JoshyBarth Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Article - http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/rock-and-pop/muse-manager-anthony-addis-talks-new-album-1005416432.story Often praised as one of the greatest live acts in the world today, Muse's latest touring run was its most successful yet. Beginning in October 2009 and wrapping this summer with a headline slot at the U.K. dual-site Reading and Leeds festival, the U.K. alt-rock act's Resistance tour - in support of its fifth studio set, 2009's "The Resistance" - was a 14-month global trek that included headline gigs at festivals Coachella, Glastonbury and Lollapalooza, and a stint supporting U2 in South America. (The group's totals for the tour through the end of 2009 as reported to Billboard Boxscore saw a gross of $33,141,559 with 561,304 tickets sold on 45 shows, 21 of which were sellouts). In this exclusive interview with Billboard.Biz, Anthony Addis, the band's manager and director of U.K.-based Brontone Management, which also represents The Pogues and Pulled Apart By Horses, discusses what they plan to do next. Billboard.Biz: How is work progressing on Muse's next studio album? Anthony Addis: They've now gone into the recording studio. The plan is to do it all in London... Hopefully, [the album] might come out October next year. They've written a lot of material already but you don't know how it's going to gel between them all. They write constantly. They write on the road, so before or after a gig they'll write nearly every night. It's a serious process, but you don't know how it's going to turn out [until] you start practicing it together, because everybody's done it individually. BBB: Have you heard any of the new material? AA: No -- I will not listen to it. I'm not interested until they believe it's in the right form. If you trust an artist, you've got to trust the music that they make. You've got to trust that they will get it right. What's the use of listening to something that is half-baked? ... Our job is to plan the next two and half/three years from when you think they will finish it. BBB: The Resistance Tour was Muse's biggest and most successful yet. Is there room to further grow the band's live operations? AA: In America, the answer is yes -- although I think the sheds are a problem. We did a joint headline show with Rage Against The Machine in L.A. at the 90,000-capacity Memorial Coliseum and there were about 55,000 people there. ... People haven't got the money anymore. I think it's worldwide. I think it's just hitting into the U.K. now as you can see with retail. BBB: So what will be the live strategy going forward? AA: I don't know. You've got to look at things as you get into that position. America you can actually go into places within a two/three-month period to book upfront, whereas in Europe, you're looking six months upfront. It's a different strategy. You've got to look at what the world is out there and what your fans can afford. BBB: A key factor in Muse's growth as a live act has been keeping ticket prices affordable. Will that continue? AA: Yes. Our strategy is never to rip off the fans. The fan comes to have an experience. .... He or she has worked for that money. Either that or they robbed a bank. So you've got to give them an experience at the right price. We've increased worldwide [ticket sales] by 40% each time. And that's how we increase the fan base, because they've enjoyed it as a spectacle. Every night after the show we have an analysis of what went down right and what didn't, and all of that is logged in into a database. We know what happened in every show and every city going back all the years. If a number didn't go down well, then it will not appear in the set next time. BBB: Muse are one of the few modern rock acts to make the transition to arena-sized venues. Why do you think so few bands are making the grade? AA: I think the music industry has a lot of mediocre artists and groups at the moment. The record companies are feeding off mediocre, instant success and "The X-Factor" was the trouble that started it... People don't follow the same band anymore. [Artists] are like disposable cartons. That's what we've got now in the music industry, and he [simon Cowell] started it. And you're going to have more fallout if Warner or Universal buy EMI because they're going to drop all the lower level [artists]. There's still a lot of good stuff, don't get me wrong. But it's harder to build a career with a band because the record companies want it, but they also don't want it. They want a killer band within an album cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furygirl Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 You beat me by 2 minutes! Was just gonna post that. Interesting read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kueller Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I'm assuming "they" means all the members write on the road. That's pretty interesting to know. I also hope they start realizing we have some big fans here in America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessicaSarahS Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Every night after the show we have an analysis of what went down right and what didn't, and all of that is logged in into a database. We know what happened in every show and every city going back all the years. If a number didn't go down well, then it will not appear in the set next time. Well, you need a better analyst to work with that database because Assassin and MK Ultra being axed in favor of Feeling Good and Guiding Light is all kinds of wrong. Thanks for posting, Joshy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-museing Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Even though I don't agree that the ticket's are 'affordable', it's good to know management aren't planning on hiking up the ticket prices on the next tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spark_ Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Every night after the show we have an analysis of what went down right and what didn't, and all of that is logged in into a database. We know what happened in every show and every city going back all the years. If a number didn't go down well, then it will not appear in the set next time. puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure heaaaaaaaaarts stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExogenesisP1 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I have a question. If the album is in the process of recording right now, how come it will take a whole year to release it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan. Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Well, you need a better analyst to work with that database because Assassin and MK Ultra being axed in favor of Feeling Good and Guiding Light is all kinds of wrong. Thanks for posting, Joshy! Feeling Good always gets a great response from the casuals. Even though I don't agree that the ticket's are 'affordable', it's good to know management aren't planning on hiking up the ticket prices on the next tour. Compared to a lot of other bands on a similar level of popularity, they aren't that expensive. Coldplay are charging around £55 for their arena shows, whereas Muse only charged £45 for a stadium ticket, whilst probably having a much more expensive production and having to pay more for the venue. It's probably also the smallest price I've seen for a show at the new Wembley, feel free to correct me if there's been cheaper ones though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontask Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Well, you need a better analyst to work with that database because Assassin and MK Ultra being axed in favor of Feeling Good and Guiding Light is all kinds of wrong. Thanks for posting, Joshy! Feeling Good probably gets the best reaction when its played sadly. Guiding Light is just another Invincible. Its sad that this is how they look at it really. Exactly why they play it safe live I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furygirl Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Well, you need a better analyst to work with that database because Assassin and MK Ultra being axed in favor of Feeling Good and Guiding Light is all kinds of wrong. It still confuses me why FG still gets such a good crowd reaction. As has been argued to death on this forum and elsewhere, clearly there's no logic to the setlists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawakangaroo Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Yeah, because making people pay $125 for decent seats for the Indianapolis concert just to get a crap setlist is definitely not ripping off fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tofu Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Yeah, because making people pay $125 for decent seats for the Indianapolis concert just to get a crap setlist is definitely not ripping off fans. Was it really that much? I remember paying $65 for GA. My memory may be faulty on the exact amount, but I thought the prices were very fair considering the size of their production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kueller Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 It still confuses me why FG still gets such a good crowd reaction. As has been argued to death on this forum and elsewhere, clearly there's no logic to the setlists. Well a lot of people aren't from the forums, and outside of the close fanbase it's not that hated (see the comments for the YouTube video). Plus even though I'd really prefer not to see it live, I still find it a fun song. Guiding Light never gets that great of a reaction though, so why that stayed for even longer than Feeling Good I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburnt-bliss Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Wow... those stadium prices are certainly different to what Australian tickets were like... $129.90 AUD for GA... That's got to be over 80 pounds... And I find it slightly difficult to believe that they're already in the studio... Dom's been recording with Vicky Cryer, and I swear that I saw that Matt was in NY... ah well, they're Muse... they can be in more than one place at once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furygirl Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Was it really that much? I remember paying $65 for GA. My memory may be faulty on the exact amount, but I thought the prices were very fair considering the size of their production. I can confirm it was $125 for Indy, but that was not typical, I don't think. I'm not sure if it was because it was a "one-off" and more of a big deal production-wise, or maybe because of anticipated lower sales, the price was jacked up to compensate. Someone from the area said that particular venue does generally have that price point for big acts. I only paid around $60 when I saw them in Atlanta, which I think was more typical, like you said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebby aka pup Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Wow... those stadium prices are certainly different to what Australian tickets were like... $129.90 AUD for GA... That's got to be over 80 pounds... This. It kind of annoys me when the European and Americans complain that about the prices they pay for gigs, when concerts down here are easily 1.5-2x the price. I paid 45 pounds ($75 AU) to see Muse in Manchester for a stadium show, compared to around 80 pounds ($129 AU) to see them in Brisbane for an arena show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburnt-bliss Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 This. It kind of annoys me when the European and Americans complain that about the prices they pay for gigs, when concerts down here are easily 1.5-2x the price. I paid 45 pounds ($75 AU) to see Muse in Manchester for a stadium show, compared to around 80 pounds ($129 AU) to see them in Brisbane for an arena show. So true!! I was hoping to go to a gig when I was in Europe, but you know, being with parents and all... but I wanted to go because it's so cheap! But I also saw a relatively popular Aussie band for $20 with 2 supports and at a venue that Muse played in 2004... (It's not all sunshine and schoolies out here... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zomuse Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 It kind of annoys me when the European and Americans complain that about the prices they pay for gigs, when concerts down here are easily 1.5-2x the price. This. Anyway, thanks for the article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tofu Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 So……new album out in a year if all goes to plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuseTheMuscleMuseum Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 And I find it slightly difficult to believe that they're already in the studio... Dom's been recording with Vicky Cryer, and I swear that I saw that Matt was in NY... ah well, they're Muse... they can be in more than one place at once! They've publicly made it known that they were planning to enter the studio in September of this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewez26 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 And I find it slightly difficult to believe that they're already in the studio... Dom's been recording with Vicky Cryer, and I swear that I saw that Matt was in NY... ah well, they're Muse... they can be in more than one place at once!Matt's been spotted in exeter within the last week actually, so they may well be in the studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebby aka pup Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 They're definately in the studio. Matt has been spotted in the UK and Chris couldn't make that Helen Foundation event because he was busy recording. I'd say they're only in the early stages though, and just playing around with a few song ideas that Matt's had. The real recording shouldn't start till early next year imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Problematique MX Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 BBB: A key factor in Muse's growth as a live act has been keeping ticket prices affordable. Will that continue? AA: Yes. Our strategy is never to rip off the fans. The fan comes to have an experience. .... He or she has worked for that money. Either that or they robbed a bank. So you've got to give them an experience at the right price. We've increased worldwide [ticket sales] by 40% each time. And that's how we increase the fan base, because they've enjoyed it as a spectacle. Every night after the show we have an analysis of what went down right and what didn't, and all of that is logged in into a database. We know what happened in every show and every city going back all the years. If a number didn't go down well, then it will not appear in the set next time. OH NEVER... Certainly you don't know how it is paying over $100 for GA A in Mexico City or worse like in South America where the band is only the opening act for U2. Not even when you're a fucking student and you are not working... Yep. Parents or someone else worked for that money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillyracer Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 October next year? Goddamnit. The fact that they have written material while touring sounds good though, not like The Resistance at all then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunge Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Interesting to hear they're writing on the road again. I'm not sure they ever really did stop but they did make a lot of how The Resistance was very much seperate from touring, unlike BH&R, Absolution and OoS in particular. I'm hoping R&L and the atmosphere in Britain currently (and the one they may remember from pre-Absolution) might inspire them to go down a slightly grittier route. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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