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  • irishtimes.com - Posted: January 2, 2009 @ 11:26 am

    Top five topics for the watercooler in 2009

    Jim Carroll

    Here are five news stories which we think you won’t be able to avoid in 2009.

    Live music’s haves and have-nots

    On one hand, there are the superstars such as Chris Brown, The Killers, Oasis and AC/DC selling out shows. On the other hand, the slump in the market for smaller shows will continue, with more cancellations due to “unforeseen circumstances” and acts downsizing their touring commitments.

    Trouble for record labels

    As if things weren’t bad enough, indie labels have had a couple of horrendous months, with distribution giants Pinnacle and EUK getting into difficulties. While some labels will continue to do business in a new download- friendly era, others simply will not be able to make ends meet and will stop recording and releasing acts.

    More bands quitting their labels

    As the likes of Supergrass and Radiohead have shown, you don’t really need a record company once you’ve used that label’s muscle and money to establish your audience base. Expect to see even more established acts jumping ship in 2009.

    The ever-shrinking retail sector

    Zavvi, the chain formerly known as the Virgin Megastores, went into administration on Christmas Eve, with a provisional liquidator appointed to oversee the chain’s 11 Irish stores this week (HMV has expressed an interest in taking over 5 of those stores). Meanwhile, those independent shops that are still commendably in business will continue to feel the pinch as the volume of physical sales maintains a steady decline.

    U2

    “We want 2009 to be our year,” Bono said in an interview with U2.com last year, “so we’re going to start making an impression very early on.” Make no bones about it, you won’t be able to avoid the Dubliners in ‘09 with No Line On the Horizon (released on February 27th) and a lengthy world tour, which will presumably enable new partners Live Nation to begin recouping its investment in the band. Let’s hope the album will be as good as the promotional and marketing campaign behind it.

    • 17 Comments

    1.
    January 2, 2009
    12:09 pm

    That’s mad about Zavvi, sure they only opened half those new stores in Ireland in 2008…

    Comment by bren
    2.
    January 2, 2009
    12:17 pm

    Bren – I only realised before Xmas that I had never actually set foot inside a Zavvi store in Ireland. They closed down the old Virgin store on Henry Street and kept their Dublin business in the ‘burb malls. I’ll wait for the closing down sale….

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    3.
    January 2, 2009
    12:41 pm

    dont people mainly drink water from bottles now.maybe they should be coffee machine topics

    Comment by demon
    4.
    January 2, 2009
    1:09 pm

    Come to think of it, I’ve only ever been to the one in Cork… was trying to drop magazines in but they were having none of it.

    Comment by bren
    5.
    January 2, 2009
    2:20 pm

    Demon – people will still be gathering by those areas where watercoolers used to be to lament the passing of the watercoolers

    bren – probably because Analogue didnt cover any of the games or DVDs they were trying to flog to keep the wolves – and liquidators – from the door.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    6.
    January 2, 2009
    3:00 pm

    Remember when Aidan Walsh rode a horse into Virgin Megastore – now there was a man with vision.

    I remember doing a gig with him when he made me write out a two page contract for us both to sign and kept emphasising how important it was to have contracts etc. I ended up on the same bill as two boy bands, but his advice came back to me recently – had he been running the Prince show in Croker it might have been so much different.

    Oh sorry, this thread is about 2009 not 1989.

    Comment by Mumblin Deaf Ro
    7.
    January 2, 2009
    7:59 pm

    (Identical to my recent twitter post:) I hope HMV doesn’t buy Zavvi, as I want them to have competitive prices.

    It’d be no good if HMV had a monopoly on Irish DVDs.

    Comment by Ronan
    8.
    January 2, 2009
    8:01 pm

    Also, Jim, check out Generation Kill yet? The new show from David Simon…
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2008/dec/31/top-10-us-tv

    Comment by Ronan
    9.
    January 4, 2009
    3:09 pm

    “We want 2009 to be our year”,

    Good old Bono, modest and humble as ever.

    Comment by Neill
    10.
    January 4, 2009
    4:23 pm

    How long before Coldplay ditch their label? Its what all the cool bands are doing these days! And hey, seeing as they are playing the Feenix park, maybe their “charismatic” whining front man may get accustomed to the place and run for president…….maybe not!

    Comment by Brian
    11.
    January 5, 2009
    1:57 am

    You will be unable to avoid U2 this year…and I think the fact that they will be playing – at least – two shows (on the same day no less) might just push U2mania over the edge.

    To commemorate a specific anniversary tied to a national institution, U2 will be playing six tracks in one location (tied to the national institute) AND also playing a full show in a pub (max capacity will be couple of hundred) on the same day.

    Tickets will be available for both shows. To destroy your minds further, I’m aware that at least 3 other MAJOR acts are being scheduled to play in same pubs on the same day by the same organiser. I know 2 have signed up for defo and the third is expected to be bigger that U2.

    I shit you not. This will be the mother of all gig events.

    Comment by anony-moose
    12.
    January 5, 2009
    8:31 am

    To commemorate a specific anniversary tied to a national institution, U2 will be playing six tracks in one location (tied to the national institute) AND also playing a full show in a pub (max capacity will be couple of hundred) on the same day.

    This is to do with the 150th birthday of The Irish Times, isn’t it? I just knew the Editor was planning something special

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    13.
    January 5, 2009
    9:05 am

    Who do we know who would have the financial weight to book U2 & three other very major international acts to play small pubs simply to celebrate the anniversary (250 yrs ago) of them moving into their main premises?

    Hmm?

    Comment by Anony-moose
    14.
    January 5, 2009
    9:07 am

    Well, I don’t think you’re talking about Hector Grey

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    15.
    January 5, 2009
    9:29 am

    Ironically they were gonna break their lease on the head office only a few years ago.

    As for the other major acts…

    The first act have supported U2 in the past and have a member who might ‘bug’ you though he won’t sting. The second recently took a leaf out of Cher’s book if you can believe that. The third has yet to be finalised though the name I’ve heard mentioned might satisfy your hungry heart Jim.

    The game plan is that they are all going to play at seperate pubs around Dublin on the same day. U2 are gonna play the head office to kick the day off and move on to play a full gig at a pub from there.

    Incidentally Jim, I presume you never disclose your sources when you get tip offs?

    Comment by Anony-moose
    16.
    January 5, 2009
    9:31 am

    Incidentally Jim, I presume you never disclose your sources when you get tip offs?

    Your secret is safe with me, Arthur

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    17.
    January 5, 2009
    9:55 am

    Cheers Jim. I’ll buy you a pint of the black stuff the next time I see ya.

    My advice to anyone interested. Register on the main website if you want to improve your chances of getting tickets. I don’t think this will be getting handled thru the usual channels.

    Comment by Anony-moose

    Comments on this article are now closed.


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