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THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS |
...AND THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE THE BUSINESS OF SHOW BUSINESS. SO, TO HELP US ALL UNDERSTAND HOW EVERYTHING WORKS, ED. PIG HAS APPOINTED – AT POSITIVELY ENORMOUS COST TO THE PUBLISHING BUDGET – OINK!’S VERY OWN SHOW BIZ FEATURE EDITOR, HAMMOND EGG. HAMMOND WILL GIVE US THE LOW DOWN ON THE HIGH FLYERS THAT BRING US THE ENTERTAINMENT WE SO LOVE. AND HERE HE IS ... HAMMOND!
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RECORDS
Ever wondered how a music record is made. I use the word ‘record’, but, of course, today, music can be downloaded, available on disc, plastic, tape, vynil, through the ether, digital, enjoyed live in concert or just whistled in the street!
But how is that record actually made. What happens from the time the writer hums a toon in his bath to the time you’re dancing about to its rockin’ beat with an iPod stuck in your ear?
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Dyyce (from left to right), Michael, Rhys, Darren, Timmy, Marcus-James and Mark.
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WHAT'S IN A NAMES?
To illustrate the story, let’s take a band called Dyyce – no, that isn’t a typo, they are really called Dyyce. Don’t ask me why: I don’t know. (Why P. Diddy? Why not N. Ploddy or B. Noddy? It’s showbiz – my name’s Hammond Egg!)
Anyway, six nice looking guys get together and form a band - a singing group. They had great voices, which they can use without any instruments. You may have heard them recently on our show OINK!on Air, being interviewed by Leigh.
They needed a song – so they wrote one, then two, then three. But then they needed to be able to deliver this package of talent to us.
A GAME OF CHANCE ...OR LUCK?
It’s a roll of the dice - or should I say Dyyce! Fortunately for them, they got lucky. Luck plays a HUGE part of any success in Show Biz. It’s the one bit of Show Biz business on which no-one can put a price. You either have it, or you’re nowhere. Dyyce had it in spades when the roulette wheel’s ball of life landed on the number 2! That’s two great vets of the music industry, Kev Moss and Vie Billups. Kev heads up one of the biggest music agencies in the country; Vie is the larger than life Producer and Artistic Director.
BACK TO SCHOOL!
Dyyce needed directing, coaching and producing. They needed faith, money and time. They got all three from the dynamic duo. Vie – one of the great Flirtations, chart busting singing groups of the eighties, dusted them off, beat them up and moulded them. Kev went to work on booking the tours, clubs and shows, preparing them for the all-important record contract.
THE PRICE OF SUCCESS
Dyyce had paid their dues playing the clubs, so they knew how to engage an audience - unlike so many other hopefuls. As soon as they were polished and shining new – and ready - Kev produced their first big gig – opening for Shane Ward at Wembley Stadium and Birmingham’s NEC playing in front of 9,000 plus crowds. They were great.
So, you’d think that Dyyce had it made. Not so. Right now the boys haven’t earned a penny, Kev’s company have footed all the expenses and backed the band in the hope of getting a record deal. |
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HOW DO YOU MAKE SHOW BIZ PAY?
OINK! has learned that when we hear about a new band supporting a major act or tour, that band has probably had to pay the promoters anywhere from £10,000 to £50,000 just to appear! So how do you make money if you’re having to pay to perform? From the record deal – maybe. And when you start making television appearances, and you have worked up a fan base who want to see you, so promoters can charge them for tickets.
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That can take time. You have to have nerves of steal, and someone has to have faith. We’ve also learned that even when you do get a record contract, there’s no guarantee to riches. Far from it. It costs around £100,000 plus to produce and bring out a single. From each record the band might make around 12% to 20% of the price the retail shop pays to buy the record in (that’s called a dealer price). So, on the price of a single, that’s not exactly bucks – and if there’s six of you, that’s even less.
Of course the record company will normally pay the band a lump sum when they sign up – that’s called an Advance – but they get it back by deducting the amount of the Advance from the band’s share of any sales, AND deducting any other expenses they have laid out – the video, promos, cars, roadies and so on. Albums, CDs, downloads will need to have been sold before the band starts making any serious money.
Unless you’re one of the biggies like Robbie or Kylie who are paid millions upfront just to sign a contract.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
However, with bands like Koopa breaking new ground and pushing their way into the Top 40 from downloads, we may be seeing the start of bands earning the big bucks direct from the fans and without a record company in sight. We’ll keep an eye out for Dyyce and see how they rock and roll. |
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