At a small impartial file retailer tucked away in a neat courtyard of outlets subsequent to St Albans’ well-known cathedral, a vinyl file that one band is hoping may turn out to be the costliest ever bought within the UK is about to be launched.
Just one bodily copy of prolific indie band The Pocket Gods’ newest album Vegetal Digital has been produced, occurring sale at their hometown’s Empire Records for the somewhat massive sum of £1 million.
With charts of the music trade’s “most expensives” normally throwing up world-renowned artists similar to The Rolling Stones, Madonna and U2 (most costly excursions), and songs similar to Michael and Janet Jackson’s 1995 hit Scream (most costly music video of all time), it may appear an inconceivable feat.
But the Hertfordshire band’s frontman Mark Christopher Lee is assured they are going to discover a purchaser.
Why are they attempting their luck? Well, they’ve lengthy protested about what they are saying is the shortage of honest royalties paid to musicians by Spotify and different streaming companies – a difficulty raised by high-profile stars together with Taylor Swift lately, which was additionally the topic of an inquiry within the UK in 2021.
Highlighting the actual fact it solely takes 30 seconds for a tune to set off a streaming cost, The Pocket Gods have been recording songs of round this size since 2015; Only The Rich Can Tour and We’re All No Hit Wonders Now are among the many quickfire tracks you may discover of their again catalogue.
But Lee says it is now time to “stop moaning about Spotify” and do one thing productive to assist artists and songwriters. So if the one copy of Vegetal Digital sells for £1 million, the proceeds will fund a brand new rival “ethical” streaming platform, Nubplay.
It sounds bold, however the musician says he believes the file could possibly be snapped up inside a few weeks.
‘Actions converse louder than phrases’
“Someone who’s got lots of money and wants to do something good with it,” he tells Sky News, pondering what sort of particular person would possibly make investments. “It’s a crazy world we’re getting into… but we’re making a stand, we want to make a better future for artists and songwriters. We talk a good game but actions speak louder than words and this is what we’re going to do.
“For years and years, music – lots of the humanities – has been devalued. And I simply cannot think about a world with out music.”
Nubplay would guarantee to pay artists and songwriters a minimum royalty of 1p per stream, says Lee. “It would not sound that a lot, however it’s 50 instances the present charge we get from Spotify.”
Formed in 1998 at Tower Records in London, The Pocket Gods are said to have been championed by the likes of the late John Peel and Steve Lamacq over the years, and have broken Guinness World Records for the most studio albums released digitally (75) and most songs on a digital album.
Earlier in 2022, the band – now made up of founding members Lee (vocals and guitar) and Noel Storey (keys), Simon Herries (bass) and former Searchers drummer Scott Ottaway – released Nobody Makes Money Anymore, an album of 1,000 30-ish second tracks.
“That went very well, it went viral world wide,” says Lee. “It’s had practically 1,000,000 streams, which sounds actually, actually good, however we have had about 450 quid by way of royalties. So, no, it hasn’t been an important money-spinner however it has gained us lots of followers and helps us to boost this subject.”
The one-off $2m Wu-Tung Clan album sold on by the US government
As Vegetal Digital is launched, the band will take away their again catalogue from streaming companies; if it does go for £1 million, it may turn out to be the costliest album ever bought within the UK. However, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, the seventh album by American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, holds the title of most costly on the earth.
An early stand in opposition to streaming, the group made only one bodily copy which bought for $2 million (about £1.3m on the time) to pharma firm govt Martin Shkreli in 2015. Shkreli, nevertheless, was jailed in 2017 – and final yr, the US authorities confirmed it had bought the one-of-a-kind album to assist repay the $7.36 million the businessman was ordered to forfeit after being convicted of fraud.
According to a 2019 article by music firm HMV, the highest 5 most costly albums chart is a Beatles-heavy checklist; after Once Upon A Time In Shaolin are copies of The Beatles (the White Album), Elvis Presley’s My Happiness, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy.
But may Vegetal Digital turn out to be an unlikely contender for the quantity two spot? A £1 million sale would place it forward of the primary mono urgent of the White Album, bought by Ringo Starr at public sale in December 2015 for $790,000 (about £521,000 on the time).
“I’m excited to see it and hear it,” says Dave Burgess, supervisor at Empire Records. “We certainly haven’t had [a record selling at this price] before. It’s really interesting and exciting. I jumped at the opportunity to get on board.”
Lee is documenting the band’s distinctive story in a movie, entitled Inspired The 30 Second Song Movie, which is about to be launched in December.
He hopes a million-pound sale will likely be a part of it. Could a big-name artist be the one to speculate?
“Well, I did message Taylor Swift on Instagram, invited her to the launch,” he says. “Maybe we’ll see her there.”
Vegetal Digital, by The Pocket Gods, is on sale from Tuesday 4 October, solely obtainable at Empire Records in St Albans
Source: information.sky.com”