On the record

It's hard to take promoters' moaning seriously, writes JIM CARROLL

It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. And, believe it or not, there are live music promoters who see themselves in this category.

Last week, the chief operating officer of Live Nation UK gave us his sob story and violins swelled dramatically in the background.

Acording to John Probyn, it was another tough year and the business is getting tougher. The reason for all of this? Pesky live music fans with a sense of entitlement.

“The public are much pickier than they used to be,” said Probyn. “Fans now expect spectacular shows, with good quality sound and great entertainment – they are looking for that wow factor. But, you know, this is a customer-driven industry and the customer is always right.”

Given the money that Probyn and his peers are demanding for tickets, you would hope so. While we know that the promoters are not the ones solely responsible for the high ticket prices, they have contributed hugely to the inflation in artists’ fees and the knock-on effect on ticket prices over the last decade.

It’s hard to take this bout of the béal bocht seriously given Live Nation’s dominant position in the industry. The firm has a finger in every pie going, from festivals to venues to Ticketmaster. If the company which became the biggest name in the game by buying up everyone else is giving out, maybe they should rethink their domination of live music?

It’s again worth noting that the live music business remains very resistant to disruption and change. As we wondered recently on the blog, when discussing terrible venues such as Dublin’s Academy 2, can the industry really continue to do things like they’ve always been done without some outsiders sticking their oar in?

New music

WALL

Spooky, enchanting, minimalist pop from the London-based singer and producer. The dusty grooves of her Magazine single for Black Cab Sessions is worth seeking out, as are versions of Where Did Our Love Go? (The Supremes) and Something On Your Mind (Karen Dalton).

[ soundcloud.com/wall100 ]

THE REFLECTIONS

Disconnected is the tune that put Los Angeles band The Reflections on our radar. Full of wide-eyed hooks and dreamy, moody riffs, it’s a fine appetiser for the band’s debut album, Limerence, due in early 2013.

[ facebookcom/reflectionsmusic ]

MATTHEW E WHITE

Recently signed by Domino, Matthew E White has collaborated in the past with Bon Iver and Mountain Goats, but his debut album, Big Inner, is a horse of a different colour.

Get set to fall for his majestic grooves, swinging rhythms and rocking blues. Playing Whelan’s, Dublin on January 27.

[ matthewewhite.com ]

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