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THIS RANT 09/12/96
Rant Of The Day is where I get to mouth off about whatever I feel like for however long I like. Theoretically, I'll update my whinge/opinion piece every weekday; in practice, maybe not so often. |
No-one could accuse me of being a cheapskate when it comes to spending money on my musical obsessions. I have items in my possession which no logical process can explain. Why did I pay for a packet of Cyndi Lauper bubble gum that is more than ten years old? Why is my ABBA record collection bigger than my wardrobe? How can anyone spend $40 on a piece of vinyl somebody has already played?I know the answers to these questions deep within my being, so I'm not overly worried. It strikes me, though, that the market for fan-related items is getting a little steep. During one shopping sojurn recently, I picked up a flyer for the 'PJ & Duncan Official Fan Club'. Now, PJ & Duncan (who I believe may have since changed their name to Ant & Dec, or changed it from Ant & Dec, or something) are teen idols like many before them. The fan club is an inevitable cash-in. But the price isn't.
Standard Australian membership of this non-exlcusive group is $39, which entitles you to "a quarterly newsletter and some great free gifts". Doubtless if I was a PJ & Duncan fan, that would seem small, but it's a lot of money for a fan club. My ABBA fan club membership is only $25 a year, and it's a great resource. I remember when the Dannii Minogue fan club kicked off, it was $7.50 a year. Even the Yazz fan club in the UK was only eight quid or so. Record companies are already well-placed to exploit fans. Why encourage them further?
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