Any millionaires amongst us?:

https://www.selfridges.c...ctory+records&srch=Y

HaHa!

I agree. Scandalous prices.
However, Mr Cummins' opinion would have much more weight if he wasn't trying to flog his 'new' (i.e. reissued) book in a 'strictly limited' £495 (!!!) variant.

https://specialeditionbo...s?variant=40317182116027

Double standards, me thinks.

WTF?

Well, I totally see your point.

I do think, however, they probably are 'iconic enough'. There can't be too many bands which have been around for as long as they have, shifted that many records and still held in fairly high regard.

Once you factor in the 'design' element of the band (i.e. Saville, Factory, Haç etc.), there is also a definite imagery that merchandisers can draw from.
Think of some of their peers (The Cure, Depeche Mode etc.). Although they must sell a fair amount of merchandise in the way of T-shirts etc., there isn't anywhere near a definite 'marketable brand' like there is with JD/NO. Just take Unknown Pleasures, PC&L, Factory and Haç imagery. You could apply that to anything (JD oven gloves etc.). Then you have the True Faith leaf, the BM floppy etc.

That being said, I think it's all becoming bloated and extremely unpalatable. Especially at those prices.
I long for a return to the Factory days.

In the band's defence, they're probably not even aware of this crap. They have a marketing team responsible for this and probably the only thing they see is a generic credit in their bank account from 'New Order Ltd.' (or similar).

Again though, it was nice when the band did care about such stuff and every product release was evaluated by them prior to hitting the streets.
Still those yachts and Ferraris don't buy themselves....

It's my understanding that Warners owns the Factory Records brand. I don't think they need the blessing of the band members to sign off on these marketing partnerships.

£700 for a frickin’ footstall? Excuse me?

It doesn't seem that long ago that there was some sort of lawsuit prohibiting the use of the Unknown Pleasures artwork mixed with the Death Star trench or Mickey Mouse on t-shirts etc (you can probably still get them somewhere) and yet here we are with essentially the same thing except this time it's 'authorised'. I mean, fair enough, if you want to give your sheckles to a company that has, essentially, stuck New Order/Factory all over any old crap go for it, you can underline the phrase that there really is one born every minute.

I never know how accurate those things are but I don't begrudge them a penny of that, obviously. But where's Bernards ten mill more come from?

Of course, I'm amazed Freebass didn't earn enough to level it up a bit. Ahem. But, assuming everything was split evenly until the, er, split then that's quite a difference. Maybe they're making more on Factory Records bog-roll holders and all that other shit than I thought. Fair play, I guess.

Edited by user 06 July 2021 04:17:08(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

And the fact they've done a grand total of one album worth a wank since 1991.

It was difficult but worth the effort. I'm sure Monaco earned him a few quid, mind. Hit singles, being on the telly, doing Mrs Merton (the tv show, not the...er...too much?)

Edited by user 06 July 2021 04:51:29(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The band doesn't make any money off this stuff. It's likely a licensing deal with Saville since he created the original work. It also doesn't mean he sees any more money than a flat fee, although considering his cultural impact, I'd be OK with him making some money. Lord knows he didn't during the Factory days.

Yes, you're correct - purely speculation on my part. But again, you're talking about official band merch similar to what the band sells in their online store. I don't see them branching into high-end items, but I could be wrong. I still think that's more likely to be a licensing deal with Saville (or Hook) since it's being promoted as Factory.

Edited by user 06 July 2021 11:48:40(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified