Yesterday, SP.com featured LiveSmashingPumpkins.com’s newest offering: a bundle that includes download rights to all soundboard shows on the current tour. Sweet.
So I clicked through to this ad. And my jaw dropped.
This package includes 23 shows, 16 of which are the two-night Black Sunshine / White Crosses shows. And, I think the shock of the numbers speak for themselves. But you might wonder, how much would I be saving if I chose to buy all of these separately? Well, here’s the number-crunching:
Aside from the reported issues (like gaps, dissatisfaction with vocals, and repeated song segments), the recordings sound terrific. But for $350? Why not offer a more reasonable bundle, like a 5-pack download for $50? Or include a significant discount with concert ticket purchase?
CANCELED: An Evening with Billy Corgan, a Live Online Masterclass, October 22nd
We regret to inform EQ readers and online users that this event has been canceled.
The event is planned to take place next Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:30pm PST (11:00pm ET), since the Smashing Pumpkins will presumably be setting up camp on the West Coast. There is a fee to register: $9.95 gets you a dial-in to the live viewing and “nine additional viewings of the archived webcast.” Hmm. To register, go here.
Has anyone attended an online master class with EQ before? It looks like they’ve done one on signal processing before.
The Smashing Pumpkins wouldn’t consider Hammond to be Chicago, but those developing promotional material for the upcoming Total Nonstop Action pay-per-view event “Bound for Glory IV” couldn’t seem to repeat the word Chicago often enough. The venue? Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.
Their contrary views on suburban identity notwithstanding, TSP and TNA have finally aligned themselves from a marketing standpoint. The band’s recent single “TaraNtulA” has been creatively recapitalized chosen as theme song for the big smackdown, and there may be more partnering in the works:
TNAwrestling.com will post more information in the coming weeks on the Smashing Pumpkins teaming up with TNA.
Below: These guys don’t want to fight every single night? (YouTube)
In an amusing interview with Rolling Stone, Kele Okereke of British indie giant Bloc Party gets all teary-eyed and waxes poetic about his band’s upcoming album, Intimacy:
It was totally hush-hush but we didn’t want to go the whole In Rainbows route and give away for free. We live in a capitalist world and I do want to get paid and I do want to eat.
But wait! He goes on to further explain the hard-and-fast marketing tactic behind recent one-off single release “Mercury” (”Superchrist” or “G.L.O.W.,” anyone?):
We’re kind of just making it up as we can go along. You can do that these days and it’s pretty exciting I think.
Indeed. So is the key to making friends with the press blatantly discussing your strategies? We know Jared Paul thinks so.
But so far, Bloc Party has gotten no snarky remarks on Pitchfork or Stereogum or [enter ad nauseum music blogs here]. Quel dommage!
Gus Wenner of Rolling Stone today gets a quote from a member (above, center) of “the Smashing Pumpkins organization”:
“The Smashing Pumpkins organization is thrilled with the immediate results they have seen for their song ‘The End Is The Beginning Is The End’ being chosen for Watchmen,” says Pumpkins manager Jared Paul. “This is a good example of the future of The Smashing Pumpkins. We are looking for great marketing alliances to support the band’s past and present musical offerings.”
As a guy who’s marketing the music of an alternative rock band, Jared Paul has wicked insight into the sort of quotes that should be given to Rolling Stone. I mean, Mr. Paul may have (understandably) flubbed the song title, but otherwise, I think he sounds so rock and roll! I’m sure Rolling Stone readers will agree, trampling over themselves in their hurry to buy the music of and otherwise identify with the vehicle of cool that is The Smashing Pumpkins. Kudos to you, Mr. Paul. Way to leverage that brief interview to enhance the band’s brand positioning as you move forward into a new era.
After a bit of a hiatus the podcast returns with a full slate of panelists three-quarters of a panel. Barring any unforeseen business travel, we should be able to stick to our weekly schedule at least until the end of the summer. This week we talked about the residency DVD, which seems on track to defy the odds and actually get released, and a topic near and dear to my heart: marketing.
News
-Billy is playing with Cheap Trick on June 28th, anyone want to iReport it for us? (2:04)
-A new single is announced for September, will it be a pop hit or a sweeping epic? Plus, we make our first reference to the Machina Mystery on this podcast. (7:11)
-IMDB reveals more information about the residency DVD, which is scheduled for the end of this year, and provides a unique interpretation of alphabetical order. (7:12)
In-Depth Discussion
-With the news slowing to a trickle, fan sites start going dark as fans enjoy the summer weather and forget about the Pumpkins until the next blitz begins. Now that the band is label-less and in charge of their own marketing, does this promotional pattern make sense? I figuratively hire Jason and Andrew to play Madison Avenue Executive, and we all have our own advice for how to keep fans engaged. (31:25)
This Week in Pumpkins History
-TheFutureEmbrace is released. Jason ponders the accolades it would have received had it been released by Radiohead. Plus, I reveal my darkest secret: that I listen to James Iha’s solo album more than Billy’s. (8:36)
Song of the Week
-Lover December 12, 1998
Next week we may be doing a show review for a Gish-era show to go along with the announcement of the rerelease/box set/Gish tour. If so, I’ll post the date of the show we’ll be discussing in the comments for this post later in the week.
This making-of-Zeitgeist documentary is available from Best Buy for $13.99; it will be packaged with a free CD copy of Zeitgeist that contains a previously unreleased bonus track entitled “Ma Belle”.
No, that’s not how it’s being marketed, but that is an economically equivalent way of describing the “re-release” of Zeitgeist. I don’t think anyone would have a problem with the band pricing a new standalone DVD documentary at $14; however, the offer of a $14 DVD/Zeitgeist combo ($10 if pre-ordered) has been met with some hysterically righteous denunciations. Two examples:
Pitchfo*k Media has responded to this $14 DVD/CD offer by (again) trotting out an image of a 100-dollar bill with Billy Corgan’s picture superimposed upon it, referring to the band as “$mashing Pumpkin$”.
The webzine Prefix headlines an article “Billy Corgan’s integrity R.I.P 2007″ and says anyone who wants this item would “probably better off writing a check for the same amount and sending it to P.O. Box Your Toilet”.
UPDATE: The “full length” DVD reportedly contains the 20-minute-long documentary as well as the promo videos for “Tarantula” and “That’s the Way”. That plus “Ma Belle” for $14? It’s a borderline call for me, but I won’t pretend to be deciding for everyone. Of course, I’m listening to “Ma Belle” right now for $0, so… :)
Billy Corgan is taking his 
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After a bit of a hiatus the podcast returns with 