Originally posted by RichSkiddle:
I would just like to say I didn't pay anybody to say that.

Originally posted by RichSkiddle:
Ive listened to the album, and its actually not bad.
Perhaps not headline material, but im sure the festival office is taking on all your comments for next year.

Originally posted by dalkeithalan:
its not that we wont enjoy it, cos we will, but there was a great trumpeting as to how last year was the most succesful ever and grants had been secured ect and it was only gonna get better and better then this year after everyone has got their tickets the line up comes out as your older brothers school disco..but not as funny...with a jonie/sheryl wannabe, cos ms mitchell couldnt make it this year due to still being alive
Awe lets face it, apart from one or two exceptions (where you actually get the whole original band) the main stage line ups are Pants this year!
edit to say why it bothers me so much to see this happening.
For all of the 80s and some of the 90s i worked in Shaftesbury Avenue in London for an Artist Agency (Premier) and on a daily basis spoke to the likes of Metropolis, Solo, Harvey Goldsmith agency, the list was endless and i do understand the problems that goes along with the promotion and booking of acts. When i attend wickerman i have to admit that there is still that side of me comes out because its a festival that has no reason not to become a rival to any other in the uk on a big scale!. Things have a tendancy to either move at light speed or not at all (snail pace) in this business and its something that needs to be looked at because opportunities are slipping by the guys at the moment,and this is such a pivital point for wickerman and i can see it from both sides as the punter/business and its making me jump up and down with frustration, But this is not my baby , its theirs, and anything i say its not out of nastiness its cos i think the guys deserve success anyways thats why i keep having a go, not because i dont like the festival but because i really DO like it and can see the potential for everyone involved.. and its also why i praised the Skiddle team, they know their audience.

Originally posted by dalkeithalan:
Thanks for that Karly, When i was out today i noticed that Ms Thoms cd altho high in the charts is subject to the cut price policy in outlets making it cheaper than a lot of chart cds around it thus boosting sales on first release and making sure it has a high placing in the week it is released (the number sold is not going to be that big as cd sales right across the board have plummeted so i wish folk would stop going on bout this artist having a number 1 single, it means nothing these days regarding an artists longevity, or talent for that matter, ask anyone in the record business, i have). The record company discount the price to retailers above its other releases making sure that all the outlets then buy in more copies and make more profit per unit sold to themselves (the retailer). HMV apart from discounting also include another cd sampler free with the purchase of the cd again ensuring maximum promotion. Im not saying this isnt anything that all record companies do at one time or another when pushing an artist regardless of merit....it also means that they will perform a live set at a discount as well as the promotion dept will be going all out to get their artist exposure, Im just suprised that the team at wickerman (having read their attitude to so called corporate/ big business machinations, have taken the hook and put her in the headline spot.....im also presuming they are able to do this cos of us all buying tickets cos we had such fun last year and are all going back, theres no pressure to sell quite as many one day tickets. Will it happen next year? will the money be there as early so they can fork out for the headline act and still be solvent, or will it be a case of everyone holding back until the complete line up is announced....this is a risky business at the best of times and you have to know your market and maximise the appeal as much as possible while retaining the core following (as the skiddle team seem to do), im sure The Wickerman team know what they are doing, or heres a thought, go coporate, then someone else pays for it all:dissappoi :dissappoi

Originally posted by Nickyvonne:
I am in no doubt after reading most of your comments that you know a lot about how the music industry runs.However.......it seems your gripe is based on the fact that the organisers have booked Sandi Thom.How can you have such strong views about an artist you have never seen perform live or even heard her album? I will probably go and watch just to see what the fuss is about but for those who don,t want to there is plenty other stuff to do...........thats what festivals are all about isn't it? Cheers.

Originally posted by chay:
This used to be the kind of discussion ZakT and I would have last year, and very probably the year before.
Ah, such sweet memories.