Queen decisions

Who are the marketing team behind the decisions sanctioned by QPL?

It has become increasingly obvious that all releases and projects post-Made In Heaven are now governed by sales potential and absolutely zero concern for artistry or (in the case of the "bio-pic") historical accuracy. Also Freddie's dying wish not to become boring is ignored if it gets in the way of potential income (hence the continued, unrelenting, mind-numbing use of the Moustached Freddie to promote anything).

The rot started not with the use of BR in Wayne's World but the subsequent inclusion of movie clips in a new video to promote the song in the US thus cheapening the song but stimulating huge sales. The brazen money grab continued with the unforgivable inclusion of Guns N Roses at The FM Tribute Concert. One of their songs featured the homophobic lyrics "faggots...do as they please...and spread some fucking disease" (Axl Rose claimed to have had a bad 'homosexual' encounter so therefore felt at liberty to condemn an entire sizeable section of the population). OK, free speech (bordering on hate crime) etc but to include that band at a tribute to a man that died of AIDS?!?!?!?! QPL knew that their inclusion would be a draw and the main beneficiary would be Queen sales (not donations to the MPT).

They continued to dilute and tarnish the legacy by getting into bed with Robbie Williams, Wycliffe Jean and Five while also allowing releases featuring The Miami Project and The Muppets. Anything to sell, sell, sell regardless of quality or legacy implications.

There also seems to be no limit or quality checking as to the un-relenting licensing of their music for use in adverts. A whole generation now associate the track 'Flash' with a kitchen floor cleaner.

Queen is now a brand that's prime objective is to make as much money as possible irrespective of harm to the band's legacy and with total disregard to the memories and wishes of fans that have been with them since the Freddie years.

The greed now manifests in these septumgerians doing another stressful money-spinning karaoke stadium world tour next year, a film that is presented as their history but is historically inaccurate (including contentious depictions of at least two people that are no longer with us to defend themselves) and aimed squarely at nothing more than getting bums on seats and dollars in the bank.
And, of course, recently fleecing long-standing fans with a £120 box set that contained barely one CD of unreleased material.

All sanctioned by Jim (an ex-lawyer) and RT and BM (musicians). These people are not marketing professionals. Yes, they give the final thumbs up but who is it that comes up with the ideas, trawls the landscape with the sole intention of finding ever more money making ideas irrespective of the band's place in rock history?

I think the problem is more with those who approach Queen to use their material. IE they have only the most basic level of creativity and settle on route 1 - let's ask Queen! So the brand is able to piggyback on the popularity with the public of the Queen legacy. Queen at heart a humble brand and flattered to be asked so always say 'yes' to stuff. Take a leaf out of ABBA's book lads. Say No, then you can command higher rates and therefore put it back into giving the fans what they want.

[QUOTE] [b]dysan wrote:[/b]

I think the problem is more with those who approach Queen to use their material. IE they have only the most basic level of creativity and settle on route 1 - let's ask Queen! So the brand is able to piggyback on the popularity with the public of the Queen legacy. Queen at heart a humble brand and flattered to be asked so always say 'yes' to stuff. Take a leaf out of ABBA's book lads. Say No, then you can command higher rates and therefore put it back into giving the fans what they want.[/QUOTE]

Abba are a very good comparison. In some ways way more popular than Queen among the general population but much more respectful to their legacy than Queen.

Its terrible

I actually quite like the NOTW box unlike most people, it seemed to have real care put into it with things like the AAA cut album. However I agree that it has become a money making machine first and foremost. Anything to make a quick buck. Sure, you can change the lyrics to one of our most loved songs to sell your kitchen cleaner! As long as we see the cash. And with no archival release this year it's even more depressing. I mean a lot of people didn't like On Air or the NOTW box but you have to admit it's a hell of a lot better than this "biopic".

They have been making obscene amounts of money since Freddie died . I suppose they need it to maintain their houses, yachts etc

Don't underestimate the influence of record labels. They have a bottom line, too.

But re: publishing, Queen have their own - a rarity in popular music. Of course they're going to cash in.

Old bands are brands now, full stop.

But I don't buy the idea of a legacy being tarnished or fans' memories being tampered with. The songs and concerts are what they were. That can't be undone by any future act.

Exactly. Maylor can tour with Justin Bieber and Onika Maraj if they want to, that won't make Frederick's (and John's, and their own) past work any less valuable.

True, but it has effected my reasons for liking them for the last 35 years. I take things badly perhaps. I have a thin Queen skin. I've had to ask myself some questions.

This however has coincided with re-listening to C_Matts HD remasterings which has rekindled something of those first emotions I had beck at the start.

"All sanctioned by Jim (an ex-lawyer) and RT and BM (musicians). These people are not marketing professionals. Yes, they give the final thumbs up but who is it that comes up with the ideas, trawls the landscape with the sole intention of finding ever more money making ideas irrespective of the band's place in rock history?"

My guess is someone pretty clued up on marketing....QPL is probably one of the most sucessful marketing dept's out there given they have managed to keep Queen alive and well earning more now than they did when Freddie was alive... you may not like it but there's no way you can call it anything other than brilliant marketing.... they sell the same stuff over and over and people buy it.

Brian and Roger are, first and foremost, businessmen. Their business is entertainment. It is the way they support themselves and their families. They are granted X number of years on this earth and, during those years, they want to live as comfortably as possible and pass down wealth to their families. Queen is a valuable trademark that generates millions of pounds/dollars each year. Looking at it from this viewpoint, it is easy to see why Brian and Roger are "milking the cow" for all it is worth.

Brian and Roger and their children and grandchildren could live off of their shares of income forever.

Brian and Roger just want to feel worth something. They don’t realize they are. They should record music as solo artists

It has to be good since marketing is the only surviving department after the factory closed in 1995.
There are a lot of redundant releases but I don't think the income is as high as some people like to think.

[QUOTE] [b]splicksplack wrote:[/b]



All sanctioned by Jim (an ex-lawyer) and RT and BM (musicians). These people are not marketing professionals. Yes, they give the final thumbs up but who is it that comes up with the ideas, trawls the landscape with the sole intention of finding ever more money making ideas irrespective of the band's place in rock history?

[/QUOTE]

You quote Jim Beach being an ex lawyer and Brian and Roger being musicians as if it's a negative.

Like any successful long running artist, Queen are a brand. If they do anything the record company expects it to make money, that's what business does.

As much as you may not like it, from the time they released their first album, they were in the business of selling their products.

What they do now doesn't change what they achieved years ago, if you're not happy with where they are now, don't be part of it. There is nothing making you put up with or buy into anything that's offered that you don't like whether it's this band or any other artist. Or clothing, or Mongolian street food or what ever.

Aye... they have been in the business since the early days of it becoming BIG business. You could argue they actually invented it. Pioneers.