies, but if you are a fan or just liked a particular album, you would have bought it when they were alive. What's the reason for buying it now? Especially if that artist latest work isn't that good, or to your taste? Did it suddenly become better when they died, or you suddenly started liking them more when they passed? It smacks of the herd mentally. The "herd mentality" has been around since time immemorial; how many young kids choose to buy the same stuff because they're influenced by their peers? It's all about "belonging." Then there are those who buy other stuff just to be "different." Sad about Bowie, never liked his music much, certainly never bought any. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,010
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Quote:
I don't get it.
People who go out and buy someone's music because they have passed away. Obviously it's sad when an artist dies, but if you are a fan or just liked a particular album, you would have bought it when they were alive. What's the reason for buying it now? Especially if that artist latest work isn't that good, or to your taste? Did it suddenly become better when they died, or you suddenly started liking them more when they passed? It smacks of the herd mentally. That's what happened to me and Pink Floyd. Not a death that triggered it but the Live 8 performance made me realise what I had been missing. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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Quote:
if you are a fan or just liked a particular album, you would have bought it when they were alive.
But I do agree with bryemycaz. For many people it is the publicity and radioplay following the death of an artist that brings the music to their attention. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 588
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It's actually pretty simple. Bowie and his music has been played on TV and radio for the 2 days. Morbidly, passing away is the best exposure an artist can get. I couldn't turn the TV on yesterday without being greeted by a Bowie song. People who knew little about him will have heard a lot of his music in the past few days and many will like what they hear. Also, people who were Bowie fans back in the day may have remembered just how much they loved him due to the exposure and gone out to buy the stuff they haven't heard from him.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 100
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Like the OP and Doghouse Riley, I also put it down to herd mentality, for the most part but I'm sure there are also plenty of people who do just hear the songs and decide they like them enough to buy/try more of the artist's work to be fair.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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I don't know anyone who buys albums solely because of "the herd mentality", ie because other people are doing so. People do sometimes buy because someone has recommended it, but that's hardly the same thing.
Anyway! It's never been easier to hear an album before buying it, so most people buying must like what they hear. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Posts: 29,551
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I've never purchased anyone's music just because they've died and I certainly won't be buying Bowie's as I already own everything he's done usually in multiple formats
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#9 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
Posts: 25,885
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Quote:
I don't know anyone who buys albums solely because of "the herd mentality", ie because other people are doing so. People do sometimes buy because someone has recommended it, but that's hardly the same thing.
Anyway! It's never been easier to hear an album before buying it, so most people buying must like what they hear. Trust me, it's what some kids have done since records were invented. They want to be thought as "cool" as those whom they aspire to be like. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Quote:
I didn't mean adults. Though I bet that occasionally happens.
Trust me, it's what some kids have done since records were invented. They want to be thought as "cool" as those whom they aspire to be like. |
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#11 |
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Quote:
I don't see the kids buying up Bowie albums because he's died though.
Wasn't there a resurgence of sales of Presley's records after he died? The record companies take advantage of the death of an artist. Expect more compilations of Bowie's back catalogue becoming available. That'll produce sales. Jazz has a particular longevity. I can remember a lot of vinyl albums of popular albums becoming unavailable as they'd been deleted. So second-hand copies fetched a premium price. But then CDs came in and a lot of these long deleted albums became available again on CD, often with "bonus tracks." The record companies had a field day. |
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#12 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 477
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Quote:
I didn't mean adults. Though I bet that occasionally happens.
Trust me, it's what some kids have done since records were invented. They want to be thought as "cool" as those whom they aspire to be like. |
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#13 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 477
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Quote:
Jazz has a particular longevity. . Compared to what? "A Jazz Soul tune I have several versions of" |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,250
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Quote:
No that'll be the adults.
Wasn't there a resurgence of sales of Presley's records after he died? The record companies take advantage of the death of an artist. Expect more compilations of Bowie's back catalogue becoming available. That'll produce sales. It wouldn't surprise me if there is a new 'Best of Bowie' type album out by Christmas. I wonder if the record company have the rights to any unreleased material to release? They have done a few "new" Michael Jackson albums using unreleased material, so I wouldn't rule it out. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 824
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Quote:
I don't get it.
People who go out and buy someone's music because they have passed away. Obviously it's sad when an artist dies, but if you are a fan or just liked a particular album, you would have bought it when they were alive. What's the reason for buying it now? Especially if that artist latest work isn't that good, or to your taste? Did it suddenly become better when they died, or you suddenly started liking them more when they passed? It smacks of the herd mentally. ![]() God bless you and his family always!!! Holly |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
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Quote:
I don't think music was as available back when Elvis died to how it is now. You can buy an album just by the click of a button these days without leaving your bed from any era of music.
It wouldn't surprise me if there is a new 'Best of Bowie' type album out by Christmas. I wonder if the record company have the rights to any unreleased material to release? They have done a few "new" Michael Jackson albums using unreleased material, so I wouldn't rule it out. It wouldn't surprise me if this happened with Bowie. |
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#17 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 477
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Quote:
What often happens, unreleased recordings some of which may have been considered at the time, not of high enough musical quality, or for other reasons, which then sat on a shelf for decades, suddenly become "marketable" when an artist dies.
It wouldn't surprise me if this happened with Bowie. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,467
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What negativity. Blackstar has been heavily promoted, up until Bowie's death yesterday, so I will be surprised if it didn't continue to sell well regardless of his unfortunate demise. It's a herd like mentality to be so dismissive.
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#19 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1,301
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its sad but that's the way it is. I wasn't a David Bowie fan and still not now he's passed [although it is sad]. However I do remember the day Whitney died, I did play a lot of her music around the house that day but mainly because it was all the music channels played. But it was songs I liked before she died so it wasn't like I suddenly decided to like her just before she died
I must admit though that I don't understand people who has never bought a single album from the artists then found out they die and suddenly rush out and buy their albums. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: North-West England
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Pretty sure most of the demo' s alternative versions etc are already out there? You've said you never liked him or bought anything by him , so why comment?
You and I have no idea how much unreleased material is still available. Of anyone's. I actually said, I never liked his music much. Why shouldn't I comment if I choose? You might think he was the best thing since sliced bread, you're entitled to that opinion, it makes no difference to me. I've in no way criticised his music. |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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My youngest brother said to me according to his long-time producer, Tony Visconti, they had recorded a lot of songs during the sessions to "Blackstar" and that there could very well be plans for a deluxe version with additional tracks; much like they did with "The Next Day" back in 2013.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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Quote:
I must admit though that I don't understand people who has never bought a single album from the artists then found out they die and suddenly rush out and buy their albums.
Another aspect is that an artist like David Bowie has produced a large body of work, and only the keenest fans will have kept up with it all. So you have people who enjoyed Ziggy Stardust in the 70s, or Let's Dance in the 80s, then moved on to other things. These are the people who will be buying more recent albums that they missed. |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 100
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Quote:
What negativity. Blackstar has been heavily promoted, up until Bowie's death yesterday, so I will be surprised if it didn't continue to sell well regardless of his unfortunate demise. It's a herd like mentality to be so dismissive.
I think the fact that this does happen EVERY SINGLE TIME an artist dies these days does speak volumes for the herd mentality argument...how else do you explain it? I don't think anyone is saying Blackstar isn't a great album and doesn't deserve to do well on its own merits...certainly not me. But the fact that it is THE thing to do now to rush off to iTunes and get an artist to number one directly after their death is a fad and one I can't relate to. |
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#24 |
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Posts: 29,551
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It's not negativity at all. I was a huge fan of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and this time Bowie...to see every Tom, Dick and Harry suddenly loving their songs/movies/whatever products directly after they die simply bemuses me greatly.
I think the fact that this does happen EVERY SINGLE TIME an artist dies these days does speak volumes for the herd mentality argument...how else do you explain it? I don't think anyone is saying Blackstar isn't a great album and doesn't deserve to do well on its own merits...certainly not me. But the fact that it is THE thing to do now to rush off to iTunes and get an artist to number one directly after their death is a fad and one I can't relate to. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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Quote:
It's not negativity at all. I was a huge fan of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and this time Bowie...to see every Tom, Dick and Harry suddenly loving their songs/movies/whatever products directly after they die simply bemuses me greatly.
I think the fact that this does happen EVERY SINGLE TIME an artist dies these days does speak volumes for the herd mentality argument...how else do you explain it? I don't think anyone is saying Blackstar isn't a great album and doesn't deserve to do well on its own merits...certainly not me. But the fact that it is THE thing to do now to rush off to iTunes and get an artist to number one directly after their death is a fad and one I can't relate to. As for Blackstar, it had only just been released so it's impossible to know how much quicker it has sold in the circumstances. Certainly 'The Next Day' sold very well without the aid of the Grim Reaper. |
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