Still No Sugarland For Decatur CD
Decatur Metro | August 13, 2009Was there ever any doubt that Wal-Mart wouldn’t allow Sugarland’s Kristian Bush to sell CDs directly to Decatur CD?
The star-struck AJC reported yesterday afternoon that Kristian Bush did indeed stop by Decatur’s bluest brick building yesterday afternoon as promised, but didn’t bring any copies of his latest album, Live On the Inside, with him, due to his surprisingly “ironclad” contract with the low price leader.
Sorry Kristian, Wal-Mart doesn’t care about showing goodwill. You’re not in Decatur anymore.
To play off the publicity, I think Decatur CD should put up a display of “Alternatives to Sugarland” at the front of the store. Or if they want to be really snarky – and I hope they do – a “Better Than Sugarland” display.
What I would do is set up a display of cds NOT available at Wal-Mart stores, especially local bands. And next to the vinyl section I’d post a sign reading: “None of these available at Wal-Mart.”
Virtually everything in Warren’s store is not available at Wal-Mart. Perhaps Warren, Austin, and Elliott should wear tags that say “Not Available at Wal-mart” given their expertise in so many musical genres.
These are all great ideas.
that’s a great idea Brianc! it would benefit EVERYONE..what a great marketing idea…woof woof
Talk about playing both sides…take the corporate money then whine you can’t sell your records just anywhere.
Those are great ideas for what Decatur CD should do, but what Sugarland does is also worth consdiering. It would be ideal if Sugarland bought some of the WalMart only CD from WalMart and provided them to DecaturCD at no charge to give away through a special promotion to mend local fences. Then, release a new CD only to independent stores.
How about Kristian Bush and/or Jennifer Nettles team up with Decatur CD to promote their pre-Sugarland music?
Nothing fancy. Just a tiny cardboard display with some old CDs, and a few acoustic tunes strummed in the back of the store. A fiesta of good will, a celebration of music, an acknowledgement of independent record stores, and probably not a contract-breaker.
Back when I worked in public relations, we called this a “win-win.”
I think the record industry is insane for leaving independent stores high-and-dry so often, but if somebody offered me a fat chunk of money sell my work exclusively, I’d probably take it.
Yep, I’d take it too.
I don’t shop at Walmart so I guess I won’t buy the new Sugarland CD. The band is about to jump the shark tank, but I look forward to my Sugarland Happy Meal available exclusively at McSellout’s and Sugarland breakfast cereal to go with the Sugarland Saturday morning cartoon on Disney Channel. Once again the fine line between ambition and greed was crossed.
“McSellout?” Let me ponder that for a bit…some people decide to make a career out of making and selling music. Against very heavy odds, they succeed in the music industry and Wal Mart offers them a lot of money for an exclusive on their album.
From the way I read your post, Freak, it sounds like you think that anyone who sells their skills or services to the highest bidder should say no, so that they can avoid “selling out” and offer their services to lesser bidders.
So let’s look at it another way…you’ve just finished law school, and you get two offers. One, The Law Offices of Dewey, Screwem and Howe offer you $100,000. The Law Offices of Hope and Dreams offers you $25,000. Which would you take? My assumption is the first offer. Is that selling out?
Hi Eric. Just FYI, when I finished law school, I did take the $25K/year job (well, actually it was $35K/year). Many (although not a huge percentage) of my classmates did the same since we had entered law school for the specific purpose of working in the public interest.
I’m happy for you, Paula, and applaud your sacrifice . I knew using that example was going to get that sort of response.
The point I’m trying to make is that many people (not all, as you point out in your post) who work hard at building a career would like to be compensated for that work. The sellers, whether it’s Sugarland, Metallica, Stephen King or Yo Yo Ma, and the buyers, whether it’s Wal Mart, Decatur CD, a law firm, Boeing or McDonald’s, are completely irrelevant. Selling your work to the highest bidder has a long and very effective tradition in a free market economy, one that shouldn’t be derided by purists yelling “sell out!”
Everyone has a “Sweet Deal” that would cause them to sell out–Everyone.
I wonder if playing the lottery is considered selling out? And if so, how is a winner viewed?
“Selling your work to the highest bidder has a long and very effective tradition in a free market economy, one that shouldn’t be derided by purists yelling “sell out!””
Why? Because you say so? Widgets are not the same as music. I say it is perfectly reasonable for fans to abandon and criticize artists who put money ahead of all else.
There is a free market of ideas too, and I don’t think participants in that market should be told not to express their opinions.
If only Wal-Mart were an example of the free market.
It exploits government subsidies to destroy those out there without these fringe benefits. What kind of subsidies? Huge discounts on land, job training funding, sales tax rebates, tax credits and infrastructure assistance, all kinds of investment in roads, Medicaid for all the employees with terrible health insurance.
And don’t get me started on cheap oil, who’s price is determined by an oil cartel, not the free market.
Kristian and Jennifer are good people, and if they decide to take an amazing but exclusive deal from Walmart, they shouldn’t be accused of selling out. Any of us would’ve done the same thing.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they did something to help out Warren at Decatur CD though, even if they can’t sell their new cd there.
And Sugarland shows no sign of shark-jumping…
“Any of us would’ve done the same thing.”
How do you know that? I think you are wrong. I know several musicians who have turned down major label deals because they wanted to shape their own careers.
You can disbelieve me if you choose, but if I were in a position that Sugarland was in, I would not sign such a deal. And if Wal-Mart threatened me in anyway, I’d write songs about it, ala Tom Petty.
And what is with this “they shouldn’t be accused…” stuff. They were free to sign any deal they wanted, why are people not free to criticize it?
What might be a near-term financial gain by going for the highest offer may not necessarily be the most lucrative move over the long term. There’s potential to devalue the brand through association with a particular sales channel or retailer (either because the retailer is perceived as “low end” or has created animosity with a segment of customers). I don’t know to what extent this is applicable in this case and whether or not it would outweigh financial gain from granting exclusivity.
“I don’t know to what extent this is applicable in this case”
Well, since modern, mainstream “country” music is mostly about saying “Look, I’m country because I drive a truck and live in America,” I doubt anti-walmart sentiment will have much impact on a mainstream country act.
Brianc – widgets and music are EXACTLY the same. They are commodities, to be bought and sold in any market where demand and supply exist. I do agree that same free market contains buyers who have the choice on whether or not to purchase said commodities. And I was wrong to say people shouldn’t criticize Sugarland’s decision; they are free to do so. But that same criticism makes me wonder WHY people get so upset at the concept of “selling out.” Are they jealous of someone making more money than them? Are they so resistant to change that they can’t imagine their favorite band going big-time? I agree with W. Gibbets; we all have a price, but most of us have never had the opportunity for someone to offer it.
DM – people forget Wal Mart was once a small company in Arkansas that had to fight and struggle to succeed. I’m in agreement that many of their decisions over the past few years are really bad (relationship with China), but every business in America has the right and opportunity to grow like Wal Mart did. Just about all of them won’t, but my point is, even big companies like Wal Mart and Microsoft had humble beginnings. Don’t demonize big business for staying competitive, even if you (and I) disagree with some of their poor (but legal) decisions.
Yes, but what if a company doesn’t want to become as vicious and low-price driven as Wal-Mart? Shouldn’t policy protect both Wal-Mart and the smaller business equally?
And I’m not demonizing big-business, I’m criticizing the system, which is anything but a “free market.”
“Don’t demonize big business for staying competitive, even if you (and I) disagree with some of their poor (but legal) decisions.”
You are still doing it. Telling people what opinions not to express.
“widgets and music are EXACTLY the same.”
No, they are not. That is an absurd statement.Marketers have tried to make widgets more than widgets, but not all music has been reduced to only a widget.
“But that same criticism makes me wonder WHY people get so upset at the concept of “selling out.””
Wonder no more: People are upset because they signed an NON-COMPETIVE deal with an immoral company that wants anything but a free market.
OK, Brian, you are obviously taking my words way too literally. How’s this…”it would really make me very very happy if people didn’t demonize big business.” Better?
And, yes they are the same. I paid $13 for the latest Godsmack CD. I paid $30 to see them in concert. Do you really believe that just because they make music, that they are not in it to make money? I, like millions of others, am very emotionally attached to music. But that doesn’t change the fact they are commodities. One day, not long ago, Asia (god forbid) was one of the best-selling artists in America. No longer. Why? Because no one wanted to listen to them anymore. And they disappeared from the market. That’s what happens to ALL products and services, the arts included. My apologies to the Asia fans out there.
It is your opinion that Wal Mart is immoral. Are you going to tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Wal Mart employees, who depend upon that same immoral company for their livelihood?
So I think we might be at an impasse here, where we agree to disagree. But we can continue if you want. Ther kids are home, so I may not be able to respond for some time. Darn these familial obligations!
Ok–a LOT of us would’ve done the same thing, and a lot of us might not have thought about what that might mean for independent record stores either.
I’m just saying I’ve known these people for a long time and they’re not greedy and they’re not selling out. Kristian could’ve blown this whole thing off and not showed up at all, but he didn’t. Obviously he didn’t know how tightly his hands would be tied by this deal or he wouldn’t have thought he could grab a case of cds and bring them down.
That last post should have read non-competitive, not non-competive. Sorry, my spelling suffered in the heat of my passionate indignation (kidding).
It’s OK. I still love you.
Or, perhaps, it was the heat of moment…
or, THE moment, perhaps?
I’m so pathetic…I caught that Asia reference. How sad.
“Do you really believe that just because they make music, that they are not in it to make money?”
Some are, some aren’t. Since there is very little money in it for most, I’d say many aren’t.
“It is your opinion that Wal Mart is immoral. Are you going to tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Wal Mart employees, who depend upon that same immoral company for their livelihood?”
Yes it is my opinion and yes I would tell them. A billion Chinese depend on there government, millions of N.Koreans depend on there government. Does that mean those governments are not immoral?
“So I think we might be at an impasse here, where we agree to disagree.”
Fair enough. Really the only thing that has bugged me here is those who are saying we shouldn’t criticize the choices of a group of adults who presumably can understand a contract.
Step into a Walmart or Target and take a good whiff some day. Seriously. Just stop…look around and see where you are at with full awareness…your eyes, sight, sounds…and inhale really deeply.
Notice….it smells disgusting. It reeks of chemicals and toxins and pollutants. 90% of the store is just a big warehouse full of garbage shipped over from China.
Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong with having a little tact in this world.
Sugarland is free to enter whatever business deal they like. However, I think this deal was short-sighted.
If they had decided to sell their cd in the normal manner, Wal Mart still would have sold it, and still would have promoted it, considering the fact that Sugarland are a wildly popular and award winning act.
Same goes for Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Borders, and al lthe other big box music sellers.
Add Decatur CD, Wuxtry, Wax n Facts, Criminal, etc. (not to mention indie shops in other cities) to the mix and you have a far wider market than currently exists as a result of the exclusive agreement with Wal Mart.
You took the words right out of my mouth Jeff.
People here are acting like it was an all-or-nothing deal with Wal-Mart. Sugarland still would have made a lot of money even if they didn’t make a deal with Wal-Mart. But obviously, any guarantee or extra money they received from Wal-Mart was worth more to them than the “idea” of supplying businesses equally.
When did greed become the most taboo of the “deadly sins?”