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Post by nicola on Sept 11, 2009 16:48:14 GMT
 Just looked into this "Diamond Club" nonsense over at Katherine's Official Site. You pay membership and you get these "goodies": As a member you'll receive the following: Limited Diamond Club Edition of Katherine's album 'Believe' with exclusive bonus track Exclusive 2010 Diamond Club calendar Your own Diamond Club Card with 10% discount in the KJ.TV store Brand new full length video content from the world of Katherine every two weeks VIP tickets to meet Katherine at her concerts Ticket pre-sales for the best seats at Katherine's concerts I am taking issue with the last two points. When I went to Katherine concerts, she was always happy to meet us outside. Does that mean, she will no longer come outside and meet people - only Diamond members will have this priviledge? Not that I am an absolutely huge fan of Katherine or anything - it just seems so... money grabbing. She used to take time for her fans, free of charge, after her fans keep her career going by attending the concert in the first place, now she is charging people for this on top of the concert tickets? Only fans that pay extra can watch full length videos on her website? Only fans that pay £20 will get one extra song? Major turn-off. Bad PR for KJ's fans. She was loved much because of her down to earth persona. This is all a bit diva-ish. I know there have long been rumours of diva behaviour, but this Diamond Club is like a public flaunting of it.
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Post by grant on Sept 11, 2009 17:18:15 GMT
Hello Nicola I am completely underwhelmed!!  Best wishes Grant |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,335
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Post by Martin on Sept 11, 2009 18:59:13 GMT
Hi Nicola I suspect that this "initiative" is her management's idea rather than her own (as you probably know she has new management having sacked the last!). It is taking advantage of loyal fans but I suppose KJ's management see it as a money making exercise. It will be interesting to see if KJ still meets her fans at concerts who are not Diamond members anyway. Needless to say that Hayley would never contemplate such a move (although I vaguely remember that there were VIP tickets for one cathedral concert some time ago - or was that All Angels?). Kind Regards Martin |
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Post by grant on Sept 11, 2009 19:10:27 GMT
Hi Martin Needless to say that Hayley would never contemplate such a move (although I vaguely remember that there were VIP tickets for one cathedral concert some time ago - or was that All Angels?). You are quite right - it was actually Beverley Minster and I think it cost an extra £20 for a small reception and the private meeting with Hayley. The only difference to a normal Hayley signing was that it was very relaxed 'cos everyone knew they would have a turn. The important thing to realise though, is that this was the idea of the Dean and his wife who thought, the first time that Hayley performed there, that she was "such a lovely young lady" they wanted to do something a bit special for her. Of course Hayley and Bedlam would have had to agree to it. We still had a few minutes with Hayley outside afterwards though!  Best wishes Grant |
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Post by dazza on Sept 11, 2009 19:54:38 GMT
Hi Nicola,
I have concerns about the direction that Katherine appears to be heading, whether it be down to her, her management or her record comany. But without knowing the details, the fact that she allegedly sacked her manager does make you wonder.
I really don't like the idea of this Diamond Club and think that £20 every 6 months is a little steep especially in the current climate. I have survived two lots of redundancies in the past year and need to save every penny that I can. I have already had to cut down on a lot of concerts this year compared to the amount I used to go, I haven't even had the chance to see Hayley yet.
The main incetive for me to join would be meet and greets at concerts which even then wont be guarenteed. It is something that we used to get for free. Will she still meet her 'normal' fans now that there is this Diamond Club? Somehow I don't think there will be.
I'll still be posting on Katherine's forum and I am really looking forward to her new album. I am not a fan of her new song though, a version of Evanescence's 'Bring me to Life'.
Dazza
Dazza
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Post by artcorner on Sept 11, 2009 21:51:56 GMT
'Bring Me To Life' eh?
As a fan of Evanescence's older stuff I'm interested to hear the cover...
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Jillian
Global Moderator
Posts: 3,050
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Post by Jillian on Sept 11, 2009 22:55:38 GMT
I'm not pretending to know much about this sort of thing, but I've noticed that a lot of artists seem to have 'fan clubs' like this. I know U2 has one and so does Josh Groban . Quite possibly it's something that comes 'with the package' now that Katherine has signed her big record deal. I've heard that it's worth a huge amount of money and I suppose that means that she's going to have to generate a lot of income in return. Hence measures like this being necessary. I've heard she's recording with David Foster and all the big time? So things will have to start changing, I guess.
I suppose this shows some of the advantages of Hayley operating on a smaller scale -- there's not as huge a commercial pressure behind everything she does.
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Post by Dori on Sept 13, 2009 11:22:20 GMT
Hi everyone,
I got the e-mail about the Diamond Club a week ago, and I didn't really have an opinion on it, mainly because I've never been to a KJ concert. I only have her albums - she's never toured in New Zealand.
Wow, what a turnaround. This is a little disappointing, if she is now going to charge to see her fans. I know Celine Dion and Sarah Brightman have a club for their fans like this, so you never go to see them for free. But think about those names for a moment....those are multi million dollar international stars. Everyone wants to meet them in person. KJ hasn't gained quite THAT kind of status yet. She's still very young and very new, unlike Dion and Brightman. Why KJ is doing this now, I have no idea. If it is for more money, doesn't she know her fans are going to figure that out? I mean we're not that stupid. We can read through the minds of celebrities very easily...and so can the media. So this, in the long term, can hurt her far more than do her benefit. I'm just not sure about it all.
It'll be interesting to see what happens.
Dori
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Post by nicola on Sept 13, 2009 13:48:37 GMT
I know huge stars have fan clubs, but like Dori said, they are really successful international superstars. Katherine has made it in the UK and nowhere else, and when I went to two of her concerts, all of her fans that went to see her were over 60. They also waited outside to meet her, to which she obliged and saw everybody. It's not like she has a rowdy fanbase, or a particularly large one. Considering the demographic of her fanbase, I think it's a bit disgusting. I think it's premature, and takes advantage of her loyal fanbase by asking them to pay for what they previously got for free.
Sarah Brightman actually has a *free* fanclub. I am a member, and given first choice seats at concerts, etc. Her bonuses work on what she sells (e.g. if you buy a normal £10 album, you are given access to bonus material on her website through that CD). Sarah Brightman does charge buckets for VIP tickets to her concerts so you are guaranteed to meet her, but those tickets are available to everybody who is fool enough to fork out, not just her fan club.
I wouldn't *pay* to meet any celebrity. a) I don't really care about meeting them anyway, they are nothing to me personally, but b) if they say 'hello' to me, it's only because I have paid them to do so! What is so special about that?
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Post by Dori on Sept 14, 2009 8:18:38 GMT
Hi Nicola
I totally agree with you. What has KJ possibly accomplished to have a 'paid' VIP meet and greet? Her fanbase isn't even big! I bet Hayley's is bigger! I think I can see why she did it - as a means of making her 'look' like a huge star to garner new fans. It's pathetic, really. She's gonna fail at it.
It'll be intersting to see what happens.
Dori
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