| Deacon Fan 08.03.2007 10:46 |
Do you think it would be plausible for Queen to start releasing stuff through the fan club perhaps, just good quality yet simple CDs and DVDs of stuff that otherwise might never come out, such as existing official concerts, documentaries, maybe various live shows and such? This would take care of problems/excuses such as 'flooding the market' or stuff being outdated.. things that wouldn't have to be heavily promoted or on store shelves.. just officially licensed versions , perhaps with a portion to benefit the fan club (or heck, the QueenOnline shop for that matter), maybe a portion assigned to the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Everyone would benefit.. fans who want the stuff, especially. And it would help to eliminate people selling pirate versions on Ebay. If any band could do such a thing, Queen certainly has the funds to get it started. Maybe I'm overlooking something but this would sure be great. |
| L-R-TIGER1994 08.03.2007 11:01 |
Yes may be we have another Freddie Mercury re-re-released of mixes or live at the Bowl re-released again. |
| Benn 08.03.2007 11:29 |
They missed the boat on this years ago. The membership of the fan club has dwindled as would be expected after the death of Freddie and thus the market has reduced. There may be a chance, however, that if rarities were issued throught he fan club only, numbers would increase again, but the last time I broached the subject with Jackie, I was told that until the membership numbers are there to justify it....... There was also an arguement that the numbers sold would not justify the cost of producing the material t sufficient quality. Same old same old I'm afraid. Intransigence is rife in all things OIQFC & QPL related.... |
| Deacon Fan 08.03.2007 12:00 |
Well, I don't really mean 'fan club only', I just mentioned them because they have that exclusive cover versions CD available right now... but anyone can buy it. So if they whipped up some simple no-frills releases of stuff.. I'm mostly thinking of videos actually, like Rainbow for example.. a simple single layer 1 hour DVD with PCM sound and chapters.. heck, they could even do DVD-Rs. And the documentaries which are out of date but people enjoy.. Magic Years and Champions of the World.. this would be a way to release them again. |
| PieterMC 08.03.2007 12:07 |
Yes but the fan club does not own the rights to any of that material. Queen Productions is highly unlikely to want to issue anything through the fan club. |
| Michael Allred 08.03.2007 14:15 |
PieterMC wrote: Yes but the fan club does not own the rights to any of that material. Queen Productions is highly unlikely to want to issue anything through the fan club.Which is typical of Queen. They don't give any real support to the fan club and have failed to help them improve in any way. I feel for Jacky because she has tried so hard but is given virtually nothing to work with. It's no surprise that membership has dwindled but if the fan club isn't given any weapons to work with then of course it'll go down (I'm surprised they haven't closed shop already.) It's a shame when you see how other bands back their fan clubs 100% (Pearl Jam comes to mind.) Fan clubs often provide that grass roots support that a band like Queen desperately needs in countries like America. The ONLY way for the Queen fan club to be resurrected is by releasing exclusive product like CDs (DVDs would be too troublesome and would likely suffer from lack of quality. I can see a cheaply produced DVD come out, fans attack it and never buy another again BUT on the other hand, CDs really wouldn't have that kind of issue to deal with.) Do a test run. Ask the fans what they would really like to have, check with Queen and their record label to make sure they have no intentions of releasing it commercially, offer it ONLY to fan club members at a reasonable price and see if it increases membership. Then go from there. |
| Bobby_brown 08.03.2007 15:28 |
Benn wrote: They missed the boat on this years ago. The membership of the fan club has dwindled as would be expected after the death of Freddie and thus the market has reduced. There may be a chance, however, that if rarities were issued throught he fan club only, numbers would increase again, but the last time I broached the subject with Jackie, I was told that until the membership numbers are there to justify it....... There was also an arguement that the numbers sold would not justify the cost of producing the material t sufficient quality. Same old same old I'm afraid. Intransigence is rife in all things OIQFC & QPL related....With audio CD´s concerts they just need a server to upload the files and then guive the download links for download. This way the costs would be insignificant. Queen have a market for these things, and it´s a very good idea for the "not good enough to release" videos like Hyde Park´76 and Earls Court´77. I can guarantee them that they would profit more the the "Combat the bootlegers by selling bootlegs" thing. They don´t want to do it because they know they can keep release them for exorbitating prices in the future. Wait and see! Take care |
| Lester Burnham 08.03.2007 15:41 |
What I think would be a good idea is for Queen to embrace BitTorrent. The Who have done this with Long Live Rock (link, where they offer good- to excellent quality live shows from throughout their career. Registration is free and you don't have to pay anything for the torrents (though they do take donations). I think what QPR should do for subsequent shows is strike up a deal with themusic.com (like The Who, Pearl Jam, and Peter Gabriel have done) or a similar site, where they offer all their shows (from current tours) on CD and DVD, with no overdubs. All proceeds go toward charities. It would essentially mean the end of QPR live albums, but it would be for a greater cause. That said, I can't see Queen implementing any of those ideas, especially considering the debacle of "The Top 100 Bootlegs". |
| PieterMC 08.03.2007 15:59 |
Never mind the fact that Brian would not want anything to be released that he was not happy with. |
| Deacon Fan 08.03.2007 18:40 |
PieterMC wrote: Never mind the fact that Brian would not want anything to be released that he was not happy with.That's a good point. Brian tends to rewrite history, plus there's his supposed perfectionism, which never fails to backfire. It's just an idea.. and I realize the fan club doesn't own any rights.. I was just suggesting them as a vehicle for distributing the products. Or the QOL shop. The fan club makes more sense to me since it would be a project more for the fans and could be kept separate from the big-time Queen new releases. |
| PieterMC 08.03.2007 19:33 |
I've read interviews with Brian where he talked about staying up all night to get a few notes perfect on some of the tracks on Another World. No wonder it took him 6 years to make it. |
| FriedChicken 08.03.2007 19:34 |
It's bullshit that it isn't possible. How come it is possible for a band like Genesis to release a set with stuff. I'm 100% that the whole Queen empire is about 5 times as big as the Genesis empire. Maybe it's because Queen stuff still sells and Genesis will get the big bucks through making special fan stuff? |
| iron eagle 08.03.2007 19:59 |
i know Jacky has broached this subject and many other one's numerous times with the PTB-- i was shocked when they allowed Unconventional Queen and agreed to waive royalties they truly have missed the boat by not utlizing the fan club better--with some PTB being stunningly snobbish and callous to boot someday i hope a couple light bulbs go off in some heads of those in the hierarchy have a funny feeling though when it does it will be too late |
| Deacon Fan 08.03.2007 23:19 |
iron eagle wrote: i know Jacky has broached this subject and many other one's numerous times with the PTB-- i was shocked when they allowed Unconventional Queen and agreed to waive royalties they truly have missed the boat by not utlizing the fan club better--with some PTB being stunningly snobbish and callous to boot someday i hope a couple light bulbs go off in some heads of those in the hierarchy have a funny feeling though when it does it will be too latePhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt? P.T. Barnum? Peer Transaction Bus? Portland Trail Blazers? Oh!! Powers that be? Ok, gotcha. |
| Mr. Scully 09.03.2007 03:27 |
Everybody knows that I don't like Jacky and her fan club... ... but in this case it's fault of Queen Productions. If they don't allow the fan club to release "rarities", then the fan club can't do anything about that. In my opinion the ONLY chance how the fan club can survive is: 1. Fan club must be integrated into the Queen empire again. Look how popular QueenOnline is - even though it doesn't offer almost anything interesting at all. 2. Jacky must be fired. 3. Queen must accept that fans want to hear all kinds of rarities or unreleased live recordings - no matter if Brian broke a string that night or Freddie farted on stage. |
| pow wow 09.03.2007 04:36 |
Scully: But you'll go to the conventions that SHE organises, listen to the rarities that SHE prises out of QP via Jim Beech and probably you'll record the concerts that SHE provides that are shown on QTV in the chalets. How many rarities have YOU distributed for us ALL to listen to. Jacky has done more than any Queen fan in keeping the name alive and bringing people togther who have gone on to make lifelong friends. Why should she be sacked, expand? Is this about the autographs the fan club USED to put out. It just sounds like a grudge to me. |
| bigV 09.03.2007 07:00 |
Marillion used to do that - they had official bootlegs sold at symbolic prices on their website. Queen tried to do that with the 100 booglegs thingy, but the project failed miserably. Why? Because fans didn't want to pay to download something they had already downladed for free. especially since there wasn't any improvent in quality. We all know that Queen have recorded virtually EVERY SHOW since 1974, and I would imagine that at least 80% of these recordings are soundboard quality. For a project like that to work they should release those recordings. But that is highly unlikely. V. |
| FriedChicken 09.03.2007 07:30 |
I don't think having a special rarity cd released would save the fanclub. But I think a Members Only section on the website for example would! And as Martin said, they have to bring Queenonline and the fanclub back together. Maybe remove the fanclub website and have it integrated in the official Queensite. But they seriously have to think about something to save the fanclub. These days there are absolutely NO advantages in being a member. You get a few pieces of paper stapled together with news that is 3 months old and pictures of dogs wearing Queen shirts. The only thing that is remotely nice is the letter from Brian or Roger. But in these days of the internet you can read news 10 minutes after it happened. And you can read whats on Brians mind every part of the day on his website. They have to change, they have to go along with the time and technology. Just a piece of paper will not do anymore. They have to think about logging on with your members pass on the website and then you get for example video messages from the band. And they could use this new QPR project for this. Seriously, if they would be putting up videos of them in the studio, with little sneak peaks and interviews. I would send them a mail to make me a member again right now! Think!! |
| Mr. Scully 09.03.2007 09:24 |
pow wow: 1. I don't attend Conventions. 2. I listen to rarities that GB plays and some kind fan records for the rest of us. Jacky doesn't "share" anything at all, just like I don't. If you're thankful for hearing a few rarities at her Convention, then I can let you hear some tracks in my home. No difference. > Jacky has done more than any Queen fan in > keeping the name alive." In the 80's - yes, of course. Since Freddie's death - definitely not. > Why should she be sacked, expand? Is this > about the autographs the fan club USED to put > out." No, that's a minor thing. The main thing is that she is losing members and doing nothing about it. What's the difference between fan club in 1997 and fan club in 2007? NONE. Of course it's her business, her money, her thing. But she will lose. |
| Maz 09.03.2007 11:36 |
I don't think that QOL and the Fan Club could be integrated. I think it's been discussed over at QOL before that the website is an EMI product with QP control. In effect, you're asking that EMI and QP allow a third entity that is in trouble and has its own agenda to play in EMI's/QP's virtual sandbox. I just don't see it happening. QOL is better served without the hassle. I'm also convinced that QP does not operate with hardcore/internet fans in mind. The Top 100 Bootlegs was an attempt, but even it was carried out poorly. I think they are more concerned with mainstream fans who might buy BoRap through itunes rather than throwing us a bone. |
| Benn 09.03.2007 11:45 |
Jacky worked hard to keep the FC alive because it gave her and her sister jobs. If you think she did it "for the fans", you're sadly mistaken. I remember attending the MIH launch at Hammy Odeon and it was a complete and utter shambles - my interest int he whole concept died that day. If the FC really wanted to, they could turn themselves into an outlet for QPL - making low-fi downloads available for £/$ was certainly NOT the right way to go about it. Their lack of ambition and their own admission of being in it to make money was was clear for all to see. QPL COULD license rarities out to the QFC in order for them to distribute limited edition releases. QPL could lease them out to ANYONE if they had the ambition, but they don't. The Who's deal with themusic.com is laudable, but with the lack of variety in the setlists as thtours of 2002, 204, 2006 and 2007 have gone on renders it a little odd - why make so much identical material available? Would be interesting to see the sales figures there. Also, the longliverock torrent, whilst being an excellent, free, "official" outlet for bootlegs, doesn't feature anything that serious, long-term collectors don't already have - there's material out there that will ever make it to the site. QPL have their own issues and unfortunately, we are the ones paying for that. Sadly. |
| Lester Burnham 09.03.2007 12:35 |
Benn wrote: The Who's deal with themusic.com is laudable, but with the lack of variety in the setlists as thtours of 2002, 204, 2006 and 2007 have gone on renders it a little odd - why make so much identical material available? Would be interesting to see the sales figures there.I always figured the deal with themusic.com was more for anyone who was at the particular show (in my case, the Camden show in 2002, and the two Philadelphia shows in 2006) to be able to remember the band as they saw them that night, warts and all, without having to wait so long for an official thing to be released. I never took it for a collector's thing, to purchase every show based on the different setlists (which there aren't many, at least for The Who). Plus, it's for charity, which is cool, so even though I bought the two Philadelphia shows I was at, and there wasn't much of a setlist change on either night, I like having them so that I can remember how good the shows were while always helping out the Teenage Cancer Trust. I think that QPR should implement this, even if their setlists remain the same, just for the charity aspect and for the souvenir. Benn wrote: Also, the longliverock torrent, whilst being an excellent, free, "official" outlet for bootlegs, doesn't feature anything that serious, long-term collectors don't already have - there's material out there that will ever make it to the site.That's true, I suppose, but I don't know what Who shows are rare and are considered gems among collectors; as far as I know, LLR was established by a fan who contacted Pete and proposed the idea, which he liked and endorsed. Thus, most, if not all, of the shows that are put up there range from very good to excellent audience recordings, as well as soundboard and DVDs. I've grabbed lots and lots of stuff off there, and I think a similar thing for Queen would be good (of course, we already have something like that on QZ), just as long as they were as good quality as most of the boots on LLR, instead of the atrocious crap on the Top 100 Bootlegs. Both ideas would help get their current live shows in the hands of fans who enjoy the QPR collaboration, while also offering a glimpse of the past. There are those no doubt who will argue that it's not the same as buying an album and holding it in your hands -- which I agree, I don't much care for downloading music from iTunes -- but the BitTorrent thing would be free. Of course, as has been stated, it won't ever happen, because Brian is too much of a perfectionist. While that's great in studio work, it's a detriment to their live output, which is undoubtedly flawed for various reasons, be they due to human error or forces beyond their control. Still, it wouldn't hurt to run the idea by him. |