Saxon + PledgeMusic = Should I be ashamed?

Topic title says it all. One of the biggest bands in history is doing a Pledge Music campaign. I will be the first to state that I really don't understand all of this "crowd funding" shit. But I feel obligated - and I DON'T like feeling obligated to anything.

Tell me what to do [I am not listing "Do what the hell you want", as that would win automatically].

SOUNDS INSANELY GREAT, BTW!!!!!!!!!!!!

This new track is awesome. Can't wait to hear more. Biff still has the pipes.

I love Saxon but they're too big to have to do this, seems odd.

That's a kick-ass song. I don't know about the pledge thing. Is that bad? I'm imagining it's a way to see they won't lose money making an album, but for Saxon it's a bit strange because they should know very well how many people will buy the album. Maybe it's just a test?

I refuse to do this anymore except under very unusual circumstances. Saxon doesn’t need to do this. I won’t do it, but I’ll certainly check out the record after it’s released.

If a band has nothing. No money, no record company interest, no reputation, no discography, ... just a live show or a demo. Then yes, I can help fund your release if I saw your show or heard your demo & liked you. Other than that, it's just weak. I didn't give a single cent to Obituary when they tried this garbage, until they actually had a physical release to buy. And I love that band.

Maybe it's just a sign of the times, what the music industry has come down to. Bands can't record new music unless they pay for it themselves. And then decide whether to do it at all or not.

Saxon can probably make (some) money touring. Do they make money recording new music?

I am with mc666, I just don't believe in it, unless its a local band or even then ...

Saxon were not exactly some indie band eating beanies and weanies, they have toured the world, have most of their discography in print, just had a vinyl set of their 90's discography released, they have more than a few quid in the bank.

If they could put out the album on their label and get distribution deal very quickly, so it makes no sense to me why Saxon would need to this type of pledgefunding

https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/saxon-thunderbolt

Reading it, makes me think it's just a pre-order special for fans, and not really a proper funding thing where it's all "hey, do you think this thing should happen - fund it and we'll make it so!".

Money makes or breaks a band. That's why bands break up. That's why recording company's turn to what's hot. Rock, in my opinion, isn't about longevity. As a side note, I did donate money on a Go Fund Me - someone's funeral - but a rock band, no way. And I love Saxon but Lemmy wouldn't do that.

Pledgemusic has pretty awful customer service. I won't do anything through them period.

I'll support a kickstarter if it has good rewards. I kickstarted White Wizzards new album for example.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I love Saxon but they're too big to have to do this, seems odd.

While they aren't exactly Metallica big or Iron Maiden big, they are pretty well known for a metal band. I even remember speaking to one or two people not into metal who said, "Aren't they an older metal band?" (They were in their early 20s, if I remember correctly, and this was in the 2000s.)

I did a donation once, and for a friend's band (Unbidden).

Nothing weak about it. It's great when you pledge and a band actually gives you a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff when they're recording an album. Unlike White Wizzard who posted one update in a year.

But pre-ordering through those places helps bands actually make some money with incentives and stuff. Since so many people just steal albums digitally, this helps bands make a little money upfront before the bulk of their fans basically rip them off.

Glower wrote:

Money makes or breaks a band. That's why bands break up. That's why recording company's turn to what's hot. Rock, in my opinion, isn't about longevity. As a side note, I did donate money on a Go Fund Me - someone's funeral - but a rock band, no way. And I love Saxon but Lemmy wouldn't do that.

You forgot to post this as a shitty poem.

It used to bother me when "known" bands were begging for funds to record albums, but I've gotten over it. The biz ain't what it used to be, so bands gotta do what they gotta do to survive. But I don't feel obligated to contribute. I have contributed a couple of times though if the perks seemed worthwhile.

Bottom line, if it's a band I care about enough, I'll pick it up when it's released.