Billy Corgan Supports Ticketmaster Merger
Today is the... greatest paycheck I've ever known?
Billy Corgan is most famous for his whiny declaration that "despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage," as the front man of the mid-90s sensation, Smashing Pumpkins. And despite all his rage, mostly directed at concert goers for his reformed take on the Pumpkins, he's still a rat alright.
It's no secret that we're not huge into Ticketmaster. When they aren't ripping you off with insane "at-home printing" fees for their already scalped tickets, they are trying to shut out every small ballroom left in the world by merging with Live Nation. But never fear, Billy Corgan is here! To sell concert goers out by supporting the merger.
Yes, you read correctly, Corgan is all for the merger. Check out his reasoning below:
Dear Chairmen Kohl & Leahy and Ranking Members Hatch & Specter:
The merger as proposed before you on the surface may seem to be too much power in the hands of the few, and I can understand the need for Congress to review this matter. Here I would hope that my 20 years in the recording and touring business will allow me some candid authority on these issues, and would help shed some light for you on some of the nuances that perhaps could easily get missed.
The 'system' that was once the modern record business, essentially ushered in with the meteoric rise of the Beatles, is now helplessly broken. And by almost every account available cannot be repaired. Personally I would add to that a healthy 'good riddance,' as the old system far too often took advantage of the artists as pawns while the power brokers colluded behind the scenes to control the existing markets. This control often saw the sacrificing of great careers to maintain that control. Look no further than the major record labels' intense fight to slow down the progress of Internet technologies that more readily brought music and video to the consumer because they couldn't completely control it. This disastrous decision on their part has destroyed the economic base of the recording industry. It is now a shadow of its former self.
Artists now find a heavy shift of emphasis to the live performance side, and this is where this merger finds its merit. The combination of these companies creates powerful tools for an independent artist to reach their fans in new and unprecedented ways, all the while restoring the power where it belongs. In today's ever changing world, the ability for artists to connect to their fans and stay connected is critical for the health of our industry. Without sustainable, consistent economic models upon which to make key decisions, it is both the music and the fans that suffer.
In short, we have a broken system. This is a new model that puts power into the hands of the artist, creating a dynamic synergy that will inspire great works and attract healthy competition. The proposed merger you have before you helps create those opportunities by boldly addressing the complexity of the existing musical and economic landscapes.
Billy Corgan
What do you think? Is he right?
