Death Cab For Wussies
Here are all of the details with Death Cab For Cutie’s refusal to play in Airwaves on Friday.
*The event was set up two weeks ago between the record rep and me. I requested a performance and interview in Airwaves
*The record rep has been to our facility several times and has seen our studio with the window, and Airwaves.
*On the morning of the show, the record rep sent me a follow-up email verifying the time and their equipment needs.
*A second email came from him to confirm that no listeners would be in the lobby. I replied that there would indeed be listeners in our lobby.
*I then called the record rep, because this seemed like a small problem at the time. He said that they are very particular and would want to have this approved by their manager. I told him to please approve this. He said he’d take care of it.
*The band, the record rep, and the road manager showed up at 1:00. The record rep and the road manager entered the building. The band stayed in the car.
*The road manager informed us that they would not perform in front of an audience.
*I asked them why that was a problem. (Bands perform for audiences for a living, right?)
*The road manager informed me that the only way they would appear on the radio was if I kicked out the X96 listeners in Airwaves. I told him that our listeners were far more important to me, and that was not going to happen. I offered to let the band perform in the air studio and not in Airwaves. I took him into the air studio and showed him how it could be done. He said that would be fine, but there was a problem with our studio window that overlooks Airwaves. Again, he requested that we remove the X96 listeners (fans of the band). In my final act of diplomacy, I asked if we could set the band up in one of the production studios where they would not be seen. He then went to the car to ask the band. Their reply was that the “mood was not right” for a performance.
*I told their manager that in no way would I eject X96 listeners from our property to facilitate his band, and that I was no longer interested in a performance from Death Cab For Cutie, nor was I interested in supporting the band.
*They told me not to take this personally.
*The road manager told me that I should lie to the fans in Airwaves and tell them the performance was cancelled “because one of the band members was feeling ill.”
*I then informed the listeners in Airwaves of the exact details of the whole situation, as outlined here. I am appalled at the audacity from a band that I actually liked. X96 was one of the first stations in the country to play “Soul Meets Body,” and they come to our station and treat us and our listeners like this.
*They left, and went to another radio station in town and performed in front of an audience. What complete arrogance.
It is interesting when you look at the list of bands that have performed in Airwaves: Jimmy Eat World, Rise Against, Franz Ferdinand, Goldfinger, Eve 6, Dredg ... For some reason, Death Cab For Cutie just couldn't get it done. They're not invited back.
*The event was set up two weeks ago between the record rep and me. I requested a performance and interview in Airwaves
*The record rep has been to our facility several times and has seen our studio with the window, and Airwaves.
*On the morning of the show, the record rep sent me a follow-up email verifying the time and their equipment needs.
*A second email came from him to confirm that no listeners would be in the lobby. I replied that there would indeed be listeners in our lobby.
*I then called the record rep, because this seemed like a small problem at the time. He said that they are very particular and would want to have this approved by their manager. I told him to please approve this. He said he’d take care of it.
*The band, the record rep, and the road manager showed up at 1:00. The record rep and the road manager entered the building. The band stayed in the car.
*The road manager informed us that they would not perform in front of an audience.
*I asked them why that was a problem. (Bands perform for audiences for a living, right?)
*The road manager informed me that the only way they would appear on the radio was if I kicked out the X96 listeners in Airwaves. I told him that our listeners were far more important to me, and that was not going to happen. I offered to let the band perform in the air studio and not in Airwaves. I took him into the air studio and showed him how it could be done. He said that would be fine, but there was a problem with our studio window that overlooks Airwaves. Again, he requested that we remove the X96 listeners (fans of the band). In my final act of diplomacy, I asked if we could set the band up in one of the production studios where they would not be seen. He then went to the car to ask the band. Their reply was that the “mood was not right” for a performance.
*I told their manager that in no way would I eject X96 listeners from our property to facilitate his band, and that I was no longer interested in a performance from Death Cab For Cutie, nor was I interested in supporting the band.
*They told me not to take this personally.
*The road manager told me that I should lie to the fans in Airwaves and tell them the performance was cancelled “because one of the band members was feeling ill.”
*I then informed the listeners in Airwaves of the exact details of the whole situation, as outlined here. I am appalled at the audacity from a band that I actually liked. X96 was one of the first stations in the country to play “Soul Meets Body,” and they come to our station and treat us and our listeners like this.
*They left, and went to another radio station in town and performed in front of an audience. What complete arrogance.
It is interesting when you look at the list of bands that have performed in Airwaves: Jimmy Eat World, Rise Against, Franz Ferdinand, Goldfinger, Eve 6, Dredg ... For some reason, Death Cab For Cutie just couldn't get it done. They're not invited back.
posted by Todd Nuke 'Em at 10:16 AM
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