|
|
Post by josie78 on Sept 5, 2023 6:27:08 GMT -5
Did we lose Matty to the Swifties? Much like Stans they’re such a varied bunch.
Recently I attended an “Eras” concert with the younger women in my life. I was left not only impressed by the length of the show but how much I feel a bit disturbed by it all the cultishness of it.
It was disturbing to me the way so many considered extra merchandise to purchase as “gifts” from Taylor. For example, To complete their collections they pre-ordered several versions of the same album. Then three hours after it’s released oh surprise! An extended version of the album is released that you have to have! So after digital pre-orders, collecting all the Vinyls, getting the Target version of the cd because it has a special edition song on it, the average fan has spent at least $100 on the album. So releasing another 3 hours later is a gift? How?
Then add in all her special limited edition merchandise of varying quality they collect.
The women I met at the concert were all so infectious with their joy, love of Taylor. Maybe it’s my age but it just felt so wrong seeing them all price gouged to pad her wallet, and by releasing different versions of the same album it manipulates the charts. The biggest fans I’ve seen fans aren’t wealthy. It just seems so gross to me.
Sorry if I’m rambling. I have so many thoughts about all of this
|
|
|
|
Post by alphagirl01 on Sept 5, 2023 9:59:02 GMT -5
Did we lose Matty to the Swifties? Much like Stans they’re such a varied bunch. Recently I attended an “Eras” concert with the younger women in my life. I was left not only impressed by the length of the show but how much I feel a bit disturbed by it all the cultishness of it. It was disturbing to me the way so many considered extra merchandise to purchase as “gifts” from Taylor. For example, To complete their collections they pre-ordered several versions of the same album. Then three hours after it’s released oh surprise! An extended version of the album is released that you have to have! So after digital pre-orders, collecting all the Vinyls, getting the Target version of the cd because it has a special edition song on it, the average fan has spent at least $100 on the album. So releasing another 3 hours later is a gift? How? Then add in all her special limited edition merchandise of varying quality they collect. The women I met at the concert were all so infectious with their joy, love of Taylor. Maybe it’s my age but it just felt so wrong seeing them all price gouged to pad her wallet, and by releasing different versions of the same album it manipulates the charts. The biggest fans I’ve seen fans aren’t wealthy. It just seems so gross to me. Sorry if I’m rambling. I have so many thoughts about all of this I agree with you Josie, it is definitely the ills of the music industry. If you notice, artists are going heavy on merchandise these days and a big reason is the streaming platforms is not as lucrative for them as let's say a concert. Concerts and performing is where they make the bulk of their money, but it is a lot of work. Ther music industry is so different from Hollywood, where your actual work nets you the most money. Actors, top tiers ones, make the bulk of their money from the roles they are in, but that is not the case for musicians and their music, unless they write it as well, which most do not. I think Eminem adn Shady Records were guilty of gouging fans for a whiel as well. Like, a rapper selling spaghetti sauce candles? REALLY? Like, sometimes those things make sense why some of the OGs in rap side eye him. Then selling bricks to his old home, then he is upset he has stalkers. Only a strange stalker typer person is going to buy an old burned out brick from someone's childhood home. Liek, make it make sense. Then all this signed merch. When you get a flood of signed stuff in the market, it makse that signature less valuable. The real signature to get form him is Marshall Mathers because he never signs that way. A part of me thinks he has this love hate relationship with that character, especially since whenever he is introduced to someone (who isn't a fan liek a reporter), he corrects them and says his name is Marshall. I think he loves that he was able to help his family and give Hailie a good life, but hates what it has stripped from him and I feel like he resents Eminem somewhat, if that makes sense. But I digress and apologize for the rant. I say this to say I totally agree with you. I think these artists to gauge their fans and Taylor Swift definitely does have a very affluent audience that resembles her. They are basically selling girl power to the highest bidder and young girls are eating it up. It is all VERY cultish. |
|
|
|
Post by josie78 on Sept 5, 2023 20:08:55 GMT -5
Did we lose Matty to the Swifties? Much like Stans they’re such a varied bunch. Recently I attended an “Eras” concert with the younger women in my life. I was left not only impressed by the length of the show but how much I feel a bit disturbed by it all the cultishness of it. It was disturbing to me the way so many considered extra merchandise to purchase as “gifts” from Taylor. For example, To complete their collections they pre-ordered several versions of the same album. Then three hours after it’s released oh surprise! An extended version of the album is released that you have to have! So after digital pre-orders, collecting all the Vinyls, getting the Target version of the cd because it has a special edition song on it, the average fan has spent at least $100 on the album. So releasing another 3 hours later is a gift? How? Then add in all her special limited edition merchandise of varying quality they collect. The women I met at the concert were all so infectious with their joy, love of Taylor. Maybe it’s my age but it just felt so wrong seeing them all price gouged to pad her wallet, and by releasing different versions of the same album it manipulates the charts. The biggest fans I’ve seen fans aren’t wealthy. It just seems so gross to me. Sorry if I’m rambling. I have so many thoughts about all of this I agree with you Josie, it is definitely the ills of the music industry. If you notice, artists are going heavy on merchandise these days and a big reason is the streaming platforms is not as lucrative for them as let's say a concert. Concerts and performing is where they make the bulk of their money, but it is a lot of work. Ther music industry is so different from Hollywood, where your actual work nets you the most money. Actors, top tiers ones, make the bulk of their money from the roles they are in, but that is not the case for musicians and their music, unless they write it as well, which most do not. I think Eminem adn Shady Records were guilty of gouging fans for a whiel as well. Like, a rapper selling spaghetti sauce candles? REALLY? Like, sometimes those things make sense why some of the OGs in rap side eye him. Then selling bricks to his old home, then he is upset he has stalkers. Only a strange stalker typer person is going to buy an old burned out brick from someone's childhood home. Liek, make it make sense. Then all this signed merch. When you get a flood of signed stuff in the market, it makse that signature less valuable. The real signature to get form him is Marshall Mathers because he never signs that way. A part of me thinks he has this love hate relationship with that character, especially since whenever he is introduced to someone (who isn't a fan liek a reporter), he corrects them and says his name is Marshall. I think he loves that he was able to help his family and give Hailie a good life, but hates what it has stripped from him and I feel like he resents Eminem somewhat, if that makes sense. But I digress and apologize for the rant. I say this to say I totally agree with you. I think these artists to gauge their fans and Taylor Swift definitely does have a very affluent audience that resembles her. They are basically selling girl power to the highest bidder and young girls are eating it up. It is all VERY cultish. No apologies necessary! This is the type of conversation my post was intended for. I know the industries have changed and how artists make their money has changed drastically. I agree though. I do feel like “Eminem” is the monster Marshall created. Of course it has all been mentioned in songs but I do believe somewhere in his head he thought it would be temporary then he’d go back to private life. He gave up normal life for global success and financial security. For a person who came from such a well of lack, I understand the resentments he has. He didn’t know that the gift and the curse of the gift would last this long. The Taylor girls. They really broke my heart. All the things they buy, the things they do to buy and it’s like there are tiers of Swifties. Everyone from I got to go to 6 concerts, met Taylor to I took a second job to buy merch. It all felt so cultish and high school too. This one impressing another by showing off her purchases. It’s so bizarre and heartbreaking. |
|
|
|
Post by alphagirl01 on Sept 5, 2023 20:44:46 GMT -5
I agree with you Josie, it is definitely the ills of the music industry. If you notice, artists are going heavy on merchandise these days and a big reason is the streaming platforms is not as lucrative for them as let's say a concert. Concerts and performing is where they make the bulk of their money, but it is a lot of work. Ther music industry is so different from Hollywood, where your actual work nets you the most money. Actors, top tiers ones, make the bulk of their money from the roles they are in, but that is not the case for musicians and their music, unless they write it as well, which most do not. I think Eminem adn Shady Records were guilty of gouging fans for a whiel as well. Like, a rapper selling spaghetti sauce candles? REALLY? Like, sometimes those things make sense why some of the OGs in rap side eye him. Then selling bricks to his old home, then he is upset he has stalkers. Only a strange stalker typer person is going to buy an old burned out brick from someone's childhood home. Liek, make it make sense. Then all this signed merch. When you get a flood of signed stuff in the market, it makse that signature less valuable. The real signature to get form him is Marshall Mathers because he never signs that way. A part of me thinks he has this love hate relationship with that character, especially since whenever he is introduced to someone (who isn't a fan liek a reporter), he corrects them and says his name is Marshall. I think he loves that he was able to help his family and give Hailie a good life, but hates what it has stripped from him and I feel like he resents Eminem somewhat, if that makes sense. But I digress and apologize for the rant. I say this to say I totally agree with you. I think these artists to gauge their fans and Taylor Swift definitely does have a very affluent audience that resembles her. They are basically selling girl power to the highest bidder and young girls are eating it up. It is all VERY cultish. No apologies necessary! This is the type of conversation my post was intended for. I know the industries have changed and how artists make their money has changed drastically. I agree though. I do feel like “Eminem” is the monster Marshall created. Of course it has all been mentioned in songs but I do believe somewhere in his head he thought it would be temporary then he’d go back to private life. He gave up normal life for global success and financial security. For a person who came from such a well of lack, I understand the resentments he has. He didn’t know that the gift and the curse of the gift would last this long. The Taylor girls. They really broke my heart. All the things they buy, the things they do to buy and it’s like there are tiers of Swifties. Everyone from I got to go to 6 concerts, met Taylor to I took a second job to buy merch. It all felt so cultish and high school too. This one impressing another by showing off her purchases. It’s so bizarre and heartbreaking. I totally agree Josie. What's more troubling with artists like Taylor Swift vs. Eminem, is that she is selling a mindset to young girls and women and shaping what that mindset looks like. I'd agree, it is very high schoolish, too. But, I give props to the person working for her own money to consume Taylor Swift merchandise, but it's crazy that these people are buying the same albusm over and over, just ebcause it is marketed different. I also agree what you said previosly that it is also a bit shady in that it impacts album sales and she is usually in the top selling ranks. I must be the cheapest apreciator of musical artists as I think I have only bought two albums in my lifetime. Neither was from Eminem. I mostly buy a specific song. Now I do have multiple of his and other artists' songs.  What do you think of Eminem's lates merch drop? |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 5, 2023 23:41:54 GMT -5
Yeah, I have noticed the insane amount of vinyl variations in every color that every big release comes with now.
|
|
|
|
Post by josie78 on Sept 9, 2023 2:56:48 GMT -5
No apologies necessary! This is the type of conversation my post was intended for. I know the industries have changed and how artists make their money has changed drastically. I agree though. I do feel like “Eminem” is the monster Marshall created. Of course it has all been mentioned in songs but I do believe somewhere in his head he thought it would be temporary then he’d go back to private life. He gave up normal life for global success and financial security. For a person who came from such a well of lack, I understand the resentments he has. He didn’t know that the gift and the curse of the gift would last this long. The Taylor girls. They really broke my heart. All the things they buy, the things they do to buy and it’s like there are tiers of Swifties. Everyone from I got to go to 6 concerts, met Taylor to I took a second job to buy merch. It all felt so cultish and high school too. This one impressing another by showing off her purchases. It’s so bizarre and heartbreaking. I totally agree Josie. What's more troubling with artists like Taylor Swift vs. Eminem, is that she is selling a mindset to young girls and women and shaping what that mindset looks like. I'd agree, it is very high schoolish, too. But, I give props to the person working for her own money to consume Taylor Swift merchandise, but it's crazy that these people are buying the same albusm over and over, just ebcause it is marketed different. I also agree what you said previosly that it is also a bit shady in that it impacts album sales and she is usually in the top selling ranks. I must be the cheapest apreciator of musical artists as I think I have only bought two albums in my lifetime. Neither was from Eminem. I mostly buy a specific song. Now I do have multiple of his and other artists' songs. What do you think of Eminem's lates merch drop? I like his latest drop. I know a lot of his merch has been ugh but I’m thankful it hasn’t reached KISS level tacky. Yes! Not only that mindset but they all seem to share the same victim mentality with no growth. It’s very sketchy how the various releases get counted as sales and charts. |
|
|
|
Post by josie78 on Sept 9, 2023 2:57:07 GMT -5
Yeah, I have noticed the insane amount of vinyl variations in every color that every big release comes with now. It’s insane, isn’t it? |
|
|
|
Post by traci on Sept 26, 2023 9:46:14 GMT -5
okay - this just might be in the USA, and press over doing it, but I'm officially Taylor Swifted out after this weekend, lol.
Overexposed is also not a good thing 😂
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2023 0:19:23 GMT -5
okay - this just might be in the USA, and press over doing it, but I'm officially Taylor Swifted out after this weekend, lol. Overexposed is also not a good thing 😂 Her appetite for attention and PR sense are off the charts. Obviously it works like crazy for her but I'm surprised how much of it she can tolerate. It's funny considering Marshall is on the other side of the scale. |
|
