Here Today... Gone To Hell!

GNR's 'Democracy' To Be Retail Exclusive?



August 15, 2008 , 9:55 AM ET

Ed Christman, N.Y.
The June leak of nine allegedly "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes -- either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Guns N' Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.

Most recently, it became known that AC/DC's next album will come out exclusively through Wal-Mart. Merchants were particularly incensed that the deal was apparently struck with the blessing of Columbia.
 

It's unclear who initiated the Guns N' Roses exclusive negotiations -- Front Line or Interscope, the band's label.

Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn't be reached for comment by deadline. A Wal-Mart representative says the chain couldn't confirm this fall's exclusives. Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached for comment by deadline.


Here is the link:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003839499

No Wal-Mart.  Cmon Axl you don't wanna support those anti-union, crap selling, mom-and-pop store killing assholes.  If you're gonna go this route at least do Best Buy........
Plus Wally World only sells edited CDs.  Don't know why this would even be an option.

Not totally disagreeing with you, but the Eagles last album was a Wal-Mart exclusive and it sold over 7 million copies.

and all this time I figured the first pressings of Chinese Democracy will be released in China.... :rofl:

Further proof that things are moving along for the release of the album.




/jarmo

Better fuckin be Best Buy.

I might be mistaken, but doesnt Wal-Mart censor all their CD's? I haven't bought a CD from there in years, but I remember they were all censored at one point?

if this was to happen how long would it be (if at all) before other shops would have it?  And what of UK shops does this mean ASDA would have the album? (as Wal-mart own them).

Please, not wal mart-that would be embarrassing

Maybe he figures that a majority of Gnr fans are in their 30's now, have families and do the weekly shopping at Wal-Mart - so why not make our lives easier?  :hihi:

Had a feeling this would happen. Although to be fair, it worked for The Eagles.

I am definitely not a fan of exclusive deals. It can't be Walmart seeing as they censor everything although its possible none of the songs have explicit lyrics. we really dont know.

Hopefully they allow digital downloads of the album too.  the eagles downloads were very buggy. 

The problem with Wal-Mart...they don't exist in big cities like NY or SF.

And I live in LA where there are no Wal-Marts.  You have to drive almost an hour just to get to one.

hopefully its best buy

I was thinking the same about censoring.

IRS has a few explicit lyrics right?

I think there is like an allowance though of how many u are allowed before a sticker is required. I cant remember any F words or anything really big in the songs we've heard on tour.........

.........well I hope it doesn't show up at Starbucks........it would of been good if Sam Goody was still around.........I tell you this.....many many record shops have closed up due to lack of sales........it seems these days all music is being purchased via internet........
I personally like buying cds at record shops. There's a certain "buzz" I get when I'm strolling down those rows of cd's and thumbing through artists..............and you never know who you're going to meet............(Wow....look at that blonde........she is fine..............)  :beer:

I always wonder how having "Exclusives" equal more album sales?

Like where the Eagles have sold 7 million, sometimes that means "7 million SHIPPED* which is a big difference than 7 million sold. 

Just kind of weird that Walmart wouldnt sell the Use Your Illusions back in the day and now they could have exclusive CD release.

...as was I three posts above.

It would really be F'ing funny if the new G&R cd is released on November 4th........I can hear what the news people will be reporting: "This just in our new president is "............"....... On another note the long and awaited G&R cd ...Democracy" has been released today. Reports show thousands and thousands of fans marched into record shops to buy the long and awaited cd............. :rofl:

Good news wasn't The Eagles released close to christmas ?? around Nov or so ? maybe just maybe we could get the album soon.

ps I prefer Best Buy.

The Eagles came out in October.  But the eagles album is a double album.  So it's 7 million CDs sold...but only 3.5 million versions of the album.

HA I said back in May or June Azoff was gonna push this album into Walmart outlets. It really is NOT a bad idea, cut the middle man out that's the way to go.

Sweet, we passed the "summer is the best time" and now we wait for another "christmas buying season".  It will come and go, I promise!

It's been known for over a year now that Azoff has a knack for getting things done in the most strategic marketed way that helps the band and entices the consumer. Azoff capitalized and popularized the Walmart sale only strategy that none other than Garth Brooks started back in the mid-ninties. So if we've been closer to seeing this album, this year is no doubt the closest. If Azoff can't get this negotiated and released no one can. 

(1) What is the point of only selling the album at one store? Seems kinda lame...
(2) There isn't a fucking Wal-mart where I live. So I wait 12 years for this album and then I can't just go down to a local store and buy it? That sucks.

It's how things are done these days.

It's just a matter of how.

Amazon exclusives, iTunes exclusives etc etc.





But they have a web site right?




/jarmo

You guys are funny - who the hell cares where the album is released as long as its released.  I wasn't aware that Wal-mart was anti-union.  I may actually start shopping there now.  The Unions mentallity is what is destroying the US.

Why is there bitching ? Who gives a shit if its a store exclusive as long as its out?  If theres no Walmart near you, then fucking order it online.  Damnit, theres talk of the album actually being released and people are bitching about where its released  !  Theres no convienent Walmart near me, but fuck it, drive to one.  If the fucking Eagles can sell big at Walmart so can GN'R.

I know they used to...no explicit lyrics allowed.

I'm not sure they STILL do...if so, that would SUCK.  I can't imagine GnR would go for the ONLY version of their album being the "cleaned up" version.

IF this is true, I gotta think they'll go with Best Buy.

Or, they'll give one of the retail big box stores an exclusivity window...and then roll it out to everyone else a few weeks, or a month, later.

Matchbox twenty did a release with Best Buy and they had a wristband flash drive that had the album on it.  I thought that was pretty cool.

The retailer pays the artist a fee for the exclusive.  That would be the point.

And there is always www.walmart.com.   So it's not like it's "ungettable" for ya.

There are wal marts near me-that is fine-they are trying to sell an album and wal mart wants to bring people into their stores-that's fine-I think it's odd, but I also think releasing the first single on a $200 video game is odd-but I'm 36 and I guess they are not marketing to me anyomore-that's corporate rock these days-I just want the album released

The biggest music retailers in the USA are iTunes, Wal-mart and Best Buy.

That's where people who buy music gets it.



http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=827498





/jarmo

get this shit moving and going now and i'm all set for happiness for the rest of my life

I wonder if they could do an Exclusive with Walmart and include a ton of extras like interviews, live versions of each song, maybe a B side or two and then release a standard CD in other stores?

Don't really want to give Wal Mart my money and I think this is a dumb idea, if true...but whatever...

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=guns+n+roses&ic=48_0

Look at the GN'R CDs they have...no UYI, just the lame UYI GH, and AFD is edited....

Would Axl really want to release his album via Walmart?

Wal-Mart has a "no explicit content" policy in terms of CD's and edit them as they see fit (which is why Trent Reznor refuses to have his music sold at Wal-Mart stores, and kudos to him for that). Of course, the policy makes no sense as they sell unedited DVD's and video games (and even shotguns, go figure). So, to me, that makes it highly unlikely for Chinese Democracy to be a Wal-Mart exclusive. Granted, I haven't heard any "fuck", "shit" or "bitch" usage in the new songs, although the acronym T.W.A.T. would probably not be met with open arms, and neither would the masturbation-line in CD, but still, I'd be surprised if it happened. Now Best Buy I could definitely see it happening with. They always add some cool shit to their exclusives, so that'd be great.

And just to cap off my post with a slight deviation from the topic at hand. though maybe not a surprising one... Fuck Wal-Mart, their policies and their lead painted cheap ass products.  :)

So let me get this straight on how all of this works.

What special advantages do u get for releasing it straight to Wal Mart or somewhere? Do they pay any of the recording costs or do anything like that? Help with the promotion? I know GNR and the label probably get a bigger piece of the revenue.

Quoted For Truth.

If Chinese Democracy is a Wal*Mart only release, I won't buy it.

 :)

If its released in wal mart and u don't have one near you, you know what I would do ? I would drive to the nearest Wal Mart and grab a copy I don't care if gas is expensive I would drive a thousand miles to purchase this CD.  The car ride would consist of AFD first, Lies, UY1/2, and then the spagetti incident by the time all those CD's are done you will be at your destination.

I wonder how many people with "ethics" issues about Wal-Mart have illegally downloaded the leaks.

Besides the obvious "ethics" contradiction, you are the sole reason the music industry have had no choice but to come up with creative sources of revenue such as exclusive retailers and video game releases.

Edit: And yes, I contributed to that as well, but I'm not bitching about it.

Wow I've heard it all some people u just can't please.  I hate walmart too but if Chinese Democracy is the only place I can buy it ? IM THERE !!!

Usually the retailer pays the artist for the the exclusivity.....some sort of flat fee.

I'm not sure on revenue, though.  I don't THINK there would be any additional monies per unit....but maybe.  You'd likely be cutting the middleman out of the process (a distributor) so the artist may get part, or all, of that "cut".

I thought wal-mart was just an option? No use getting worked up over something that's not even confirmed yet!

You gotta wonder though if this may be some sort of Compromise Axl has to make. 13 million is a LOT of money anyway u slice it. if the label thinks they can recoup that and turn a profit, it may be a sticking point that Axl can't refuse.


Think about this everyone, me being the voice of reason here, who the hell would've thought:

What does it matter where u buy it as long as u are getting it? This is the album most of us have been waiting almost half of our lives for. I don't give a shit if I have to buy it a some flea market down the road.  As long as the work isn't "compromised" in anyway to be available at Walmart. I won't complain any.

Has Axl ever comprimised his vision or his art? I think not, that's why it took so long. For all we know this could be non-issue anyway and it could go to Best Buy.

Would love to know who the author's sources are.  At least it is published for a reputable mag/website.  Definitely a positive sign that the wheels are moving (so long as the source isn't some loser tellin lies on a message board!)

Exactly.





Hahaha.


All this time it's been "we want the album" and now suddenly when there's possible news of it being out it's gone from that to "well, I'm not gonna buy it at all if it's sold there!".

 ::)




/jarmo

Now this is great news.

If its a walmart Exclusive, that means they can't even release singles on Itunes right? that of course has worked out great for Kid Rock.

i bet you do!!!!...   ;)

at least we can now conclude all the mixing, producing and all the other fucking around is done and dusted, they just have to release it now

I think this is great news, if true, it means things are really moving along. : ok:

.... the eagles have like the highest selling album of all time, not a chance they would sell low numbers. also walmart doesn't sell albums with the Parental Advisory sticker...

chances of Axl not cursing in a record are as good as hillary clinton being elected president. it ain't gonna happen. if it happens it will be best buy. don't know how smart of a marketing move it is... but i don't care. as long as i have my copies.

I'll buy it from Wal-Mart, but I'm really hoping it's a Best Buy exclusive.

Wal-Mart are as corrupt and evil as it gets.

As for swearing in the songs, IRS has the word "shit" in it, and Madagascar has "this whole thing is fucked up."

You can't read anything into it yet....because nothing is confirmed...However I do remember back in 1991 when the "Illusions" were realeasd were the "parental advisory" sticker, one of the things that Axl seemed most upset about was that chains like wal-mart and k-mart were not able to carry the record.  He had mentioned that growing up his family only shopped at places like wal-mart because everything there was a little cheaper, and he didnt come from lots of money.  He was upset in 1991 that kids who come from families that arent so well off were not going to get the opportunity to buy the record. So for "Chinese Democracy" to be made a "wal-mart" exclusive would make sense because it is giving everybody the opportunity to buy the record at an affordable price...

once again the retail exclusive thing is still in the SPECULATION phase.....but that is just one way you can look at it....



EDIT: actually found the thing about wal-mart back in 1991...it was on this site.. :hihi:


HP: It?s hard to believe that Mrs. Vice President has actually had an impact on Guns N? Roses.
AXL: Her efforts really hurt our sales in the States. The whole stickering thing took its effect because major record chains like K-Mart and Walmart, which are 50 percent of a band?s sales, won?t even carry our albums. You?ve got to realize that certain income families don?t let their kids shop just anywhere. When I was growing up, we were a K-Mart family, so I speak from experience. You could look wherever you wanted, but you bought things at K-Mart because it?s a little cheaper. I think the fact that Tipper Gore is closer to power is something that we?ll have to deal with. I think the Gores toned down their act in order to get the vote, but I haven?t forgotten what she?s done. She did achieve her goal ? first albums had to be stickered, then stores wouldn?t carry stickered albums.

Treating your employees like garbage, and not allowing them to have a union is bit worse than downloading a song ::)

Wall Mart Exclsive?? Didn't know people actually do that. Sounds like something that is potentially a good  business solution and just   terrible thing to do PR-wise.
Surely most GNR fans dont give a fuck to one way or another about distribution channels when/if a day arrives when you can actually buy it:D

In my home town, after the commercial fishery shut down, Walmat became the biggest employer. Everybody in my hometown is very grateful for Walmat and the jobs they provide.

You are being pretentious and sophomoric.

And how many jobs has Wal*Mart taken away and how many American towns have had their identities raped because of Wal*Mart?

Do you know how many children suffer in Wal*Marts sweat shops?

Are you aware of the fact that Wal*Mart store managers mess with the computer payroll system just to make their stores profitable?

BUT THEY LET OLD PEOPLE GREET CUSTOMERS!  HUZZAH!

Interesting article, but nothing confirmed yet, so I'll try to temper my excitement. As for Wal-Mart and the censorship, the new songs we've heard really don't contain many curse words.  I'm not sure what it takes to slap that parental advisory sticker on a CD but it may not be an issue.  Not anywhere near the cursing that can be found on their previous albums.  Someone gave 2 examples earlier.  I find it hard to believe they'd make a clean version of the CD for 2 bad words.  Who knows though, in these crazy times.

Everyone in your town were extremely happy to be treated like shit, and making what, $6.75/hour? ???

Pretty warped if you ask me..

LOL! You know the world make the same argument about America?! Wal-Mart is America... and I am a friggin' American. Stop living in denial... are you a Capitolist or a Socialist. There is nothing wrong with either, but if you are a Socialist, I think you'll feel more catered to in Canada.

VOTE OBAMA!

The Walmart employees in my hometown prefer Walmat to Welfare. And they aren't treeted like shit, I know that because I have friends there.

Either way, I'm buying Chinese Democracy. Enough threadjacking.

Take all the "I don't like Wal-mart" stuff to The Jungle.






/jarmo

This post is the most promising post I've seen in 3 years on any GN'R forum.

If the local tramp on the corner was given the Exclusive right's to sell Chinese Democracy, Id still buy it!  :drool:

You have to look at it in wider terms than just the album. The real reason for doing it is to get people through the door. That's why some stores (such as the Wal Mart owned Asda...) were prepared to sell the last Harry Potter at a loss. 1. You're taking business away from your competitors and 2. Chances are that a lot of people are going to buy more than just the album once they're in.

So anybody striking up an exclusivity deal are likely to get whatever the want... If the product is going to be big enough... Recording costs or marketing is by the by, regardless it's all green.

Well said.

Even if we loose money, atleast our competition can't compete with us by selling the same product.

Real nice.

This certainly will feel a lot different than 1991 when UYI came out at midnight at Tower Records in LA (Tower Records went bankrupt in 2006).

Hopefully, Walmart can try to duplicate some of the excitement and hype that surrounded the last major GNR release.

MNW

The article doesn't specify what chain will have the exclusive, if they get it.....





/jarmo

You look at it like this, If they do an exclusive, it keeps it off ITunes and Kid Rock has proven that is SMART!

Selling 500,000 albums at 15 dollars, is a hell of a lot more profitable than 1 million people buying 1 song for 99 cents. I think it would be a great idea, would be cool if they could work out a double deal with Walmart and Best Buy. Clean version with one of those live studio peformance things for Walmart and maybe the explicit version and some different extras for Best Buy.

I would kill to see a behind the scenes making of though. If they put something like that in a boxset for 100 bucks. Id buy it no questions asked.

Hell the album with anything live from 06 or 07 would be dynamite.  There were a ton of great live performances the past 2 years.  Regardless of where it's released, it's the release the we want, I'll buy it at FYE, I don't care. 

Please no...I want to walk into a real record store and buy this one.

How do you figure?

So assuming Wal-Mart do get the gig, the next question has to be does the album go in the drinks aisle next to the Dr Pepper or is there cans in the record department.  :rofl:

I guess this is true since it's still here, looks very promising then :)

hopefully its a best buy exclusive, but either way ill buy 10 copies the first day

I am really hoping for BestBuy here myself, I will reserve my hatred for WalMart commentary to the Jungle, though. :peace:

the stuff listed in the Best Buy flyer as "exclusive" is usually available at other stores too

You mean not just your local Best Buy, but at other Best Buy stores as well?  :hihi:




/jarmo

I meant other record stores.  Sorry, but CD will NOT be available at IKEA  ;)

I wish it was an Itunes exclusive since it's just easier  to store. Oh well. If it's Walmart or Best Buy, I'll get it.

But then you wouldn't get the physical CD with a booklet.....

Obviously that would make a lot of people unhappy.



/jarmo

I'll be happy with any form of music, but your right, a physical CD and a booklet would be a lot better than just itunes

Hopefully there is some goodies on any physical release...something to reward us for our patience  :peace:

Theres no Wallmart or Bestbuy in Australia,

what the hell is going to happen here?

Im sure theyll have a plan for an international release too

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Totally  :beer:

Musicians don't make money on record sales anymore. They make money by getting people to come to their shows. If the album is released to wal-mart only, sure, the 30-something year olds that go there anyways or the hardcore fans that don't give a fuck where it's released will buy it. But if it's a wal-mart exclusive, seeing the ads for the album ending with "available at your local wal-mart" spoken by that stupid-ass smiley face with a cowboy hat will have the band lose a lot of credibility with the younger audience. Earlier at dinner when I asked my friend's sister and her friends in high school, my cousins in high school and their friends to tell me what they associate wal-mart with, the first thing that came to their minds.. most of them said old people and mcdonalds. If you're going to sell concert tickets, telling kids "come to our shows and meet fat old people" is really not the way to go. Furthermore, if kids go to these shows and only see people old enough to be their parents and no one their age, it's a little unsettling (speaking from experience at an aerosmith show). "Who gives a shit about the punk-ass kids that grew up with fucking good charlotte and blink182 on the air?" you might ask. you may be surprised at how many of us from the linkin park generation actually like GnR, i know i was. But just liking the music isn't enough to get someone to buy your record or go to your shows. There's limewire and youtube for bands you "like" nowadays. But bands that you love enough to wait 2 hours in front of the computer screen clicking refresh every 10 seconds on the ticketmaster website  so you can score those hammerstein show tickets before they get sold out in 3 minutes, that's rare. people may still 'like' gnr on youtube, they may still 'like' CD on the radio and pirated off the net on their laptops and onto mix cd's and playlists for their cars and ipods but wal-mart exclusivity won't get kids to love the band like we do. I'm well aware that it's a bold claim with a lot of holes but that's what we do in a forum, right? express our opinions?
In my humble opinion, if an exclusivity deal cannot be avoided, Best Buy would be a better choice over wal-mart for the aforementioned reasons.

and on that note, i'm terribly sorry if that offended any of the older board members here. I humbly apologize. I have nothing but respect for my elders. Hell, some of you might even greet me when I walk into a wal-mart in a couple of years  :hihi:

Seriously though, no offense. I realize i made generalizations but lets face it, that's how business works right? generalizing and putting customers in "target groups."

Edit: reading my post over made me realize.. well, it's not like GnR has any trouble filling seats as we've all noticed at how fast the tickets sold out. So maybe the tour was to see whether they can still sellout shows even without the new generation of possible audience members? So in turn, they could have an exclusive deal with a corporation like wal-mart and not have to worry about alienating the youth? who the fuck knows?  :confused: in the meantime, i'll just wait til rock band 2 comes out and pirate shackler off the net once someone hacks the game  :P
j/k folks.... or am i?

Hardcore fans will buy the CD no matter where its released.  If its only released at Coconuts, then people will go there.  The important thing is that it gets released.  The smart move would be to do both the physical and digital release.  For those of us that waited for the album, and saw the shows, and support the band, we need a physical CD to have that peace of mind that this is actually real. But as far as to wear its released ... who cares, yea Best Buy might be cooler than Walmart, but the music will be the same and thats all that matters.

that's it though.. yeah, us hardcores will mapquest the quickest way to get to the middle of the Bermuda triangle to pick up a copy but if it's a wal-mart exclusive and even itunes doesn't get it, there's a problem. kids are fucking lazy and selfish. they'd rather torrent the album and by the time it's done downloading, buy a dimebag with the money they saved not going to wal-mart so they can toke up to the album when the download's complete.  :P

I just hope we don't have a delayed release in Australia because of this ...  :nervous:

I can't believe the nonsense I am reading on this board...Wal-Mart is an awesome store that brings you great products at affordable prices...I know the "cool" thing for the kids to do today is rebel against big corporations...but this is fucking nonsense...I dont care if a convicted sex offender is selling "Chinese Democracy" out of the back of his van,im still buying a few copies off of him...anyone who wouldnt buy the cd because of the store it is sold in is an asshole....im sure there is a rage against the machine message board somewhere....why dont you go find it....

If that happens,
you can just see all the australian fans giving themsleves permission to "taste it the same time everyone /usa else has it"
in the form of downloading...

I hope to fuck it's not Censor-Mart this get brought to as an exclusive.. in the way they have treated myself and other rock fans with their forced censored albums and in direct connection a substandard product (the single version of UYI for example.. not to mention the AFD ass fuck) I won't be buying from there. Period. If I wanna support the band it would be live, but the album if released at Wal-Mart can kiss my ass. Oh, I hear you cry, you mustn't be a fan.. No I mustn't be, having bought ALL of the products (bar the aforementioned wal-mart "specials") GnR have released.. Video singles and all.

If it is Dumb-Mart where it is an exclusive, then I'll get the album by other means.

Or you could order online : ok:

well, I'm one of those fat-fucks you insulted who is in their mid30's but...................

1. I'm not a fat fuck

2. I still wear the same size waiste I did when I was in high school walmart : ok: :yes: ;D ;) :o

3.  never shop at walmart.

4. and would be just as pissed as you if it was exclusive thru walmart

other than that, the sooner this gets released the better cause I ain't gettin no younger :'(

you have the internet right? :hihi:

I just think it?s hypocritical to be standing up for musical integrity and then go with a store that censors music.  Other than that and the parking lot being packed, I have nothing against Wal-Mart.  I use the car entrance nobody parks back there.  Probably shouldn?t have said that.

I also have a fast internet connection  ;D

but in all seriousness, will this be updated on gunsnroses.com ?

Because i didn't wait 5 years for a ratm album nor did i wait for hours to spend money i couldn't afford to spend but did anyways by waiting in front of the computer for 2 hours for a ticket to go on sale for ratm. And seeing as how you're a bigger fan of GnR than I am, I'm sure you wouldn't mind paying a few extra dollars for this album if it meant that the album is available at more places, or even that this band that you love has more young followers and people that appreciate their art form.  ;)


do you ever think that the reason number 1 and 2 are true is because of number 3?  : ok:

what is ratm?

yo, 32x30 after 20 fucking years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rofl:

Ratm =rage against the Machine

anything that has walmart and exclusive in the same sentence, I avoid like the plague :rofl:

so what, GnR's new nickname will be "The Most Family Friendly Band" rather than the most dangerous band?? :o

Don't I feel stupid :o

Maybe VR is going after Zakk :peace:

I would seriously pay to have CD shipped to me from overseas before buying it from Walmart!

if they do it, whoever you buy it from will have gottrn it from walmart :'(

5 years?  You're a beginner....and you're already bitching?  Seriously no offense to anybody on this board...but this thread was intended to be GOOD NEWS!  It means the album is in the process of being delivered to us the fans...and then you are going to sit back and bitch and moan about WHAT STORE you have to buy it at?  I really do not have to the words to describe some of you people....I don't know if its ego...im not sure really...but you put yourselves on this pedestal like you are bigger than the band...Like the political statement you are making by not shopping at Wal-Mart is supposed to impress us...Are you guys really that self-absorbed that you have to make the release of this album about YOU?   Well you have already answered that question and the answer is sadly yes.....You are the same type of people who will go to a Guns N Roses show and bitch because they are playing the same set-list everynight(a setlist full of hits that everyone wants to hear.)  Some of you have no appreciation for Guns N Roses or their music...but you DEMAND that things get done your way...and that music gets delivered to YOU in a timely fashion...its not about YOU...some of you really need to get over yourselves....

by the way...while you guys are bitching and moaning..you do understand that nothing is definite yet with this Wal-mart thing right?  So you are possibly bitching for nothing...but dont worry maybe Axl wont have the tracklist order to your liking then you will a have a whole new thing to bitch about...

haha yeah i know i'm a beginner compared to most people here and i know that it's not just about ME. it's all about the band. that's what i've been trying to say, actually if you read carefully and not misconstrue it. i was saying how it may not be in the band's best interest to make the album a wal-mart exclusive. A Best Buy exclusive may appeal to a new generation better than a wal-mart. it might not be very "cool" to have a fixture of the new gnr album between the pile of hannah montana dvds and the dairy product fridge. "Hello there youngster, welcome to wal-mart.. we just got the new guns n roses album in isle 12. Here's a smiley face sticker and don't forget to stop by the sale at the fertilizer section on your way"  :hihi:

i'll get a copy no matter what if/when the album gets released but i'd like the band i love the most to have a bigger audience than they do so they could maybe.. i don't know.. release more albums in the future or something.. what crazy thoughts right? i'm just a stupid beginner what do i know about wanting to see my favorite band succeed?  ::)

im buying it not matter what retail gets it. i would prefer best buy this way i can look at their electronics  ;D

I really just want to know how this affects a European/Worldwide release? I mean, I live in the UK and we don't have Walmart or Best Buy here, although someone said ASDA are owned by Walmart?? All these years I waited and I never thought i'd be getting the new GNR album from Asda!
So long as we get a physical release one way or the other i'm happy though, i'm not down with this iTunes bullshit, maybe i'm just old fashioned but I like to read all the details on who wrote/perormed on each song, on this album especially!

As for Explicit lyrics is everyone forgetting Rhiad? "I don't give a fuck bout them cos I am crazy!". Maybe that song isn't gonna be on the album though, who knows.

Getting CD from Wal-Mart is one thing, I'll draw the line at getting my merchandise from Damart http://www.damart.co.uk/pls/portal/site_framework.page?p_category=8    :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Fans being older is one thing, but this would suck

I have an idea, how about GN'R doesn't release the album at all, and stop all negotiations about the release.  I can't believe people are bitching about where it gets released, the same people say they would do almost anything for CD but now won't buy it if it's released through Walmart.  Who gives a shit ?!

We don't even have Walmart here, at the center of the universe, also known as Sweden.





/jarmo

well if this true then we are very close to a release date

doesnt matter where we can buy it as long if its possible in the end we all have a physical cd :)

Best of luck with the negotiations to GNR.  :peace:

Everytime I walk into my local best buy they always have Rockband and Guitar Hero set up for playing.  Since Shacklers will be appearing on Rockband 2 It would make more sense and electronic wise (ever seen wal mart lol) to be exclusive to Best Buy.

It is not affecting Europe or any other continent, The Eagles 'Long Road" is available in the tradionational shops expect for the US where it's Walmart.

I just noticed this news was posted on DrudgeReport.com, which is a pretty big deal.  Anyway, it's a very good sign that the release is near.  I am a little disappointed that it might be an exclusive for one store, but it's not like that will prevent me from purchasing the product, and if it makes the negotiations for the release go smoother/better, I'm all for it!

Whenever Gn'R news is posted on DrudgeReport.com, I get contacted by lots of people who see it and ask me if I'm aware of the news.  It's kinda funny.

On a side note, I've noticed some people complaining about WalMart and their anti-union stance.  Research... not provided by biased and sick people is a good thing!  I don't shop at WalMart, but unions, despite being a seemingly good idea, are horrible and corrupt in America.   My grandpa used to get his ass kicked on a monthly basis by the mob henchman who were was payed off by the unions in Detroit (the car companies did similar things but only to fight against the unions which were never prosecuted because of their ties to local corrupt politicians).  If WalMart allowed them, they'd seriously damage the company and it would be the consumer who'd end up paying more for less.  I actively fight against any attempts to start unions in my industry; it's disgusting and it makes me angry that some people choose to ignore the real affects of unions.  Companies and corporations are not the enemy, lawyers and their political buddies are, and the majority of America is blind to this, lead down a false path of anger by socialists and cowards. Real people with real jobs get hurt by unions, consumers get hurt, everybody gets hurt, and a few people get paid to do worthless jobs that only exist to keep existing.  Don't be a sheep and believe the bullshit documentaries put out there by so-called 'progressives' who want to 'progress' America by retarding our economy.

I might actually have to find a WalMart and buy my first ever WalMart product when/if the album comes out this way.  I find that I've been constantly forced to temper my excitement about Chinese Democracy lately; there are so many good signs and so many good things happening.  Cheers everybody  :peace:

yesterday on the radio they were playin G"n'R and the guy said something that the album was going to be released exclusively to best buy or circut city :headscratch: then i almost called him but then i thought whats the point he doesn't know shit.

but when he was on the air he didn't say anything about walmart

:peace:

Just wait and see. If you don't like the retailer you can always take Bandita's idea.  :)

I never knew there was so much hate for Wal-Mart.  I could care less where it's released.  I support equal opportunity for all retailers.  The first one I drive by that has it, will get my money.

I didn't even know what the wal Mart was.  :P I tend to agree with cin a lot  so could be best buy is the better.

good/well< better< best

I just wish the best to GNR.

Hi,
to be honest I don't understand the anti wall mart thing,
in the UK we have asda who I think have a very good reputation.
So not too sure what to say on peoples feelings about it.

My feeling is simple - where + when CD is released I buy it!!
Several times  :peace:

I have no idea who Best Buy are.....

I'm sure Axl + co are aware of their legions of fans outside the US so
don't panic I'm sure it will get released one way or another in a physical form.

If the walmart exclusive is true I find it interesting in that
we know the history of not selling previous albums but maybe things have come full circle and now they are willing to pay for the exclusive.

If that's the case I think that's Kudos to the Axl and the band and
just underlines how good this all could be.

Things are moving - lets get rocking

I guess it's really happening then.  Looks like GN'R is shooting for that November release again....

this is great news.   Best Buy would be the better option for most of us, but this is 2008 and with the decline in album sales over the last few years, these are the kinds of deals that get made. 

these deals are usually mutually benefitical to both parties.    I am buying 2 copies of this album the day it comes out regardless of where I have to go to get it. 

If "Chinese Democracy" is sold exclusively at Baby's R Us or Petco, I'm THERE, however, I would rather the band choose Best Buy over Wal-Mart. Best Buy will begin selling vinyl LPs and musical instruments soon AND they do not edit their product.

 :peace:

that would suck big-time '

Sucked into another give your opinion--lol 

Guess we kind of over looked the good news, it's in negotiations to be released some where. 

My opinion don't mean shit.  I'm just babbling through the wait.  I've never put out a cd, I'll just say the management team knows what they are doing.  They have the proven track record.  Just let me know where and when, I'm there!

I think it's pretty obvious that the songs won't be censored or edited in any way by the retailer... Axl didn't take all this time to write the "perfect" songs just to have someone cut them to pieces.

yeah lets hope axl has the last say.if not we are screwed lol.

Personally I could care less who sells the thing, as long as I can buy it when it's released.

you can buy AFD uncensored at Walmart

I guess that I'm a little old-fashioned and still prefer to buy records/CDs at a record shop.  For convenience, and since my local independent shop closed a few years ago, I usually go to HMV, where happily they still sell a limited selection of vinyl.  Having said that, I haven't waited heaven knows how many years for this album to be released only to worry about where I have to buy it.  As long as the content isn't compromised, and I can't envisage Axl agreeing to that happening for one minute, I'll buy it wherever I have to.  The good news from the article seems to be that things are still moving in the right direction and there's no doubting the credentials of the new management team if their past track record is anything to go by.   :)

This thread alone proves that people will complain about anything. :hihi:

Lets see if I can say this in a way for people to understand.

CD IS COMING OUT! Smile, laugh, jump for joy!, we've been waiting almost 2 decades for a new GNR album and it's almost here.

WHO GIVES A SHIT where it's sold? 

yeah i hear that one folkz !

So if it's only sold at one of these particular stores, how will they promote it?  Just posters hanging up in the stores talking about the album, and several commercials?  This would be great...!

^ is that sarcasm or are you being sincere?

I personally would rather walk into my local Hmv or Zavvi to buy it, but to tell you the truth, what difference does it REALLY make. I'm sure they'll do whats best for the band and the album. They're not gonna want to cock this up.....that's for sure  :hihi:

I'm actually excited by this, no sarcasm.  I didn't like it at first, but I want this to happen so badly that I wouldn't care if it came out at TJ MAXX or somethin...I just want the thing out!

that pretty much sums it up.   some people will always find something to complain about and feel like they should be making all the band's business decisions.

Axl will not compromise  his album for Walmart.

Like I've stated, U can get away with a couple "Fucks" without getting a label. The songs we've heard live etc have no bad language except for Rhiad which says Fuck twice but I don't think they'd get a sticker for that. IRS says shit once I think. but once again, that wouldnt get a sticker.


LOL@ people who don't want to buy a GNR album because of unfair whatever at Walmart. How about not eating at Burger King for skinning pigs live or KFC for torturing chickens.

It u lived your life based on this type of stuff, U would sit at home all day and wouldn't enjoy very much.

I don't care where i have to go to buy it, as long as it doesn't have bleeps throughout the whole thing.

when is shit said in IRS

Feel like Im just too tired to care
like I just walked in my own shit


Isnt that the line? or am i wrong?

God, do you really hear that stuff in IRS?

Feeling that I'm just too tired to care
Feeling that I've done more than my share...

Cool

I thought someone said something about shit

but that is just another plus one for Walmart.

Besides the Fuck in Rhiad, I havent heard any curse words.

Isn't fuck said in the quotes part of madagascar.

yes it is

Not all Walmarts censor.  I still won't buy it from any retailer that does this kind of practice, though.

I wonder if cause its a "movie Quote" and movies can curse, if that will be a loophole?

Like I said, Its like a R rated movie, there are criteria involved and I havent heard anything yet the warrants a parental advisory sticker.

Remember a few weeks ago when I told everyone to be "Real" careful about how much u say about this guy and this guy because CD isnt out yet and u dont know whats gonna happen and u may be forced to eat crow?

I think an exclusive Wal Mart deal would piss a lot of fans off.

As long as Axl doesnt compromise lyrics etc, I dont care but Im sure a lot of people will.

Someone above mentioned Circuitcity, Walmart is a much better option then CircuitCity.  CC was almost bought out by Blockbuster, who might also be on verge of going out of business. So be greatful for Walmart !  :peace:

I don't get why people are getting pissy about this news. Nothing has been confirmed yet, we don't know if Wal Mart will even get the exclusive rights. Even if it does, I know damn well that EVERYONE will still buy it from them because we have been waiting too long to not buy it because of some store. Why is it that the GNR fan base always has to find something to bitch about?

So chill the fuck out, this is good news!

I laugh at people  who say they wont buy it.

Even if u DL it, u are still technically getting it from Walmart AND stealing. So if u accuse Walmart of all this shit and u are illegally stealing music........ seems sort of hypocritical to me.

My beef with WalMart is totally unrelated to music piracy.

I'm sure that they really don't care, but I am sort of HOPING that if enough people complain about WalMart getting this deal that management would give this deal to Best Buy.  I would be really happy to see that happen.

But eh, I am not expecting miracles here.

As chineseblues said, nothing has been confirmed yet.

 :peace:

I understand that Bandita but still, to say you won't listen to CD just because of Walmart, I mean if u could stick to your beliefs that strongly, that would be amazing but being this album, and how long we've waited. I'm willing to overlook anything in order to buy it.

ITunes for me is the biggest rip off.  Itunes has singlehandedly made the album obsolete and people now only buy singles which takes so much money from the artist.

I like how record labels point to piracy for declining album sales and they are wrong, its Itunes. Why buy an album when u only like 2 songs?

Kid Rock is proving that now cause his album has sold more the last 2 months than it did the first 8 months due to his smash single. If that song is on Itunes, guess what? his album wouldn't have sold the million it has the last few months. people wouldve spent 99 cents on the song.

i don't use itunes, the only thing that would convince me to would be an exclusive itunes only release by a band I love, like GnR.   But from what it sounds like, thats not what they want to do.

D, I'm sure I would break down and buy it eventually if that was the only way.

I'm just hoping it turns out to be the other retailer, that's all.

I don't even use ITunes or have an IPod, I don't use IANYTHING, I am very retro! :hihi:

Bandita isn't boycotting Chinese Democracy, to the best of my understanding.

She's saying she'll get the album somewhere else if she has to, even if it means paying more for it.

FUCK!

Thank YOU!  I plan on buying 10 copies!  I just don't want to have to benefit Walmart!!!!

Seriously, I am a fan of this band since I am 13 and now I am almost 34, of course I am gonna buy the album! ;D

Our posts were 52 seconds apart!  ;D

When the Eagles put out their album, I think you had to wait a whole month before they shipped to regular stores.

If that's the case, I'll be late to the party.

There is no way I'm giving Wal*Mart one red cent of mine.

Are retail rights only for a specific time period?

OK, I am being retro again but when I was a teen we had this store called Tapeville and it was awesome.  I loved buying my tapes and records in there!  I think I still have the original AFD tape I bought in there the summer after I got out of 8th grade.  Man, I miss those days! ;)

The better choice in my opnion would be Best Buy. Best Buy doesnt censor the music, but their are a lot more Wal-Marts then Best Buys. Every store should get the record not just one chain

I heard AC/DC is thinking about doing the same.  >:(

2 days ago ....  I will buy CD no matter what, I do anything to get CD, I want it right now !!!

Yesterday ..... I will not buy CD if its released at Walmart, I hate Walmart, I am against Walmart, and will not buy CD because its released at Walmart.

STOP COMPLAINING !!!  I dont care if its released at Hallmark or Victoria Secret stores only, Walk in grad a copy and walk out, thats it !

You can always buy the import. Im sure the Walmart or any exclusive deal only is for the US. I admit I use Itunes to buy songs I hear of bands Im not a fan of and dont want to buy the album.

so many songs I've bought off Itunes instead of buying the full album.

You say Victoria's Secret like it's a bad thing.

I dont have an ipod or itunes. Rather have the physical cd and a cd player

I have bought single mp3's off Amazon.

I most certainly want all of CD though!

The cool thing about getting the physical cd is getting the booklet, album case, and cd with artwork on it

Its going to be cool seeing Tommy Stinson, Richard Fortus, Robin Finck, Buckethead and so on ... on the writing credits to some of the songs.

I'm goign to be happy as hell for those guys, they deserve to have it out, just as much as we deserve to have it.

I assume/guess that it'll be out on both physical album (CD, maybe even LP? Probably not 8-track, sorry Gypsy!) and mp3s.



Where ever it's going to be sold, if you're a fan, which most of you claim to be, you will buy it.

Sorry if I'm being too blunt and you get offended by that, but anything else seems very odd to me.

All the whining about who might sell it. What the fuck?

If you don't like your local retailer, go get it somewhere else. Drive to Canada, take a boat to England, order it online. There's ways around it.

But stop whining!

This is awesome news.






/jarmo

When people have an exclusive they advertise the hell out of it and create a good buzz.  It should help record sales, not hurt.  I am sure I will buy Itunes version and actual CD so bases are covered and I like the artwork on Itunes.

No 8 track?

That's the last straw and I am NOT buying it now!

 :-*

HAHAHAHA Jarmo with the low shot! I use to have an 8 track player.... :nervous: :nervous:

This is probably a topic for another thread, but do u think sometimes fans act as if they are  too much apart of the band?

Not crazy about the exclusive release, but this is still progress and I consider it good news.  Walmart...sucks.  Best Buy...sucks.  I'll still buy it.


No way, dude.  Stealing from the Wal?  That's Robin Hood shit!


I believe that's 100% correct (in the US).  Of course, despite all their songs about sex and whatnot, they've never really been big with the cursing, so the censorship doesn't really apply.

Please any store but Wal Mart!!

Some people are just plain and simple FUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best fuckin news i heard in a long long time,  this actually  means that Chinese Democracy starts now!!!!

For all you whiners and sulks, heres a tissue,

You's people and you all know which ones i am referring too,   you don't deserve to even hear CD!!!!

Im with the band on this one,  Right on Axl, get that masterpiece out!!!!! :drool:

you're right we should just steal it from the wal-mart shelves  :hihi:

I wonder where's my local Wal-Mart ::)

You do?


My guess is, New Jersey.

Make a right on Keh? III.



/jarmo

If they release the album through Wal-Mart or Best Buy. How it'll be released in the countries that don't have Wal-Mart or Best Buy (well...there's a Wal-Mart on Buenos Aires but not in my city...)

why does everybody give NJ a bad name? Yes there are a lot of Wal-Marts, but hey Bumblefoot and I are from here...what else do we need :hihi: ?

I have no problem at all if Guns and their management want to make the record exclusive to one retailer. I JUST WANT IT!!!

Best Buy seems to be the more sensible choice, if the CD contains any explicit language.

I can certainly understand the good memories of going to the small independent record stores and getting AFD, and also UYI II & II. Unfortunately a lot of those places are either gone or are now used CD stores with disappointing inventories..... the music industry is just so different now.

Wal-Mart may not be my retailer of choice for various reasons, but I'm not gonna let politics get in the way of finally buying this album. I'll buy it regardless of where it's sold, period. I have no doubts in my mind that it will be awesome.

That and, of course, the better quality music of a cd as opposed to a mp3/4.  As a collector, I am hoping for many different types of physical (LP, cd, etc.) releases for this album.  Sometime I wonder if Best Buy and WalMart had a hand in bringing Tower down.  Oh well, what's done is done.

Ill buy my first lp if Chinese Democracy comes out on that format

  The record company is going to be in negotiations with Walmart for the next 14 years.  :hihi:

Actually now that I think about it.  Didn't GN'R release a single UYI album exclusively for Walmart.  They combined songs from UYI I & II into a single cd exclusively for Walmart.

Of course. The retailer pays a premium to have the exclusive rights to the CD due to not having any competition from any other retailers. It's a trend that makes a lot of sense for the artists, but really alienates the other retailers who can't carry it. Record stores are having a difficult enough time as it is, and the exclusvie deals are not making it even better. Target and Best Buy have had experience with it on a smaller level, but Walmart seems to be really stepping up to do this more than anyone else. Journey, The Eagles, REo Speedwagon (and more), and now AC/DC.  I hope gnR choose best buy, as that fits their demographic better.

Why is thought here that Best Buy is a better fit for GNR don't you think management will take everything into consideration.  The Eagles cd was released exclusively through Walmart and out sold Britney Spear's cd which was released everywhere.  Walmart is not a bad place to release a CD.  Best Buy is the more electronic entertainment savvy store, but there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with Walmart.  If some people can not stand Walmart, then don't buy CD, over some stupid grudge against Walmart. Be the better person, and boycott Walmart, like Axl said its only a cd

Don't listen to Jarmo, NJ is his favorite state.  He is just jealous! :hihi:

I don't believe there is a Wal-Mart in the Netherlands. When I start one for myself I have exclusive ditribution rights for the country. And I live near Germany so they also can buy at my little Wal-Mart-shop !

(And I would be the first one to have CD) :beer:

Will you also sell fries with mayo?

 :hihi:



/jarmo

Only in America is it wal-mart exclusive.  Everywhere else is same as normal.

The USA has like a third of the total market share in music.

So it's the most important market when it comes to sales.




/jarmo

You are correct.

AC/DC's Walmart Exclusive is only exclusive in the United States.  In Canada and Europe you will be albe to get the CD at your favorite music store.

Maybe the exclusive that Wal-Mart or Best Buy will have will be like a poster or something extra you can get with CD if you buy it there.



Why are you trying to suck jarmo's ass here after you were bashing him and the way he runs htgth on other sites?  ::)

how was that sucking ass? :D

EXAMPLE:  In this weeks flyer, there's a BEST BUY EXCLUSIVE STEEL BOOK PACKAGING for Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles, Blu-ray Season 1.

I'm sure you can get this show at other stores but just not with the "exclusive steel book packaging"


She post shit on other sites bashing Jarmo & HTGTH and then comes here and sucks his ass by replying to all his joking to other people in his posts like she's his best friend.

Gypsy you have been crawling up my ass for months now, care to tell everyone what I had for lunch? ;D

I post multiple places where I am allowed to post about different topics at each place.  I am sure Jarmo is well aware of it as I am registered as Bandita on every GNR forum there is.

I'm sure these days, EVERY GNR fan is reading multiple forums.  Say you don't and you are a liar. 

Kindly back up your claims with copies of such posts I have made at these sites dissing Jarmo.  Otherwise, go have an Oreo and STFU.

With the AC/DC record ill be still getting it at wal-mart so it shouldnt matter about Chinese Democracy either. Only thing about wal-mart is the censorship

You are correct sir.  And a cassette.

http://www.troccolitm.com/uyimart.html?1166438839703

http://www.troccolitm.com/tapecompuyi.html?1203905150515

Even a misprint out there with So Fine listed as a track: http://www.troccolitm.com/UYICompMisprint.html?1212115719321


Exactly.  I think that is why they had the UYI compilation album above.  Pretty sure those tracks don't have any curses.

Chinese Democracy only word in the song getting censored is masturbation

That wasn't a Wal Mart exclusive. I remember seeing at Target, and, you can still pick it up at Target. http://www.target.com/Use-Your-Illusion-Guns-Roses/dp/B00000DAHK/sr=1-20/qid=1219009819/ref=sr_1_20/602-9021607-1627800?ie=UTF8&index=music&rh=k%3Aguns%20n%20roses&page=1

Anyway Mysteron can confirm this is in the works right now?

Best Buy once had an "exclusive" Seinfeld boxset with either a fridge and/or puffy shirt that I was able to buy at another store too so these "exclusives" sometimes aren't.


There are just way too many examples of you bashing HTGTH and making personal attacks on members of the GNR camp on those other sites.

Like you said, many of us do read other GNR "fan sites" so people know what I'm saying is true.

I won't give you - or those sites that allow your bullshit - the satisfaction of quoting that shit here.

P.S.  The oreo thing is an inside joke between me and some friends so there's another example of you trying to be inside where you are not welcome.

Thanks, I can't get lost now :hihi: Shame I just moved 250km away from Keh? III.

So many examples yet you can't even find one?

Make sure you specifically find one where I typed something negative about Jarmo in particular.

You seriously need a life!  You condemn me because I post on multiple sites yet you are following me around the net?  You seem kind of umm, CRAZY?

Sigh, another net lunatic.

Let's all get back on topic and let Gypsy get back to following my posts. :rofl:


ON topic, I find it funny that WalMart will censor music and CD artwork yet continues to sell guns.

someone said in the thread you hear the word fuck in rhiad never heard it in their

Who cares?

I would buy this thing at "Al's Al Qaeda Retail Depot" for $499.99! And I think most of you would too...

Come on... after all these year are we actually going to complain about HOW this album gets released!? Oh for the days when we worried about WHETHER it would get released?!? :hihi: :hihi:  :confused:

Riyadh and the Bedouins
Had a plan and thought they'd win
But I don?t give a fuck bout them
Cause I am crazy

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/releases/chinese-democracy/rhiad-and-the-bedouins.html

thanks havent listened to the song in a while

At this point I've come to accept that a lot (but not all) of the fans will bitch no matter what happens. At the same time I think the constant buzz says a lot for how great the new music really is.

hard to believe it's actually going to happen.  I just hope there is a lot more to talk about once CD is released.  Kinda like if the Cubs ever win the world series... it's like a "what now"?  :hihi:

I want the full uncut cd instead of a censored watered down version of it : ok:

^That is the truth!  If it's completely uncensored (which I'd doubt) I'd buy it from Wal-Mart.  If it's completely uncensored I'd buy it from Satan himself.   :yes:

On a side-note, Gypsy, I can honestly say I've never seen Bandita write anything derogatory about Jarmo.  I love this site and I'm pretty damn sure she does as well. 

My solution to the disagreement?  You 2 lovely ladies, 4 gallons of baby-oil, 2 stripped-down versions of the same outfits the US women's beach volleyball team wear, and I'll bring the GNR tunes!  (only proviso:  the dvd will not be sold at Wal-Mart if Bandita wins.  :hihi:)  Seriously, both of you are great fans, let's stop the madness and unite around our common thread, a love of Guns N' Fucking Roses!!!!

Let's just hope the coming albums all get here safe and sound.  Fuck the haters, the cynics, the critics, who needs 'em?
The coming shows will be a fucking blast!  See ya'll then!!!   :beer:  -Axl4Prez2004   :peace:

I'd say such negotiations in place could be the best news we've heard about the album to this point.

If management delivered on "Rock Band 2", I have hope better things will come.

Why are people bitching about Wal-Mart's censorship thing. Think about it. First of all, it's called "negotiations." If Wal-Mart doesn't want to turn a blind eye on this record (which they'd be stupid not to), then the record company will take the deal somewhere else. It's plain and simple. And isn't it two companies (Best Buy and Wal-Mart that are supposedly in negotations. Now why do you think Best Buy is in the mix. Gee, I don't know, maybe as a back up plan in case Wal-Mart doesn't want to lift its ban. Do you people really think that Axl has spent this long just to have CD compromised. No he hasn't. Wal-Mart not even worth worry about. (Heck for all we know Wal-Mart may do the uncensored and Best Buy does the other edition.)

Do people still by music in retail stores anyways?   :hihi:

 So best buy would have the censored one then ...??

i have not bought a cd in retail store since 1991

I usually don't but I am excited to see the liner notes (do they still call them that??????) on the CD!

Certain albums on iTunes come with digital liner notes in PDF form.

If I'm interested enough of a band's album, even if I have MP3s I will still buy the physical album in CD and/or Vinyl. It's nice to have something to "collect", and see the liner notes, photos etc.

In such a case as "Chinese Democracy" I hope the liner notes will tell us alot about the album, who contributed to the songs we hear, who played on it, lyrics etc.

Better to have it in a physical form rather than downloading digital liner notes or something like that.

i still buy albums.   its nice to have music for your car and i don't like burning cds.   not to mention the whole copyright thing i have issues with downloading music.

Their needs to be a flac version of it

That's just not the same in this case.

Stuff I download is usually stuff I already have somewhere in CD form so I don't care about the liner notes or whatever....

But there is something special about ripping off the plastic to a brand new copy of CHINESE DEMOCRACY! ;D

Getting my hands on Chinese Democracy is going to be awesome

Screw digital. I want a hard copy in my hand or I don't buy jack, no matter what the band. If I want a digital copy, I'll make it myself.

And the last time I bought AFD from Wal-Mart, It wasn't censored. Their albums have a sticker on them now, telling you about questionable lyrics.

Albums I'm so-so about getting I get on itunes for 10 bucks.  Albums from my favorite artists I buy CDs of.  My question was more rhetorical as music sales have been in the toilet for quite some time now.

i have a feeling a lot of regular people will be DL'ing this album off the net to hear what all of the fuss is all about.  Hopefully some will turn into real sales.

a massive sold out tour, tons of radio play and awards galore would be pretty awesome.

The last cds you bought must of been the illusion cds

No it was just a suggestion, that perhaps, Best Buy would get the non-censored and Wal-Mart goes with the censored. (or yeah maybe Best Buy would have them both.) The point is a lot people are freaking out and assuming/speculating (which goes on here a lot) that if Walk-Mart is involved then there will only be a censored version, and Axl didn't work as hard as he did to see CD compromised.

There's no reason why they couldn't stock the album as it is with a blatant disclaimer label indicating that it is explicit material or whatever.

Again, I don't know if that'll be an issue.  What is so expicit about the songs we've heard so far?  I mean is a sticker really warranted for 2 or 3 curses?  I don't know the answer, and it may be a big fat yes with the state of the world these days, but it may not be an issue.  Obviously we don't know if the songs we've heard will in fact be on CD and there are probably a bunch that will be on that we haven't heard yet so who knows what badness they might contain.  It just seems that the lyrics have become a lot less explicit since back in the day.

I know what you mean. I'm not even sure to what extent they censor albums these days, particularly to the point of providing a special issue of the album with offensive lyrics cut out/censored etc. But I would assume, with such a large 'family'/chain/mainstream store they would consider disclaimers, even if its just for a few curses.

On a final light hearted note, I'd consider some of the music that they sell to be offensive in the fact that they exist let alone the lyrics contained.

Pardon my technical ignorance here.  Does anyone here have the equipment (and I'm not sure what kind of equipment that would be other than your own ears of course) to see the differences between different types of files?  The only reason I bring this up is because I still buy cds (only major bands that I really like otherwise I just get it off itunes) because it seems to me the quality is better.  Even those new trakcs on itunes that cost a bit more don't seem to be the same quality as cd.  Am I crazy here???

I'm not too sure about technical details either;

But I would be pretty sure that the quality on a official, mass produced CD would be much more superior to MP3, MP4, M4A and whatever the other common digital music formats are. Music made for digital download would most likely be ripped/copied from a 'physical source', whereas official CDs are made 'from' a physical source/master copy without any compression/digital conversion etc..

To make a profit, Walmart is the best way to go.

we've heard that CD has cost 13 million correct. I know 3 albums blah blah blah but lets just stick with the 13 million.

Lets say Walmart gives Universal 10 million for the rights to exclusively release CD.

Walmart THEN sells it for 10 dollars a copy.   With is being in Walmart, no Itunes etc, CD easily could sell 3 million copies.

They could work out a deal: walmart gets 5 dollars, Label 3 GNR 2.

So with 3 million just in the US, Walmart would make 15 million *profit of 5 million*  Label would make 9 million plus the 10 mlllion they sold it for which would be 19 million which in turn would profit them 6 million. GNR would then receive  6 million dollars.


so the US would turn a profit and every thing outside the US would be gravy.

 I'm most interested in seeing if there is still a market for ANYTHING Guns n Roses. I'm talking about a big enough market where the Band and the record company won't end up being disappointed with Sales. Those guys have been out of the limelight for so long that I'm afraid it has really hurt them.

they pulled off the 2006 and 2007 tours with a lot of success.   if they can sell tickets to shows, they can also sell albums.  especially if the material is strong, and thus far it is.

The 06 and 07 tour got little promotion and look how strong it went

I dont think the label is THAT interested in making a profit off of money they spent over 10 years ago...I think they are more interested in the album doing well, then a tour, then more albums...making the 13 million back off "CD" is probably not what they are thinking about....13 million for a big label like that is nothing....

What?

dude u are seriously delusional if u don't think record labels are in it for profit. They are gonna want their money back. 13 million is a lot of money, especially in this day and age of how bad the record business is going.

I don't think the sales are going to be a problem.
I remember seeing on here that Greatest Hits sold 4 million??

As we know GH was released with little promotion and to be honest
not GnR's best material, nothing exclusive in terms of packaging.
I think if GH can sell that well than Democracy is going to do better than
that.
I know some people refused to buy GH as not endorsed by the band.

So Democracy sales are going to include the 4 million die hards,
the fans who boycotted GH, plus this will have promotion and reach new fans.

GunsN'Roses are _very_ big abroad. It's a huge market for them in Asia and Europe. We'll see.

It will not be Walmart because they do not sell CD's with parental warning and I am sure C.D. will have one.

  I seriously wonder if this will all just be another rumor. Just another time where fans wait years for nothing to happen in the end. I'm not even blaming any one person right now. I'm just looking at history and realizing that with this band SOMETHING always gets fucked up!

I'm gonna one-up troccoli on technical ignorance.

I think the average listener/buyer of music is like me and couldn't tell you if we were listening to something from iTunes or an mp3 or a cd or whatever.  Say GNR sells 5 million copies of CD in different formats.  I think at least 4,500,000 of us are gonna buy it in whatever format is more suitable to our personal buying preference as opposed to which format has the supposedly better technical quality sound.

I wonder how many peoples listen to music on iPods using cheap headphones?  Doesn't that have a significant effect on the quality of the sound?


P.S.  And I hope that the powers-that-be take in to consideration the financial situation of the average buyer when they're putting together the different packages like dual-discs or any extras.  I really hate it when artists put out these over-the-top limited addition things that only a hand full of people can afford to get.  And having a limited number available of any extras sucks even more!!!  They should make everything affordable enough so that EVERYONE who would like to have say a signed photo book would have it available to them.

Here's the thing:  We KNOW there is.

Because all you have to do is look at the sales of GH...it's been a GREAT seller in the retail market.  If CD sold 4 million copies, like GH has....I think the brass at the label would need to go clean their undies up.  They'd spontaneously orgasm all over themselves, IMHO, with those numbers.

Now, the ultimately question is "Will the GH sales translate into sales of new material".  I think that's a much less risky question needing an answer, especially considering how "high profile" the album is, and it's quasi-Legendary (like Brian Wilson's "Smile"  or maybe Bigfoot/the Yeti) status.  I think you'd find a good number of retail chains willing to take that risk, all things considered.  The question is: Would the label.  Again, because of the risk THEY'VE taken, already....I think they would.

heres a link to a story from the hits magazine website... long time reader 1st time poster just thought id share

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news07212m01

is this spam or what?

no not spam--- hits is an industry magazine-  their website is a mix of joke articles and legit music news (i.e. this article)--- while i know that obviously theres no definite word on the release til it comes from the band i did think it was worth sharing

No, I found this:

http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi
"Billboard apparently won?t take I.B. Bad?s revelation last week that Guns N? Roses? Chinese Democracy will come out in Q4 as a Best Buy exclusive. A story in today?s Bulletin allows that ?some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes?either Wal-Mart or Best Buy. Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says? It's unclear who initiated the Guns N' Roses exclusive negotiations?Front Line or Interscope. Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn't be reached for comment by deadline? Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached for comment by deadline."

Not much in the way of news, but at least it's getting attention.

i think GNR would benefit from pulling a move like Prince. If they are worried about the commercial success of the album, they should charge a little extra for concert tickets and include the CD. that definitely wouldn't stop any fans from buying tickets and it would boost "sales" greatly by distributing the album to fans who wanna see GNR for the calssics, but wouldn't necessarily buy the new album. its kinda cheating but judging by the success of the recent tours it could be very beneficial. : ok:

Would GN'R have to censor the songs on CD if they go with WalMart? Could they make two versions, one censored and one explicit?

Sorry if this issue has already been discussed...

Yes, GnR would loose all credibillity and artistic integrity if they went with Wal-Mart...thats how I see it :P

Best Buy is the way to go

Really great news. This is the second hint of a release really soon (the other one is obviously the Shackler's track on RB2) and I can't understand why so much complaining. Didn't we all waited all these years for ANY form of release?

No, seriously... If this turns out to be true, it will be fucking awesome. And if it upsets you that much, buy the damn album and download the tracks uncensored on iTunes. You'd still have the hard case, alright?

Also, this is great news too because I just moved to a new apartment and it's in front of a Wal Mart. :hihi:

Based on what's been heard thus far there isn't anything that would need to be censored

That said, it's doubtful Axl would ever consent to having his album available only in censored form, so I wouldn't worry about it.  We'll hear the album the way it's intended to be heard when it comes out

I was in a Walmart today, and I noticed the new CD from the band Disturbed did not have the word "edited" on the UPC/price label. Aren't they a band that uses a lot of explicit language in their songs?

Do they do this kind of thing here in the UK?

Only thing i can think of was paul mcartney(beatles dude) his album was only available from some coffee shop.

Don't think ive heard of ADSA(walmart in uk) have had exclusive's may be wrong though.

I'm with ya. I think the label and GN'R management are doing everything possible to get it out this year. My guess? No later than November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S.).

It would be huge if they could get it out this year.  The Dr. Pepper thing is the type of promotion that money can't buy.  The best thing about the Wal-Mart deal would be that people could get their CD and their Dr. Pepper in one stop  :P

I bought the Disturbed disc from Target and it did have the explicit lyrics label on it.  Not sure what version Wal-Mart has.  Target had both censored and uncensored though, I'm pretty sure.

I'm betting that it's some kind of in-store exclusive deal like a bonus CD, full of B-sides or re-recorded AFD. I don't see a real benefit to GNR releasing just through Walmart. I'd like to see a wider release. Plus, as it's been pointed out, Wally world doesn't like words like fuck, shit, damn, darn, sex, cocaine, kill or crap.

Okay, I'm exaggerating. A little.

You don't see a real benefit? Just take a look at this Azoff article about the profits and benefits he got with an exclusive deal to sell the Eagles album:

http://adage.com/entertainmentmarketers08/article?article_id=127077

I like that article ! I like how they placed the CD in diffrent parts of the store !! I could only imagine what they could do with Chinese Democracy !! if a deal goes through.

I think people put way too much on the GH's sales as they will not translate into CD's sales at all. With a GH album, u are putting so many awesome great all time best songs in one collection.

CD has to have its own legs to stand on. if the first single catches fire, it has the potential to sell millions. If the first single flops and no single after hits, the album will be a flop.

that goes for pretty much anyone. Music is so singles driven today and that sucks but its just the way it is.

The music will get a strong response just out of curiosity alone. And the hype of a brand new "Guns N Roses" song and Axl returning to the radio.

There is an unfortunate chance, however, that many people will not give the music the attention it deserves or unfairly criticize it - not because the music is bad but because "its too different" or "its not the same as before", likewise all the people who say GNR "isn't the same anymore" because Slash isn't there or Duff quit or whatever, and not forgetting all the garbage about this being "the longest album ever in production"/"will it meet expectations"/"should Axl have bothered" when people don't really know the history of it.

Very true.  Look at Kid Rock for example.  His latest album debuted at #1 then steadily went down, it was hanging in the 30's or so and then he released "All Summer Long".  Now the album is back in the top 5.  Shows you how a strong single can carry an album.  It doesn't necessarily have to be the first single though.

read what I wrote again...then respond accordingly...I said they are not looking to make 13 million bucks just off this record...they are probably more interested in building a longer lasting product that will continue to tour and make money in the future...some ofyou think that just because 13 million was spent on this one album it HAS to be made back with this one album...of course the label is in it for profit...and they will profit more with this album doing well and leading to more albums...

and by the way 13 million bucks is peanuts to a major label...espeically becaue that money was spent before the majority of the people at the label even worked there...

If 13 million made 3 albums, then yeah, u got a point but to say they don't care about making that money back just isn't so. I dont think that labels make anything off a band's tour.

A record label is pretty much like a bank. That 13 million is like a loan. U tell me any bank in the world that wouldn't care about losing 13 million on a business venture. Record Labels are all about the money which is why music sucks today and they mass produce carbon copy pop shit cause its a guaranteed easy profit.

this is what i was getting at earlier. by including CD in the ticket price for their shows, it will indirectly force the fans who are into the classics to buy CD. Its kinda cheating but think about it. they release CD then do a massive tour using this strategy. do you really think fans are gunna not attend the show because their ticket cost 12$ more? unlikely considering the success of the 2006/2007 tour then at the door they are given CD which they didnt even know they already paid for. make sense? that way the "old fans" who just wanna hear the classics are kinda forced to buy CD without really knowing.

prince did it and i think its genious.

Very interesting article...

I wouldn't mind getting the album from such a place if it benefited the band.

I don't get all the cry-babies on this on other boards... You've been waiting for this album from 15 years to 1 month (i bet we got some new gn'r fans in here...).

Why wouldn't you buy this album? I'll probably buy it in any form it comes out and from anywhere, as I am a collector, but even if I wasn't, I'll still buy like 10 copies at least to give away to people I think should have the album...

I don't really buy too many new CDs these days, only really pick up things i've missed by other older bands that I love.

So I'll be very eager for some collectibles or special versions of the album.

There's so many additional ways they can also market the album to appeal to anyone, whether old GNR fans, new GNR fans, or just casual music fans in terms of extras with the album, limited edition pressings, autographed versions in a lottery system etc. But thats for another thread..

http://music.ign.com/articles/899/899890p1.html

Yes, the Musicology Tour and that was genius. He moved TONS of copies of that album. Also releasing his new album for free in the UK with the paper was genius also as it exposed a new fanbase to his music.

Bon Jovi and other acts do something now, where if u buy a Concert ticket, u get a free Itunes DL of the album which counts on record sales. U buy a ticket and get a code that put u in on Itunes.

so there are all kinds of ways to sell more cds than the conventional way. Problem is GNR have to tour to do these concepts and there is one huge question mark right now when it comes to that.

That's an interesting article, especially the comment:

"We looked at a number of different options," says Mr. Azoff......"But we wanted to have control over the final product and how it was marketed" to Eagles fans."

I can see that being a major attraction for taking GNR down this route too.



D, I can see the value in the options you mentioned above, although I think the return on the first one, ie. Prince's action of giving away the CD free with a daily newspaper, is likely to be lower.  If someone has bought a concert ticket then at least they're going to have a passing knowledge about the band and, in my opinion, are more likely to want to hear more, especially after seeing Guns in action.

The other problem I have about giving the album away free is that, to me at least, it feels like you're devaluing it's worth, and by that I mean the physical and emotional work that has been put in by all concerned throughout the years.  I know that in order to put a monetary value on creative endeavours it has to be a case of head over heart, but I would still feel very uncomfortable with the idea of the album being given away free.

Also, I know that when I get a paper with a CD or DVD I barely give it a second glance and it just goes straight in the bin and, on a personal level, it'd really upset me to see an album I've waited years for, and that I know I'll treasure for many more years to come, being simply cast aside without a second thought by people as they pick up the paper at the tube or petrol station or wherever.  Perhaps I'm just being a silly old fool for feeling this way but it's the truth.

Sorry, we had a misunderstanding, I wasn't implying that GNR should give away their CD. i was just mentioning some previously used release strategies.

the concert ticket one, has definitely been one of the more successful ones.

This might sound silly but I want to pay a lot of money for Chinese Democracy

So the more 'special' the band can make it in terms of bonus tracks, dvd footage, interviews, cool artwork/packaging the better. After all of this time I don't really want to find myself queueing up in the local Asda for a bog standard cd

And if there is a limited edition deluxe version HTGTH members will get the opportunity to buy  : ok:

One other thing - please no initial release followed by another release 6 months later with additional tracks. That really grinds my gears.

I posted this elsewhere but thought I'd also include it here since it appears theres some discussion about 'exclusive' versions of the album..

Heres some ideas I thought of for different issues of the album that would appear to 'hardcore' fans such as us, 'old gnr' fans and casual fans alike..

-Limited edition box set version of the album
This would come with extensive packaging and artwork, lyrics, album essay by Axl, stickers, free live DVD etc. I also think they could somehow set up a 'lottery' system where 20 random buyers from anywhere in the world could be lucky enough to get a copy of the box set signed by Axl only. There could also be a higher quantity of say 50 sets which are signed by the other band members.

-Version of the album with free "Classic/Vintage" Guns N Roses tshirt
Limited versions of the album could come with a free 'Vintage' "fashionable" GNR shirt.
Or on the other hand, major clothing stores/department stores could offer the album for free with a poster for a limited time to people who buy GNR shirt/other merch from them. GNR merch seems to be a trend lately; I think if they stuck some free music in there anyone with general interest in music would be curious. And maybe they could even chuck a poster in there or stickers or something.

-Version of the album with free live DVD
A limited edition version of the album with a free DVD of the new band performing live. Better value for money I guess.

-Version of the album 'packaged together' with greatest hits CD
I know this is riding on 'OLD GNR', but just like how they have 'deluxe reissues' of two popular albums by one band in one package, they could feature 'Chinese Democracy' with a greatest hits GNR cd or "Appetite". Someone who wants to get any GNR in their collection would be satisfied with the 'old hits' and the 'mythical album' they've heard about blah blah

-Live ticket & exclusive free album download
I guess it might be more financially feasible, rather than issuing CDs for every customer - If they set up a system for future live GNR performances where a specific number of attendees would be entitled to a free download of the album.

15 years makes it even a better reason fans wanna hear CD the way Axl wants it to be, not wal-mart.

Thats my view, but if Axl get it to work then I' m happy. :peace:

A very interesting interview on The Howard Stern Show this morning. Howard was talking with the band STAIND about how tough it is for recording artists these days to sell CD's. The interview goes on to talk about Exclusive Distrbutions through retailers like Walmart and why it may be a good idea.

Walmart purchases Millions of CD's all at once. These all count as sales towards the CD even if nobody actually purchases the CD in the store. So a retailer actually has the ability to make a CD appear as though it's extremely popular even before it sells a copy. The upside for the band is that they get paid upfront once the CD's get sold to the retailer. So it's a win win situation for the band. Take a listen at the link below. It could be why Guns n Roses is negotiating for such a deal.


  http://www.zshare.net/audio/1728382179876bb8/

The fact is, if people bought cds like they used to, these deals wouldn't be needed.

But it's 2008, and many people rather spend nothing on a cd while paying a few dollars for a cup of coffee.......



/jarmo

if people could download their coffee they would

If the albums weren't so pricey, they would feel less tempted to download it. Also, a lot of people buy the mp3 version because they either don't care about the actual CD or because they just don't even have a cd player anymore. There's so many reasons and it's not only because of the illegal download, tho it's for sure the major cause.

For sure it is. And if the band can manage to have control over the masters too (tho I don't think it's really possible at this point with Universal), they could save a lot of further issues.

I don't think that's the case.

I used to think it was the case, but not anymore.


Some people just don't think an album is worth $10 of their money....




/jarmo

That's not true - the part about purchases by Walmart. The only reason Billboard put The Eagles Long Road Out Of Eden on the charts was because Walmart gave Billboard insight in actual sales. Before that there wasn't a single CD sold exclusively by one chain on the charts due to the fact nobody could independently verify sales. One it became apparent The Eagles sold way more than Britney S (who was provisional number one) Walmart gave Billboard insight at the very last minute possibly spurred by Eagles management (mr.Azoff).

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that most of the cds released today are not worth $10! I know I wouldn't spend that kind of money to buy an album where I liked only 1 or 2 songs on. So I know a lot of artists bitch and moan about downloading, but if they actually put the time and effort into creating something that was worth buying, I think people still would pay for it.

It's true that many albums are like that.

But I find it hard to believe that no band is able to create as good music today as they did in the 90s or something.....

Did all albums suddenly start sucking? ;)




/jarmo

To be very honest, people can now listern to/watch anything the want,via the internet.

I can watch Premier League football, porn, boxing and download music. which in reality i just could not efford to do and wouldn't do.

So for me no one is losing out as i wouldn't pay for any of the above as i can't.

But if guns n roses come to Newcastle,England and im the first to pay for my ticket. When CD is release i'll be the first to go out and buy.

i get to hear/see alot of thing i would not otherwise get to see/hear. Most things i would not go and pay to see the only way to stop this is to get rid of the internet.... which ain't going to happen. Bring back the 80's early 90's only differents is we all copied things on tape. Albums, Computer games and films the only difference is it happens a lot quicker.

Stu

maybe people're getting too lazy or busy to go to stores or to make a cup of coffee for themselves.

They always sucked, but it was harder to know back then. We didn't have much choice. Still, we all recorded albums in K7 tape too...

for the most part yes they really did

    It's really about two things. One is convenience and the other is the theory of "why buy the cow if the milk is free?" The internet provides the best of both worlds to the consumer. You can get what you want, when you want it, you won't have to pay a dime for it and you don't even have to leave the house to get it! That's a pretty good deal for us fans. That is very tempting and very difficult for most people to pass up. We live in a society where people are going to take advantage of such an offer in a heartbeat. This is why The record industry is on a respirator. At first they all freaked out and chased after anybody and everybody they could for illegal downloading. But now you no longer even hear about them suing downloaders. I think they finally realized that this is a battle that can't possibly be won. You can't stop technology. To many people to sue. To expensive to sue them all..... and there still have not been solid lines drawn as to if downloading music can actually be considered illegal. Even if it could be considered illegal, it certainly hasn't slowed anyone down. People are still downloading shit all over the place.

 So now record companies have moved on to a new strategy. That is to exclusively sell a bulk amount of CD's to one retailer where the money is guaranteed! The Record companies get paid a set amount of money by the retailer which is guaranteed Money in the Bank! Apparently this is a much better solution than hoping and praying that a CD will sell well. That scenario no longer works out so well thanks to file sharing on the internet. This is called evolution my friend.

Somewhat that sounds democratic....AxlNow.

I donno but I guess I much prefer white stripes or tool  to.... say, poison or def lepard.
I don't thisk it's today's music's fault.

"recorded" music has become a commodity.  It is too easily accessible to be a high value product any longer.  Music today doesn't suck any more/less than 10-20 years ago.  The recording business no longer exists as we once knew it.  Newspapers/Magazines will be next. 

So true. Internet destroyed the music industry in some ways..

The internet has not destroyed anything...... music, computer games, films and newspapers will still survive and make money.

We will all go see gigs, films at the pictures and buy newspapers.

Maybe the profits may not be as they once were, but thats only right.

it said "music industry" not music itself.... There is a big distinction.  Newspapers may not be completely destroyed, but I wouldn't be buying any stock in it!!  ;D

I used to buy a lot of cd?s before. I liked having the actual cd in my hand and going through the booklet inside to read lyrics and other stuff. I liked looking at band pictures, album art inside the booklet and seeing what information I can get about them that no one had. Now all that has changed with the Internet and downloading and it is a double edge sword for both sides.

I think back to the 80's and 90's and there were so many great albums and so much music coming out. I bought many cd's during that time that are full of great songs for all kinds of bands. Just go back to the 90's and the grunge era for example. How many great bands with great albums came out back then? Bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, STP, Alice in Chains, etc, just to name a few.

How many great albums did these few bands make? Same thing in the 80's with GNR, Metallica, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Skid Row, Bon Jovi, etc. How many great albums did they make? These bands, albums, and music were groundbreaking and I think they were worth the money back then.

However, what is the groundbreaking music of today? Which are the groundbreaking albums of the last few years? Where are the AFD, Ten, Nevermind, And Justice for All, Slippery When Wet, Blood Sugar Sex Magic of this era? What is the last greatest album that you consider a must have that will make you drive to Bestbuy to spend $15 on, (besides CD)? What Nickelback? Disturbed? Fuel? Staind? Three Doors Down? Daughtry? What was the last groundbreaking album of the last few years? I really have trouble coming up with something.

Some bands nowadays have a couple songs that are cool which may be worth downloading, but that is about it. I just do not get excited about spending money on music that is being made these days from new and even older bands. Back in the 80's and 90's radio stations played so many different bands and music. Now they play the same shit from the 70's, 80's and 90's like a greatest hits station. Which is cool for 5 minutes, because I like those songs, but come on these songs are already 10-15-20-even 30 years old already.

MTV was even a great forum for videos to promote the band and the music but we all know that the only shit you can watch on MTV now is the Hills and Real World 57.  I think MTV and the radio industry is also a part of the demise of CD sales.

I would be more inclined to buy cd's if bands would release CD's with DVD concert footage or some other footage like them writing the album, rehearsing, you know something extra that would be cool to have. The last CD I bought was Libertad and that was a while ago. Although it is not a groundbreaking album by any means I do like the fact that they included some DVD footage of a concert in Brazil and some backstage footage. This was pretty cool. I think if more bands did this, people may be more enticed to purchase CD's, except the record companies have waited too long and have aloud people to get accustomed to the whole downloading thing. 

The other poster is right about people just looking to the Internet for stuff that they do not necessarily want to spend money on. That is why GNR must be careful how they go about marketing and selling CD in order to recoup the money poured into the album and making a profit. Although GH did well, it will definitely be an uphill battle. I believe they will not have a problem selling out venues when they tour, but it will be difficult to go multi platinum because of the casual fans who are more inclined to download a song for free off the Internet rather than buying the CD. I think giving a CD at a concert would be smart. Even if it is kind of a sneaky way of boosting your record sales.

I agree, I used to get really excited going in to buy new albums by all these bands mentioned. The last decent album I bought was MGMT but that wouldn't stand up to the likes of Appetite or Nevermind, its not exactly groundbreaking. I'm very excited about Chinese Democracy, I just hope it lives up to the hype. I'm pretty sure it will but I feel like I've already heard most of it already

Dvds and computer games still sell well on release so do cd's. 'music industry' is the same as 'movie industry' there is no distinction or difference.

Most people will still buy a newspaper to read on the bus or the train..may well have a better base than DVD's or Cd's

'music industry' is the same as 'movie industry' there is no distinction or difference.

There is no distinction between the two??  I would disagree.  It doesn't matter where you listen to music, but a movie is better in a theater than on a 2 inch screen.  There are other differences as well.....

Sorry it doesn't matter where you listen to music or watch a movie. but it does matter what you watch/listen to it on you watch a movie on a 2 inch screen or listen to music on a fm radio both suck......

watch a movie on a 42inch lcd tv or listen to music on a 2 grand music system both rock...

Now lets hear from Bestbuy..lol

Seriously though I get the point, and I can care less where its released, as I will buy it , anyway. 

And on Foxnews's Redeye program just about 30 minutes ago they mentioned that "AC/DC will be releasing its album exclusively at Walmart and it is starting to look like Guns N' Roses long awaited Chinese Democracy will be exclusively released at Walmart as well."

What a sad state music is in. .......

 
   The last great decade for the music industry were the 1990's. It's been downhill ever since thanks to that little box in front of your face.

Don't be talking about my wife that way!  :hihi:

At least you didn't highlight the downhill--lol.

I think the major problem is that rock groups are expected to take care of everything. The demands are more now than 15 to 30 years ago. There was once a time when rock bands concerns were writing music and performing. So they had more time to focus on the creative side of their careers. Now they have to promote. Gather a following to play a club. Market their music. And learn the litigations of the music business. So the artist is spreading their selves very thin. So the end result is their music begins to decline as far as cutting edge ground breaking material. Plus record companies are now precautious of who they sign because they have to fall under a 'safe environmental music' category. You recall Dee Synder and the committee who came down on him and Twisted Sister in regards to explicit lyrics (Gore's wife). And who can forget when Ozzy was being railroaded by a certain senator for his interpretation of what Ozzy's music was about. All these events are the reason why rock music is not producing the music we feel is not breaking ground. If you look at the top twenty artists on the Billboard chart I think you'll also find how narrow the music business has become. Yes there are independent artists music out there on the net that you can find that might be ground breaking but I seriously doubt they are going to be allowed to enter the main stream. Maybe one day it could change.........but in the mean time.....I'll have another beer..... :beer:

IMO it's the complete opposite.  Having to be "creative" to promote the music is a thing of the past.  Those computer/video games are soooo popular that they'll almost automatically sell themselves and make a gigantic profit for everyone involved.  I'm not saying that that's a bad thing.  It is what it is.  I'm just saying that that's probably more the reason for the decline in actual album promotion and sales. 

Talking about Movies and Music... DVD's sell well, but music does not sell like it used to. It is obvious dowloading is a huge issue, but I think when you buy DVD you probably have already seen the movie,r wanted to see the movie, or someone told you it was good. So you kind of know what you are getting. Like I saw Batman Dark Knight in theatres and I know I want to buy the DVD when it comes out because I liked the movie.

That is why people are ok with spending their money on DVDs. I know there are some websites where you could dowload movies but it is still not like when you download a song, a lot of movies look like shit and take forever to download, and take up a lot of space on your computer. Besides most people like to watch movies on their TV from their couch not on compueter at their desk.

Nowadays the only DVD's that are like $20 bucks are new releases for e few months, but most have come down so much that you can typically buy regular movies for maybe $15, $10 and some for even $5. There are not too many $5 CD's even today.  

With Music you may have heard one or two songs and so when you buy a CD you are taking the risk of whether the other tracks or good or if they suck. How many times have spent $15 bucks on a CD for one good song. It has happened to me before several times especially before you could download music and it would piss me off. That is why people say fuck it and they just download the new Foo Figthers song for free or for $1 on Itunes and just saved $15 bucks.

I think this all could have been avoided if the music industry would have had more vision and tried to remedy these issues by maybe giving music fans more bang for theor buck with additional material with their CD purchase. Instead they chose to litigate the consumers spent millions and fucked up their whole industry. Now they are basically at point where there is no turning back. Bands, especially established bands like GNR will always make their money touring so that will not be an issue, but it is cool to see if they could still sell millions of records after all these years like they used too.

I think this is also a result of us getting older.  It's harder to get into music when we're not hanging out everyday looking for the best new thing.  The internet has done a lot of great things for the industry including opening the doors for a lot of new bands who would never have had a chance through the studio system.  But then with more bands putting out music...there's much more competition and some of the great stuff slides through the cracks.  There's still a ton of geat bands out there making classic ground-breaking material...White Stripes, Radiohead, Tool, Mars Volta, Beck, Bright Eyes, Death Cab.  These are bands that make quite a big fanfare when they have a new album.  

Couldn't agree more.
It's true, at least for McGann...
I don't know what's "cool"....

Splash

\Mike

i just herd on 94.1 wysp in philly radio said.that wal-mart was getting cd.i dunno how sure they are but it's getting closer n' closer '

Wal Mart ? hmm how come Best Buy never wins out on these exclusive's ?

$$$$$$$

All about the money, although I could see Axl going with Best Buy even if they offer less money as long as they come up with a great promotion plan and pitch.  Obviously money is not the only thing on his mind

I think Axl could careless about the money I think Universal is the one's who want some dough.  Wouldn't it make sense to go with Best Buy since AC/DC is currently got big promotion over at wal mart.

I agree that Axl and the ex-members don't really need the money. They don't seem the type to be throwing their money away ie; gambling it away at casinos. If anything Axl is doing it for the love of making music. And since he's had alot of time to rest and recover from way back than I'm sure now it's just going to be fun and on his terms. And why not? He and the rest of the guys have paid their dues. Why not enjoy the fruits of their labor? : )

I agree with you ! If Axl was after money, he would be releasing constantly various Greatest hits-stuff etc and he would have released CD years ago. I guess he got all the fame and money one can have back in the Illusion-tour, kinda been-there-done-that. All this time he's tried to make Chinese Democracy on HIS terms but again and again someone has disagreed and process has halted. And then came the infamous 13 million...

Now when the music is finally finished, I'd like to think he can relax and let the managers and lawyers handle the rest. But he propably has a lot to say of the release-process and advertising. I don't think we're going to see Axl drinking Pepsi on TV, listening to Shackler's Revenge !

Oh my god, I can't shake the image!  ;D ;D ;D

..And yeah, I doubt he'd ever do that.

of course not!!!! it would be Dr. Peppers!!!  : ok:

Of course its about money!!!

Why else would they want to make it an exclusive.

Maybe sales but i have no idea how they work. CD will hit number 1 how eva they release it.

I think they're just going on the news we've seen about negotiations. If something was confirmed I'm sure we would have heard about it..

Well, Irving Azoff did negotiate the deal to sell the Eagles last album exclusively at Walmart.

While I hope the lyrical content isn't compromised if Chinese Democracy goes to Walmart, it makes sense on a business level. Walmart is THE retail monster, everyone shops there. Everyone.

Many walmarts are open 24 hours a day.  Would be kind of nice to drop by walmart at 11:55pm on the day before the release and then make a night of it.

I'm not saying no bands can create as good of music as they did in the 90's, but the majority of them today don't! Granted most of the blame must be put on the record labels for pretty much only signing bands that look good but can't write a great song to save their lives!

The majority of albums started sucking back in the late 90's when all the manufactured bull shit started hitting the air waves.

I'm not saying no bands can create as good of music as they did in the 90's, but the majority of them today don't! Granted most of the blame must be put on the record labels for pretty much only signing bands that look good but can't write a great song to save their lives!

The majority of albums started sucking back in the late 90's when all the manufactured bull shit started hitting the air waves.

I think it's because of lack of magic..........and medication!!!  :rofl:

I bet in the 80s or the 90s people from the 70s were saying the same. Hell,  according to Grandma music's dead since cliff richard :hihi:

I tend to like the present and the future better than the past. I enjoy whats happening right now. 

hey you forgot TOKIO HOTEL! :hihi:

i'm only 25 yrs old.... and i think music out now is garbage!!!!

as a musician and just a music fan in general... music now doesn't come close to older stuff.

It's like saying your music sucks.....

I agree!!!!  Part of the reason is there is no one who wants to stand up and take it back. I know I've tried but in every group I put together or joined the other musicians just didn't want to prove something to the world. First you have to find three or four guys or girls who want to prove something to the world.......kind of like being God's Angels and you are on a mission to crack the whip on the world because you want to inject it with some Truth and justice in a good way. I tell you this if I had three or four guys who have that in their hearts I would of already had made it and be playing freaking Madison Square Garden rocking the audience to the ground and taking no prisoners........just like what G&R did in the late eighties. Because when I saw the original line up that's exactly what they did. Believe me there is a certain point that you don't want to play bars and clubs anymore.....you want to take it to the next level....like a place like that can hold 5,000 to 10,000 people........that's the half way point to the Garden and than stadiums..........:)

That's why the world needs GN'R.

Im glad people say this half of my friends like today's garbage.  Only a few like real music.

Agree with all of you. Sometimes frustrating to be stuck with the same music day in and day out but wouldn't change that for nothing. And like Ulises said, this is more the reason why we need Axl to return.

I was listening to K-rock today at work and they said this was a definite possibility and it could happen soon...then kicked right in to LALD!  It put a little smile on my face.  :)

NOT ME, NEVER!  Nothing I need there. BUT, i would be first in line if the album showed up there :)

all the more reason for walmart to try to get this record. :hihi:

anybody knows how much walmart paid to get ac/dcs new album? i guess they'll pay more for CD, how much can it be? couple of millions?

I wanna say they paid 3 million for it, but don't quote me on that.  Staind was on The Howard Stern Show this week and they brought it up.  I thought that was the figure they gave.

This link was posted earlier in this thread.  Unfortunately it has some annoying audio playing over the clip of the interview, but you can download it if you'd like.  Basically Staind said that Wal-Mart BOUGHT 3 million copies of AC/DC's new album, so I assume that cost them more than 3 million dollars.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/1728382179876bb8/

   I posted that clip, but there is no annoying audio playing over the clip of the interview. Anybody else getting annoying audio over the interview clip? I'm not. Sounds fine to me.

Yeah it seems fine now.  For some reason some advertisement was running over it last time I clicked on it.  I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, I didn't have any other pages opened up.  It lasted for like 10 minutes.  It's clear now though, thanks for posting.

I love how people are bashing on the music of today because they don't like it. Piss and vinegar in the blood is not all it takes to make it big. It takes talent. Although the music scene is over-saturated with cookie cutter garbage, if you look closely there are numerous bands that are doing something unique and playing with amazing talent. The music scene has changed. What sells is what's fun. What was fun in the 80's and 90's aren't fun in this day and age anymore. Which is why even the new GnR songs have a beat you can dance to and not just bang your head to. What makes us human and separates us from animals is our ability to use tools. Technology is advancing more and more every day and it's only advancement to be using these instruments available to us to make better sounding, better quality music. I loved all the 80's metal stuff as I was growing up and it's in my blood in such a way that I'll still get excited and sing along enthusiastically when I hear those old songs, no matter HOW corny they are.
I agree that record sales suck because one or two good songs does not encourage someone to buy a whole album, nor does a song, no matter how good a beat it has, can be said it's good if some bitch repeats the word "umbrella" a bunch of times. But there's nothing wrong with exploring new grounds to make better music.
If you don't want to play bars and clubs anymore, do something new that hasn't been played out 20 fucking years ago. Even our dear uncle Axl changed the sound of his band because he's got the foresight to see that the sounds of 20 years ago aren't going to cut it in this day and age.
[/rant off]

Now back on the topic at hand: I think those who brought up the point that an "exclusivity" deal with a certain retailer may just mean that there's a different version of it at that store might be on to something. I'm not a fan of wal-mart but be that as it may, my scale tips more toward being a fan of GnR than it does toward my dislike of wal-mart. Whatever store it may be, wal-mart, best buy, fye, starbucks, papa johns pizzaria, it doesn't matter. I know i'll be there at the store's parking lot sitting in my car waiting for the place to open, granted there isn't a line already formed in front of it. I think the people at the GnR camp know what they're doing as far as promotions go. They've already got a buzz building with GnR tunes in movie previews and video games. Nothing's even confirmed yet and already we have radio stations and rolling stones and gamers everywhere talking about it. That's gotta say something about the PR people and you have to give credit where credit's due. It's not just coincidence.

So far there have been nothing but good news... except for the fact that I still can't find a liquor that mixes well with Dr. Pepper  >:(

That's a bold (and idiotic, and ignorant, IMO) claim that Howard Stern made about "the art of the album has been lost." Muse's Black Holes and Revelations album, released in 2006 was a masterpiece of an album that would take you on a journey from beginning to end with sounds so rich and overwhelming, yet at the surface so simple. But it's only 3 (extremely talented) guys that are good enough musicians that no matter what sounds they make on album (through "polish" and "overproducing" and all that nonsense people bitch about) they do live.

    There  is nothing idiotic about Howards opinion. He feels that the passion in todays music is gone. The marketing of new music is definitely gone when compared to the past. Lots of people feel the same way. Chances are that he never even heard of that album you are talking about. I never heard of it either.

I agree somewhat, but try jack daniels with that Dr Pepper its good.

So has anyone tried to contact Wal-Mart or Best Buy recently?  Meaning the higher-ups and not just the retail workers....?

I really hope Wal-Mart doesn't get CD exclusively... the album would be completely edited because EVERY album at Wal-Mart is edited. That is just company policy and they wouldn't make an exception for any band or artist.

I'm calling it now... Wal-Mart WILL NOT be getting this album exclusively. Why would Axl only release an edited version of an album he's been working on for years?? That would be so fucking stupid.

Don't be so inviting with such a suggestion bud hehe, believe me this kind of thing has been done before and usually it ends up with legal problems because of sharing confidential information or posting recordings of the phone call etc

Au contraire, mon fr?re
I think Retail workers would be a perfect way to start our investigations on the matter.
 It would be great if U.S-habiting gunners could initiate scouting trips to local wall marts and, ya now, snoop around a bit. Some " Casual" chats with local retail workers of varying ethnic bacgrounds  in the shadow of mega sized Corn Flakes containers. Someone MUST know something......    ... .
Just remember to set up a wire in your sweatpants if you decide to do it.

EVERY album is edited?   So if I buy Beethoven's 5th, it'll be edited?

If there is Fistfuck somewhere in there between Allegro and Andante con moto, then you bet it is.

While its possible an edited version of CD may be produced, there is no way in hell that Axl would allow that to be the only version available.  Axl is obviously very protective of his art and we will hear it as it was intended, so stop worrying about how WalMart will chop it up.

It's kind of hard to do something about it when the current status que is what is left from the "Zero Generation" Technology is great......but you need something great for the technology to record. Axl really didn't change much. He's just exploring. Music of today is lacking magic. Period. You can say what ever you like. You can get on that band wagon and follow the "Blind Hero of all Zeros" but that is not going to improve the cutting edge of writing great music. Great music comes from rebellion furiously against the current waves. Most musicians these days are on the band wagon of just being in a group for the groupies and a few bucks...(nothing wrong with that) ....but that is all they are going to receive. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Their are many, many, people who feel this way but we are kind of remaining silent because we feel deeply sorry for the "Zero Population".......(and please don't take offense at what I just wrote. It's not directed at you. It's more directed at the people who are running the show and what is allowed and what is being not tolerated. Sort of like order in the Court. Well if you rock & rollers want great music to come back they CANNOT BE ORDER in the entertainment field. And untiil than don't expect any ground breaking music.......it's not going to happen. And this has nothing to do with generations becoming attached to their music when they were growing up. : )

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003843477

Last paragraph:

"Chinese Democracy" has been in the works for more than a decade, with frontman Axl Rose the only remaining original member of the once mighty group. Rumblings that the album may finally be out this fall, possibly as a Best Buy exclusive, have not been confirmed by Guns N' Roses or its management.

Did management tip off Billboard that Best Buy is the front-runner?

Interesting, relevant article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121987440206377643.html?mod=hps_us_at_glance_technology

See excerpt:

Irving Azoff, the manager of numerous high-profile acts including the Eagles, says that a few years ago he presented the band with a financial analysis showing that their royalties to date from iTunes sales were far lower than anyone expected.

Guitarist Glenn Frey did some back-of-the-envelope math of his own. "His comment was that it amounted to 39 minutes on stage in Kansas City," Mr. Azoff recalls with a chuckle.

Though Mr. Azoff didn't disclose the royalty figure, Mr. Frey's off-the-cuff analysis implies the band had received less than $500,000 from its iTunes sales at that point. The band's iTunes income has increased since then, Mr. Azoff adds. Nonetheless, he says: "I'm underwhelmed by the number of sales I see on iTunes for the classic bands."

That sentiment was a factor in the Eagles' decision to sell their latest album, "Long Road Out of Eden," only through Wal-Mart.

Before Apple launched the service in 2003, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs appealed personally to Mr. Azoff for the band's participation, telling the manager that he couldn't imagine launching a music store without his favorite rock group.

Shunning iTunes carries risks for the labels. Not only is it the biggest force in music sales, but keeping songs off the service could prompt listeners to look for illegal downloads instead. In addition, customers have demonstrated a clear preference for buying singles instead of entire albums. Only in a few cases have record labels been able to boost album sales over those of individual songs.

"This is a last gasp for the album format," says Aram Sinnreich, a media professor at New York University, who says most albums have only one or two good songs surrounded by little more than "filler material."

Something to consider here is that Best Buy has just over 1000 locations in the US and Wal-Mart has about 3800, certainly something to worry about

Best Buy would have to come up with a hell of a sales pitch to beat out Wal-Mart here, I would rather it goes to Best Buy but I think it will be hard for them to beat Wal-Mart if Wal-Mart really wants the deal

I wonder if Target will get into the mix.  They have more stores than Best Buy but don't have the negative image and parental advisory concerns of Wal-Mart

How many Target's are there?  That's where I usually buy my CD's, with my Target Card.  They give you the $9.99 opening week deal, can't beat that.

Best Buy usually gives those deals too, though it's not set at 9.99.  It often is, but if the CD was $16 to begin with, it might only drop to 11 or 13.

About 1600 regular ones plus about 200 "superstores"

Still not close to Wal-Mart but more than Best Buy, with a less specialized group of customers

No telling whether or not it'll happen but I wonder if it'll be discussed, it seems like it could be a good option assuming Target was interested

Depends where your located, Best Buys are alot more accessable in urban areas.  I'd be disappointed if it was Walmart exclusive. I guess if the money is too much to pass up. Whatever chain gets it, probably uses it as a lost leader.

I live two minutes away from a Best Buy and a Walmart almost right next to each other so it will be a quick trip for me  :beer:

Yeah, I've got all three (Target too) within a stone's throw.  Well maybe not THAT close, but either one will work for me.

Well in Ireland we don't have Best Buy, Walmart or Target...I'm hoping its just gonna be in the music shop. I wouldn't just download this album from iTunes either. I want the whole package, CD and case etc. something to hold in your hand!!!

I don't know how legit the source is, but this was posted early this morning at, http://chinese-democracy.blogspot.com/.  This has been pretty much speculated every year the last 3 years, the release date being around T-giving that is.

I hear that the deal with Best Buy is 99% done.

The plan is for Best Buy to have an exclusive on Chinese Democracy, which will be released the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

OMG !!! this could be it !!! is it true ? Mysteron ?

Is that the site thats been up for a while through Dr. Pepper, or just some random Blogspot site?

It looks like the one from Dr. Pepper.  I'm not sure though.  I don't think it is though, it's got blog entries from 2007, and Dr. Pepper wasn't in the picture back then.

Yeah it's different.  This is the one from Dr. Pepper.
http://www.chinesedemocracywhen.blogspot.com/

They do look quite similar though

It's NOT Dr. Peppers website, its just some random blog spot.  I researced the old news archives and went to the Dr. Pepper Blog which is still up and running.  Don't know if I trust this source or not...

Interesting.. Not too sure about how reliable that blog is though.. I know it's been around for a while, but dunno who runs it.

Yeah I don't know either.  I forget where I came across the site.  Like I said though, it doesn't take a whole lot of imagination to come up with the pre T-giving release, Best Buy theory.  Those ideas are already out there.  So while it may seem believable, that's probably why.  Hopefully though.

Do the other stories on the blog look legit?  If so, then maybe its true.  Someone should try e-mailing the guy!

It's tough to tell.  It's not a site filled with predictions.  They basically take from other news sites.  They did run a story last September that the album would be released in December 2007 and the first single would be Catcher In The Rye.  They got that from Blabbermouth.  But this latest blurb doesn't give a source.

Errrrrrrr....as much as I want this to be true, it doesn't sound too credible.

Yeah I hear you.  You'd think if the story had some legs it would've picked up some steam during the day.  It was posted early this morning, and I just noticed it.  But here's to hoping it is true!

Well we will half to wait and see its Sept so I mean if it comes out in Nov this is the time where the promotion starts.  I mean we have Shacklers Revenge in Rockband 2 what does that tell ya.

I agree, but like at Oh My God on End of Days.  Nothing happened out of that, even though I do think something IS going to come out of the Shackler's Revenge on Rock Band 2 I'm still skeptical.  If nothing is announced soon, then it WILL not be out this year.

The Album wasn't finished back in 99, the album is done the band has management in place.  Why do you think they hired Azoff just as a publicity stunt !

I agree, but its always one thing after another.  I think the true hold up is the whole 3 to 4 album release strategy Axl keeps bringing up.....

Today was a holiday that's why maybe the press didn't get hold of it also its unoffical to.  I sure hope that blogger is correct, I couldn't take another damn rumor.

There's always news like this popping up all over the place, we won't really know until Best Buy or GNR release a statement about it.
"Rock Band 2" was just an ongoing rumor until Los Angeles Times (or some other major publication like that) 'confirmed' it, then MTV confirmed it, then GNR confirmed it.

"Shackler's Revenge" is the closest we have gotten to this point, especially considering that it was confirmed as being a track on the "Chinese Democracy" album. They've managed what we didn't expect a few months ago. There must be more to come.

As much as I would like this to be true...they have been wrong before. :-\

http://chinese-democracy.blogspot.com/2008/08/lenny-kravitz-to-front-velvet-revolver.html

Sorry for this example.

QFT! It will be coming ... don't be impatient

I said earlier, they have posted incorrect information before.  BUT, as far as I can tell they've taken those stories from other sources.  That Kravitz rumor was taken from Billboard.  They took it one step further and assumed Lenny would get the job, although said it wasn't official.  This latest story has no source, or at least one isn't given, so it's a little different.

Their source at the time appeared to be Metal Sludge, they just ran it with Billboard's copy from another story.

Regardless, like you said, they have posted incorrect information before.  But maybe this guy knows something...I hope so.  I guess time will tell.  : ok:

Looks like it's somebody's blog where they copy and paste news.


As I've said in the past, as soon as there's a set release date, I'm sure we'll hear about it.




/jarmo

So the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is November 25th......

Christmas comes a month early? :drool: :drool: :drool:

The guy sounds like an ass.  And not much info given there, even if he is credible.  Nice find by Ali though.  Well lots of people were pleading for Best Buy over Wal-Mart, so if it is true, they will be happy.

Hot damn I've got a gift card to Best Buy!

Somebody keep that pen, it's a collectors item.

Jarmo any chance you can get your hands on the pen that signs the contract?  You could have another contest here.

yeah jarmo we should have a contest with the board.  Whoever can guess the release date and the tracklisting should win a free copy and something else I don't know that's were u come in. : ok:

I entered one of those contests 2 years ago, needless to say, nobody won.

Are you sure nobody said it would be out in 2008?


I'd rather fight for the pen than a free copy if it's not with the members handwritten words for 'ppbebe' :drool:

Good point, I think most optimistically chose that year, but it's possible someone picked 2008.  Maybe they'll do like The Price Is Right and give it to the closest without going over.

Rollingstone reports Axl hired a new "high power" management team and there is a possible Nov. release exclusive to Best Buy..

old news.  The best buy thing has been talked about for weeks now?

If true, I guess bestbuy is making an announcement pretty soon. within a month.

I would think GN'R would make the announcement. If it's Novemeber we will hear news within the month, one would think.

I hope that Best Buys' announcement is this:
"We were unable to elevate our badassness to GNR levels, and therefore Chinese Democracy will be released generally to every retailer in the world."

I don't have a Best Buy in my town. If I have to drive, I have to, but I really think a general release would be better for this album in my own humble opinion.

Sorry to possibly sound a wee bit naive but since Best Buy don't currently have any stores in the UK where can UK fans buy CD if indeed it does turn out to be a Best Buy retail exclusive?  If it had been Wal-Mart then it would have been onsale in ASDA (UK Wal-Mart owned subsiduary).  Or does anyone know if a Best buy retail exclusive would apply to the US only and that the album would be on genral release in countries such as the UK that have no Best Buy outlets?  Could someone please enlighten me, cheers.

The Exclusive would only be in the united states, the rest of the world it would be at your local retailers.

Unfortunately, every GN'R fan will have to take the plane to the US and buy the album from the first Best-Buy he runs into...

That is the only way. It will be exclusive only to the US. You'll also have to be very careful at customs when you fly back to your country. If they catch you with the cd, you will face the death penalty.

Same goes for online orders out of the US...

That exclusive deal is reaaaaally hard for GN'R fans... The trouble we have to go into...

Look at other bands that did the same thing... Thousands of fans have died trying to sneak a copy out of the country...

Im sorry, but this whole November 25th "Best Buy exclusive" release date sounds fishy to me. Im sure that was indeed the tentative plan. But now I'm quite sure some new "unforeseen circumstance" has probably prevented this from happening once again. The complete lack of hype surrounding SR's release as well as no news from the band suggest that the train has rolled off the tracks once again. I wonder what the excuse is this time.

Bottom line is, for a release this big, we would have heard something by now regarding a November release date. Hyping this thing up is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY both for the band, Geffen, Universal, Best Buy, literally everyone who is hoping to bank off this album, I dont care how mythical it is. It WILL NOT make the desired profit if it is not marketed properly. It makes me laugh when I see people claiming that this album has enough hype for it to simply drop with no single, video, interviews, live performances (Letterman, Leno, SNL).

If a single was imminent (as it would have to be for a November release date). We would have surely caught wind of this by now. Speaking of which, while Shackler's Revenge is a good song, I pray that it isn't in fact the first single.

^^up until about a week ago I would've disagreed with you, but now I fear you are right...

March 09' here we come.....hopefully

I agree sofine11.i thinks axl wants to retain his privacy, which is all very well but at some point he will need to be more 'public' and he maybe struggling with this.

Aye good one pal.

and here was me thinking that i'd get a sensible answer to a reasonably sensible question!!

They announced the song quite some time ago and didn't say anything about it being a single or proper promotion of a immediate release. They could have take the song out of the game if plans had changed this much.

If anything, people have been saying how we'll get another single (not Shacklers) and the november release.

I hope you are wrong...there is so much since the begining of the year, that points to late year release...I am going to hold out hope until the end of October - but it's getting a little worrisome making 'the rounds' daily to check for ANY shred of promotion, and seeing nothing, except bandmembers doing everything BUT promotion.  Where is BBF/Robin/Richard/Frank/Axl even talking about SR - with more than a week behind 'release'?

Exactly.  Yet some people still get defensive when the Oh My God comparisons are made.  At least Axl put out a press release explaining the meaning behind that song and all the details behind it's recording.  With SR we got a "heads up" announcing the it would be in Rock Band 2 OVER TWO MONTHS AGO with nothing more added.  It has been out for over a week now.  Tick tock...tick tock.  :no:

The waiting game continues as usual.  I guess Axl just needed a paycheck for SR.  I know he likes his privacy, but I remember when 06 came and passed Axl himself said he wanted it promoted properly, and not just HIT the shelves with silence and no promotion.  He WANTS MAJOR promotion, so until that happens the album is NO WHERE in sight!

I'm really not sure about timeframes. I'd like to think that a release could come by late this year since there are so many things pointing to it, but who knows whats going on behind the scenes.

Think about it.. No news, and we might suddenly be hit with a release date, new website, free song download..

Aye, sorry mate.

So I guess what you were looking for was something like this:

"It will be an exclusive deal only for the US market, it will be widely distributed to the rest of the world."

Tick...tock...tick...tock...

I want to believe.

Well, we don't know that for certain.  Really, the only thing we can rely on as truth is what's on gunsnroses.com.  Everything else is just pure speculation.  Yes, I know Axl made the statement  (in his open letter) that said the album deserves a proper release campaign (or something to that effect), but he didn't say anything about it being major, though.  He may not want such a thing.  Who knows.   I only trust the official site and Axl's press releases.  Saves me a ton of thought relating to crap rumors.

I don't think this album needs any major promotion.

They could release it digitally overnight and just think about the kind of response it would get the next day..

Major Dejavu from the end of 2005 going on. :)
...Or whatever the " One of these tuesdays, it could just appear there!"- year was?
Axl himself has said that he wants major promotion for CD right?

It was 2006 and no you can compare it. 2 years ago CD wasnt done and GNR hasnt just release a new track.

And no Axl didnt say major but proper promotion. Thats what i heard. :)

I heard he said its giong to have the promotion it deserves...
and he needs at least a good few months to do that,
so I think that is some decent promotion happening...

that's the lamest statement ever. you can compare it. they actually said back then the album was to be released... they had a world fucking tour.
do they have a tour now?

what was the time frame between the release of YCBM and UYI?

KOHD - June '90 (Days of Thunder ST)

Civil War - July '90 (Romanian Angel Appeal compilation)

YCBM - June '91

UYI - September '91 (which coincided with the single release of Don't Cry)

so that you can go ''tour again and no album? Gee!"? lame isn't it?

Demorose is right
the letter said
"The band and I, along with our record company, feel that this record deserves the proper setup and promotion, not the ?13 Tuesdays left? and ?It may just appear in your record store? approach offered by management."
and bout the 2month thing, it was
"It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company. "
not 'once the promotion has been started'

Well ppebeb just my words... :)

Sorry, just to clarify my earlier post.. I do know Axl said in a previous statement that the album doesn't deserve "just appearing overnight" or "... Tuesdays left" etc., and right on, a big part of promoting the new album isn't just so much about the music as it is introducing the new band members to the world properly.

I was just giving a theory that, the album could be just released overnight, and think about the huge response it would get.

I bet it will receive proper promotion real soon  ;)

I really hope to see that..

Shacklers (RB2) is on Wii Nov. 16th & PS2 Nov. 18th...nice time to drop the album...but IF Best-Buy (or anyone else) has set up an exclusive release, I would think we would hear from them by now.

Makes perfect sense go pick up CD and then if your a Wii  or PS3 owner you can go and grab Rockband 2 and then the gear for it.

Theres always time ;) In fact, now might be the time to hold your breath...

Has Mysteron confirmed that any of this is happening? Or even said anything about this?

I don't think so Toph.

IF exclusive, probably the retailer will be the first to confirm it like harmonix was wth SR. Till then, Don'T start waiting.

BTW, when do ad campaigns for xmas sales begin in te us?