stolen from the Velvet Rope.

From Steven Bloom's blog:

Black Crowes' media black-out
I'm a long-time fan and supporter of the Black Crowes. I wrote the High Times cover story about the band in the July '92 issue and a feature interview with frontman Chris Robinson in the Dec. '93 issue. The Crowes were named High Times band of the year in 2001. I've met Robinson on numerous occasions - twice with his lovely actress/wife Kate Hudson. He's always been friendly to me and High Times.

That said, I'm perplexed about the Black Crowes' ticket policy regarding press requests for reviewing purposes. Standard-operating procedure in the music business is for media outlets to make their ticket requests to band publicists, either at record labels or independent PR companies. These requests are considered and tickets are provided. Not every request is granted. Decisions are based on the number of tickets made available and the outlet making the request. It's a highly subjective practice, but generally works. In my case, I usually receive tickets I request. Recently, I was turned down by the Rolling Stones and U2.

This week I was turned down by the Black Crowes as well. Chris Robinson and his band co-founder, guitarist Rich, are playing three acoustic shows in New York, dubbed "Brothers of a Feather," starting tonight. (The ad for the concerts, by the way, is decorated with pot leaves.) I requested a ticket for tomorrow night's show at the Rose Theater. I also asked for an interview with the brothers in behalf of Relix magazine, who assigned me to write a cover story about them. On Tuesday, I received the following email from Lathum Nelson, who works at Mitch Schneider Organization (MSO), the Crowes' LA-based PR agency:

"Please note that management is not arranging any press interviews for the band. At the same time, this is a no-comp tour, so we don't have a press list."

I wasn't happy on both counts. The Crowes have a right to decide who to and when they want to grant interviews. However, I disagree vehemently with their "no-comp" policy ("comp" for complimentary). I followed up with Nelson and his associate Todd Brodginski, who replied:

"We understand your concerns and appreciate your candor. However, this has nothing to do with MSO or our other bands, this is a policy established by management for the Black Crowes two years ago, and they have again reiterated that they can not make exceptions, and are sticking to this policy on all requests. If you want to discuss further with management, I can set you up on the phone with Pete Angelus."

Angleus is the band's long-time manager. Fact is, Angelus instituted this unusual policy more than a decade ago. I contacted New York Daily News pop-music critic Jim Farber for his opinion on this matter. Farber emailed back:

"I can confirm that the Black Crowes do not give press tickets. It works out for us, because we're sick of covering them anyway."

I decided to give Farber a call. He laughed about being responsible for the Crowes' press ticket ban because "I've written nasty things about them. I hope I didn't spoil it for everybody."

Angelus is notoriously sensitive to negative coverage. Once, when I gave the Crowes' 1996 album Three Snakes and a Charm a lukewarm review, he had Mitch Schneider call and grill me about it. That's the only time I every received a call from a publicist questioning my coverage.

"They hate the press," Farber adds. "I can't think of another band who does this [doesn't provide press tickets]. They enjoy connecting directly with the fans. They don't want anybody in between. It gives them a mystique."

I have yet to hear from Angelus. I'm still waiting for my ticket so I can cover the Robinson Brothers show for Blooming Ideas.

AND THEN THIS FROM MEDIABISTRO.COM:
Friday, Apr 14
The Black Crowes' Management Snubs High Times Editor's Ticket Request; Planet Does Not Appear to Spontaneously Combust


In the wake of the Page Six scandal, there's been a lot of talk in the media about what subjects or their p.r. reps offer writers in exchange for coverage — or no coverage, in the case of Page Six. Here's a new-old phenomenon in that dance: tickets for music journalists.

According to High Times editor-at-large Steve Bloom, the management for the Black Crowes recently denied his request for a complimentary ("comp") ticket for an upcoming show, in advance of a cover story he was working on for Relix. When Bloom prodded, then asked around, he found the "no-comp" policy is not only rare, it pisses other music journalists, like the Daily News' pop music critic Jim Farber, right off:

"I can confirm that the Black Crowes do not give press tickets. It works out for us, because we're sick of covering them anyway."
"They hate the press," Farber adds. "I can't think of another band who [doesn't provide press tickets]. They enjoy connecting directly with the fans. They don't want anybody in between. It gives them a mystique."


Do Music Journalists Deserve Free Tickets?
The apparent snubbing of High Times editor-at-large Steve Bloom by the Black Crowes' management, as we reported Friday, has sparked the debate over comped tickets for journalists at Bloom's blog, and opinions of industry p.r. reps on the subject vary wildly:

You've gotta understand that "comp" tickets are complimentary to you, but they're not free. The record label, or the artist, pays for them.
...

If you really want to go, just buy a ticket like the rest of us music-loving concert goers.
...

This is really odd to me. My policy has always been that if someone is covering a show for a specific assignment they get in! Maybe the Black Crowes just don't want press anymore. Then why have a publicist?
And makes covering them, ahem, "twice as hard."

My gut reaction is that those magazines only sell because of their content. And the content consists of things like reviews of shows and interviews. Why, then, does the band *owe* the reviewers anything? The reviewers only make a living because there are artists and shows to cover, correct? I would call the arrangement even and neutral at that point, as opposed to this dude's idea that they still owe him something.

He wants to review (and get paid for that review) then he pays for a ticket.

No?

I agree. Or at least the magazine. I mean, it's bullshit that they're doing it because of negative coverage, but the whole comped tickets thing tends to piss me off. I know it helps to get the word out blah blah blah but seriously, I know waay too many people that end up receiving trickle-down comped tickets for some sold out show and don't really give a shit about the band and leave early or something. I know that's not always the case with these, but it is a lot of the time.

I agree with the Cap'n...sounds kinda like a freeloader to me.

He should only get a free ticket if he agrees to show up wearing his label's embroidered satin jacket.

How so? If bands want coverage, they should give out comp tickets.

Doesn't appear that they want coverage in this case. Douchebag journalist thinks he's got an entitlement.

I'm a friend of Stuart Sutcliffe
I'm a friend of Michael Miles
I'm a friend of Jim Morisson
I'm a friend of Nobby Stiles

I'm a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend
I'm a friend of a friend but you don't know me
I'm a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend
And if I come on the night, can I get in free?

I getcha, but here's the other side of it...

Who do you think needs whom more? Do the Black friggin Crowes need coverage in High Times or some other bullshit mag, or does some bullshit mag need to feature the Black Crowes on the cover?

It's the band's show. They're not obilged to let you in and you're not obliged to cover them.

Ultimately the whole deal revolves around the band.

i wrote a news story about them. i got denied comp tickets as well. you just have to let it go, dude: its not like i wasn't going to write a story about tbc's acoustic tour if they weren't going to let me in. if they wanted reviews on the show in a big way, they'd have comp tickets. but it sounds like they don't, so move on. u2, madonna and prince have all done the same thing, so if your organization really wants a review on 'em, they'll buy you in. i think a lot of feelings of entitlement comes from the idea of swag, that music journalists don't get paid all that much and so all they're asking for is some free stuff. sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't.

Dude's a crybaby who feels like his old bro's are snubbing him now. If the band was cool w/ a story but denied the ticket, I could see being at least a little indignant because color and details from the show can and often do become an important part of a story. In that case, you're giving access and helping the writer do the best job possible with the story about your band.

But since they're operating under a media blackout (which is their prerogative no matter how silly it may seem) then there's no obligation implied or otherwise to give this guy a free ticket to such a special event show just because he's a media member. I get the sense he was pissed because he might now miss this and is just throwing a tantrum under the auspices of journalistic privilege.

How silly.

media member? dude was writing for high times, wasn't he? it ain't exactly the new york times sunday magazine there. It's checkers, it ain't chess.

if you're such great friends -- i promise you, dude -- they'd get you into that show.

media (n) - a means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television

Oh, the story is for Relix! Well shit, that's way more reputable than High Times...

I remember a Relix article from like 10 years ago that read (I shit you not): "Shoreline '95: Jerry wore Shorts!"

I have since refused to take that publication seriously.

Seriously, neither of those rags is shit, except to dirty hippies.

i know i started a thread on this a while ago...but my bro-in-law gave me a subscrip to relix for xmas. it's really not so bad. a lot of indie bands in there along with the jam band bs.... and the last issue featured an article on frank zappa by our own whiney cmj.

It's gotten much better lately, but I still feels like there's a core of like 10 bands that they follow to a disturbingly heavy degree. But yes, there's been massive improvement. I'm pretty sure I could've pasted this exact conversation out of the other thread...

what did i say next?

THAT!!!

What Katie and the Cap'n said...that whiny dude needs to be bitch slapped and then have all his hash set on fire.



Do the Black Crowes have something new coming out? Anyone know?