"Next Album" rumor / speculation thread *UPDATE AUG 22/2023*

[sofine11]

Beyonce & U2 have recently had great success with surprise releases, which garnered a ton of media attention. 

True, but some of the attention was a backlash.

For example, putting an exclusive on iTunes will piss off Amazon. "Forcing" an album on people will piss people off.
These are things you need to consider...


And then the fact that a digital only release wouldn't sit well with a lot of hardcore fans who want a physical copy in their hands. I can relate to this. Nothing like holding a cd, or a vinyl, in your hands.

Secret club show in NYC, broadcast to the masses on Sirius XM (or, alternately, streamed free through "someone"), followed the next day by an I-tunes single release.

Or stream it through the official site like in the past?



/jarmo

Oh yeah, U2 have certainly faced a ton of scrutiny regarding their album, especially from their "piers" in the music community.  A lot of which I agree with. I guess I just mean that we're in a new age of digital releases, where some cool "outside the box" options for releases available to artists like Guns. 

[Ginger King]

Beyonce & U2 have recently had great success with surprise releases, which garnered a ton of media attention. 

True, but some of the attention was a backlash.

For example, putting an exclusive on iTunes will piss off Amazon. "Forcing" an album on people will piss people off.
These are things you need to consider...


And then the fact that a digital only release wouldn't sit well with a lot of hardcore fans who want a physical copy in their hands. I can relate to this. Nothing like holding a cd, or a vinyl, in your hands.

Secret club show in NYC, broadcast to the masses on Sirius XM (or, alternately, streamed free through "someone"), followed the next day by an I-tunes single release.

Or stream it through the official site like in the past?



/jarmo

There's going to be some backlash regardless of what they do, right?  There's never an option that will please everyone (I know Axl hand delivered me CDII...but I really wanted Axl AND Tommy to show up).  And that's not just specific to GnR.  Some people applauded U2 for their iTunes release, some criticized.  Same with Beyonce.  But that criticism didn't stop those artists from delivering their product.

Any of those options sound cool, and I hope they're under consideration.  I just hope that perceived backlash isn't a reason for inaction.

[GeorgeSteele]

I didn't quite get the extent of the backlash with the U2 iTunes thing.  Granted, I would be annoyed if my iTunes got invaded with an album from a band whose music I thought sucked, like Bon Jovi (boom!), but it takes a second to delete.  Seemed a bit overdramatic to me.  

[jarmo]

Yeah, with all the new opportunities comes different challenges though. It used to be enough to put out a record, it would be made into tapes and LPs. That was it. Now all the retailers want something, exclusives here, special edition there. Sometimes it's hard to keep track who has the best version of an album available!  

I read that Billboard will start taking into account the streaming services. So even if nobody buys a song, streaming will count towards sales.... Maybe this will make putting new music on Spotify and such services more attractive?


I think the way the Appetite For Democracy movie was released was a good idea. It reminds me of how movie studios do it. First the general version, then the special one for the hardcore fans. Yes, it means hardcore fans might buy it twice because they want it as soon as possible, but that's probably a small price to pay to have the "deluxe" version later...


Anyhow, the question remains. Would you rather have a proper announcement and then a release later, or a complete surprise where you basically find out by accident that the new album is out? Which do you prefer and why?




/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

I read that Billboard will start taking into account the streaming services. So even if nobody buys a song, streaming will count towards sales.... Maybe this will make putting new music on Spotify and such services more attractive?

Really seems like Spotify dicks the artists though.  Pretty much pays them in scraps.

Anyhow, the question remains. Would you rather have a proper announcement and then a release later, or a complete surprise where you basically find out by accident that the new album is out? Which do you prefer and why?

A proper announcement and then a release later.

Its not even so much that I think that's all that better, I just don't know the other way is even doable.  Its very hard to keep anything a secret these days.

Even if you went the super stealthy route and kept things out of the press, the jig is would be up when that first leak comes out.

[sofine11]

Yeah, with all the new opportunities comes different challenges though. It used to be enough to put out a record, it would be made into tapes and LPs. That was it. Now all the retailers want something, exclusives here, special edition there. Sometimes it's hard to keep track who has the best version of an album available!  

I read that Billboard will start taking into account the streaming services. So even if nobody buys a song, streaming will count towards sales.... Maybe this will make putting new music on Spotify and such services more attractive?


I think the way the Appetite For Democracy movie was released was a good idea. It reminds me of how movie studios do it. First the general version, then the special one for the hardcore fans. Yes, it means hardcore fans might buy it twice because they want it as soon as possible, but that's probably a small price to pay to have the "deluxe" version later...


Anyhow, the question remains. Would you rather have a proper announcement and then a release later, or a complete surprise where you basically find out by accident that the new album is out? Which do you prefer and why?




/jarmo

For Guns, as much as I'd like new music sooner than later, I would imagine a proper announcement followed by a solid first single on itunes would be the way to go to build hype. 

[jarmo]

For Guns, as much as I'd like new music sooner than later, I would imagine a proper announcement followed by a solid first single on itunes would be the way to go to build hype. 

So the "old school" way.

And what about when artists release little info at a time? Like song titles, artwork?


/jarmo

[Ginger King]

For Guns, as much as I'd like new music sooner than later, I would imagine a proper announcement followed by a solid first single on itunes would be the way to go to build hype. 

So the "old school" way.

And what about when artists release little info at a time? Like song titles, artwork?


/jarmo

I really do not have a preference.  Having a proper release date would be cool because we could talk about it here and maybe the band would drop bits and pieces of songs as the release date got closer?but having a surprise release would also be pretty sweet, responding to the changed dynamics to releasing music nowadays.

Under either scenario, new music gets to the market, which is the ultimate goal.  However they want to deliver it is cool with me.

[D-GenerationX]

I didn't quite get the extent of the backlash with the U2 iTunes thing.  Granted, I would be annoyed if my iTunes got invaded with an album from a band whose music I thought sucked, like Bon Jovi (boom!), but it takes a second to delete.  Seemed a bit overdramatic to me.  

Agreed.  Not sure how this was some hardship.

Have these people never gotten an e-mail they didn't want?  Did they shit down their accounts?

[D-GenerationX]

For Guns, as much as I'd like new music sooner than later, I would imagine a proper announcement followed by a solid first single on itunes would be the way to go to build hype. 

So the "old school" way.

And what about when artists release little info at a time? Like song titles, artwork?

Yeah, probably.

I still remember CIRCUS magazine printing the UYI tracklist in every issue in the months before it came out.

But what always struck me goofy was how they had 'You Could Mine' as the lead track off UYI I.  This, despite us seeing an MTV video in heavy rotation at the time that listed it on UYI II.

[jarmo]

Have these people never gotten an e-mail they didn't want?  Did they shit down their accounts?

Everybody excepts junk mail, spam and telemarketers calling. Nobody expects a new cd they didn't order or agree to get, to appear in their record collection. I guess...



/jarmo

[sofine11]

For Guns, as much as I'd like new music sooner than later, I would imagine a proper announcement followed by a solid first single on itunes would be the way to go to build hype. 

So the "old school" way.

And what about when artists release little info at a time? Like song titles, artwork?


/jarmo

Guns are at an advantage where every time Axl does well...pretty much anything...there's a write up in Rolling Stone and Billboard about it.  The man has mystique, and that's not something every artist has.  Meaning, there's really no "bad" option Axl could take as a lead up to a release, as long as he has the industry backing him up.  

So, he could release the cover and tracklist as well, and that would drive the music world bananas.  Having that followed up by a tight single soon after would only be icing on the cake.

[mortismurphy]

Old school: single, video, artwork, tracklisting, few interviews, release.

[D-GenerationX]

Have these people never gotten an e-mail they didn't want?  Did they shit down their accounts?

Everybody excepts junk mail, spam and telemarketers calling. Nobody expects a new cd they didn't order or agree to get, to appear in their record collection. I guess...

I suppose.  But it takes literally 3 seconds to get rid of.  

And you are getting a free listen.  Even if you only find one song you like, that's not a bad deal.

[D-GenerationX]

Old school: single, video, artwork, tracklisting, few interviews, release.

That one interests me the most.

Talk up your band.  Talk up their talents.  Talk up their work.

No more about Slash the cancer and what a struggle it is going through your life.  We're all set on that stuff, believe me. 

[jarmo]

Old school: single, video, artwork, tracklisting, few interviews, release.

Why a video?
Seems like videos, unless they go viral, are a bit of a waste of money nowadays.... Maybe that's offset by the fact that videos can be made on most laptops though.

I suppose.  But it takes literally 3 seconds to get rid of.  

Invasion of your personal space....

Guns are at an advantage where every time Axl does well...pretty much anything...there's a write up in Rolling Stone and Billboard about it.  The man has mystique, and that's not something every artist has. 

That is true.

This would be the good side of the argument that he doesn't give enough interviews or Tweet enough.






/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

Invasion of your personal space....

Welcome to the world, I'm afraid.

Unless people think its a coincidence that the banner ad they see on a site just happens to be for the product they were just looking at on Amazon 20 minutes prior.

[jarmo]

There's a difference in banner ads or spam e-mails, and having some files you didn't ask for in your iTunes library....

I can see why some people would be upset by the stunt.

Imagine if they had just sent an e-mail saying: Congrats! Apple and U2 wants you to have their album for free. Click here to download at no cost.

But then again, that would not be cutting edge or thinking outside the box...





/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

The backlash means no one will ever try it again.

But I'm sure more than one band wish they thought of it.

[mortismurphy]

Why a video?
Seems like videos, unless they go viral, are a bit of a waste of money nowadays.... Maybe that's offset by the fact that videos can be made on most laptops though.



/jarmo

It is an extra bit of promotion, and might even be a chance to produce something artistic or amusing, but a video is not essential.