Metallica 2014

[DomDom1984]

Metallica's setlist isn't varying much from gig to gig, and the sets they're doing so far would be fine for Glastonbury.

[Stu H]

Money, that's why. It happens a fair bit (any "exclusive"), but not quite how you've worded it.

The restriction does not normally say "no other gigs", it more-normally says "no other advertised gigs".

It's via that that Metallica played at Download that year.

I would imagine the wording of it will be very careful and specific.

"Metallica management agree not to book the band as specific headliners for a England/UK show within so many months, to the detriment of Sonisphere ticket sales".

My point being, there's no way they would sign up to a one-gig restriction.

I remember The View played T In The Park the other year under another name because they were 'exclusive' to another fest.

[Brave Sir Robin]

I can imagine Soni not being too upset - it's not really a festival they're in competition with. Most metal fans would probably choose to go to a Soni with Metallica playing than a Glasto with Metallica playing. Add to that the fact that Glasto will have been sold out 6 months before any announcement (subject only to a small resale) and I don't think it's going to impact Soni sales much, if at all.

[metalicbear]

I would imagine the wording of it will be very careful and specific.

"Metallica management agree not to book the band as specific headliners for a England/UK show within so many months, to the detriment of Sonisphere ticket sales".

My point being, there's no way they would sign up to a one-gig restriction.

I remember The View played T In The Park the other year under another name because they were 'exclusive' to another fest.

this is the wording -

Iron Maiden and Metallica, the two biggest metal bands on the planet, will make history this summer when they co-headline the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, the very first time both bands have appeared together on a British bill, and the ONLY CONCERTS EITHER BAND WILL PLAY IN THE UK IN 2014.

[mrtourette]

I can imagine Soni not being too upset - it's not really a festival they're in competition with. Most metal fans would probably choose to go to a Soni with Metallica playing than a Glasto with Metallica playing. Add to that the fact that Glasto will have been sold out 6 months before any announcement (subject only to a small resale) and I don't think it's going to impact Soni sales much, if at all.

Logically that's correct, the only thing is that Soni would (or certainly should) be very embarrassed about advertising them as playing their only UK show at Soni. If they can handle that critisism then yeah I can't imagine they'd lose much in ticket sales.

[Gnomicide]

I saw Black Crow Chicken on the BBC Introducing Stage in 2011 - They were ace.

Coincidence? I think not.

[Stu H]

this is the wording -

Iron Maiden and Metallica, the two biggest metal bands on the planet, will make history this summer when they co-headline the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, the very first time both bands have appeared together on a British bill, and the ONLY CONCERTS EITHER BAND WILL PLAY IN THE UK IN 2014.

That's the wording of the PR, not the contract.

There may be all sorts of clauses in it.

My point is (and i'm not being arsey here, I've signed 50 or 60 contracts in my dance music career), it won't just be a black/white thing.

AT the end of the day, if they end up playing both, everyone's a winner.

[eFestivals]

this is the wording -

Iron Maiden and Metallica, the two biggest metal bands on the planet, will make history this summer when they co-headline the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, the very first time both bands have appeared together on a British bill, and the ONLY CONCERTS EITHER BAND WILL PLAY IN THE UK IN 2014.

that was the wording issued many months ago, and might have been correct at the time but doesn't apply now.

And anyway, similar wording was used for the3m in 2003 for R/L, and yet they also played Download. Even if they're not doing Glastonbury, what happened then shows these things can be stretched (and regularly are).

[incident]

Glastonbury is not any old festival tho. It's sold out whether Metallica are playing or not, so it creates far less of an impact onto that other fest. Also, a much later announcement (likely to be mid-april, I think) than is normal before a festival also helps.

Also, in terms of free advertising, a Saturday Night Pyramid Stage headline slot is about as good as you can get. Sonisphere would basically be getting a free 90 minute commercial on Saturday Night BBC1.

It's been well documented over the years that Glastonbury performers featured on the TV coverage usually see significant album sale spikes, but there's also generally a positive impact on live shows - ability to charge more / get higher billing at other festivals, playing to bigger venues, etc.

I'd be pretty confident in saying that a Glastonbury (Pyramid headline) appearance would help Sonisphere ticket sales far more than it could ever hurt them.

[mrtourette]

AT the end of the day, if they end up playing both, everyone's a winner.

Except metalicrow, who'll be wrong again.

Edited March 21, 2014 by mrtourette

[Brave Sir Robin]

Logically that's correct, the only thing is that Soni would (or certainly should) be very embarrassed about advertising them as playing their only UK show at Soni. If they can handle that critisism then yeah I can't imagine they'd lose much in ticket sales.

I reckon any embarrassment could be sorted out with a Metallica press release about how Glasto is something different, they wanted to do it, what Soni said was right at the time, they're still really looking forward to Soni et etc

[mrtourette]

Also, in terms of free advertising, a Saturday Night Pyramid Stage headline slot is about as good as you can get. Sonisphere would basically be getting a free 90 minute commercial on Saturday Night BBC1.

It's been well documented over the years that Glastonbury performers featured on the TV coverage usually see significant album sale spikes, but there's also generally a positive impact on live shows - ability to charge more / get higher billing at other festivals, playing to bigger venues, etc.

I'd be pretty confident in saying that a Glastonbury (Pyramid headline) appearance would help Sonisphere ticket sales far more than it could ever hurt them.

I doubt it would have that much effect, especially as Soni is only a week after - how many people are suddenly going to want to/be able to open up space for another festival in their diary and budget at just a few days notice?

Also it's Metallica, there probably isn't much higher for them to go regarding a positive impact on the appeal of their live shows. It's not like they'd be offering a new band their breakthrough moment that makes others sit up and take notice.

Edited March 21, 2014 by mrtourette

[mrtourette]

I reckon any embarrassment could be sorted out with a Metallica press release about how Glasto is something different, they wanted to do it, what Soni said was right at the time, they're still really looking forward to Soni et etc

Yeah I'm sure that's what they'd do, and I imagine Metallica whould be open to doing that for Soni.

[Gnomicide]

Also, in terms of free advertising, a Saturday Night Pyramid Stage headline slot is about as good as you can get. Sonisphere would basically be getting a free 90 minute commercial on Saturday Night BBC1.

It's been well documented over the years that Glastonbury performers featured on the TV coverage usually see significant album sale spikes, but there's also generally a positive impact on live shows - ability to charge more / get higher billing at other festivals, playing to bigger venues, etc.

I'd be pretty confident in saying that a Glastonbury (Pyramid headline) appearance would help Sonisphere ticket sales far more than it could ever hurt them.

And the Metallica fans watching at home could enjoy it, snakebite in hand, commenting on how shite the crowd are compared to a proper Metallica gig. "Look! None of 'em know the words to The Call of Ktulu!", "That mosh pit is pathetic!", "Is that The Nal weeping at the front?"

[hundread]

Also, in terms of free advertising, a Saturday Night Pyramid Stage headline slot is about as good as you can get. Sonisphere would basically be getting a free 90 minute commercial on Saturday Night BBC1.

It's been well documented over the years that Glastonbury performers featured on the TV coverage usually see significant album sale spikes, but there's also generally a positive impact on live shows - ability to charge more / get higher billing at other festivals, playing to bigger venues, etc.

I'd be pretty confident in saying that a Glastonbury (Pyramid headline) appearance would help Sonisphere ticket sales far more than it could ever hurt them.

Whilst I'd agree with this on the whole ( I remember Metallica doing something at Earth Aid at Wembley or something like that, and it being broadcast on mainstream tv and the following week it was reported they'd had a massive spike in sales) with a festival like Sonisphere I'm currently thinking that £200 is a fair amount to be looking around for and if Metallica..one of my main draws for Sonisphere.. are playing at Glastonbury which I already have a ticket...well it puts a different spin on things!

[Gnomicide]

I doubt it would have that much effect, especially as Soni is only a week after - how many people are suddenly going to want to/be able to open up space for another festival in their diary and budget at just a few days notice?

If they still have day tickets left then, it could shift 'em.

[Stu H]

Here is an interesting (or shite, depending on your view!) stat about music contracts....

When you sign a record deal, unless it is a specific territory, you almost always sign it for "The Universe". It used to be "The World", but then music started being used in space, and the labels didn't want to lose any money!

Anyway, as you were.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Here is an interesting (or shite, depending on your view!) stat about music contracts....

When you sign a record deal, unless it is a specific territory, you almost always sign it for "The Universe". It used to be "The World", but then music started being used in space, and the labels didn't want to lose any money!

Anyway, as you were.

Expect Latitude to start announcing "Universe exclusive" any time soon...

[Stu H]

Expect Latitude to start announcing "Universe exclusive" any time soon...

[metalicbear]

that was the wording issued many months ago, and might have been correct at the time but doesn't apply now.

And anyway, similar wording was used for the3m in 2003 for R/L, and yet they also played Download. Even if they're not doing Glastonbury, what happened then shows these things can be stretched (and regularly are).

The same wording has been used in every local paper article in regards to Sonisphere this year.

I don't know what the wording was in 2003 as it was 11 years ago, all I know is that Metallica played an unadvertised secret set at Download 2003 and headlined the following year to make up for it, as they were in talks to headline Download in 2003, but chose to exclusively headline Reading and Leeds instead.

Could be a similar situation here, where they headline Sonisphere this year and headline Glastonbury next year, as no doubt they will be back in Europe next summer anyway.

[eFestivals]

Here is an interesting (or shite, depending on your view!) stat about music contracts....

When you sign a record deal, unless it is a specific territory, you almost always sign it for "The Universe". It used to be "The World", but then music started being used in space, and the labels didn't want to lose any money!

Anyway, as you were.

I don't know a huge amount about live contracts, but I think they're almost always territory-specific.

If you're doing an exclusive show in the UK it doesn't really matter if you do 50 shows in the USA.

[DomDom1984]

The Call of Ktulu doesn't have words.

[The Nal]

And the Metallica fans watching at home could enjoy it, snakebite in hand, commenting on how shite the crowd are compared to a proper Metallica gig. "Look! None of 'em know the words to The Call of Ktulu!", "That mosh pit is pathetic!", "Is that The Nal weeping at the front?"

Call of Ktulu doesn't have any words fer fooks sake!

Doubt I'd be up the front mind. Or weeping.

But Id be bashing into grannies and hitting the devil horns. And growling uncontrollably.

[incident]

I doubt it would have that much effect, especially as Soni is only a week after - how many people are suddenly going to want to/be able to open up space for another festival in their diary and budget at just a few days notice?

Also it's Metallica, there probably isn't much higher for them to go regarding a positive impact on the appeal of their live shows. It's not like they'd be offering a new band their breakthrough moment that makes others sit up and take notice.

Not sure I agree with either of those points. Glastonbury is a huge time/money commitment and requires organisation, but relatively speaking Sonisphere is a lot closer to a Wembley or O2 concert - Day Ticket, easily accessible from London, etc.

Metallica may not be a new, largely unknown band, but there's definitely an element of the mainstream that has ignored them over the years because of their name/genre that could be surprised by their performance. I think there's definitely potential for a big increase in interest.

[mrtourette]

I don't know what the wording was in 2003 as it was 11 years ago, all I know is that Metallica played an unadvertised secret set at Download 2003 and headlined the following year to make up for it, as they were in talks to headline Download in 2003, but chose to exclusively headline Reading and Leeds instead.

Is that true? I think it was the other way around, that they'd already agreed to headline R&L and when a Download headlinerm (I forget who) pulled out they were asked (and wanted) to fill in, the R&L contract wouldn't let them so they played a secret set instead.

Edited March 21, 2014 by mrtourette