A little power...
Can be very, very dangerous in the wrong hands. Usually, I try to keep the bullshit politics off this blog and focus on the music. As anyone who is involved with the 'industry' will know however, it's often hard to ignore the multitude of chancers, wide boys and fakes that are attracted to the music business. I'm not sure what it's like in indie or pop, but in electronic music, there are quite a few such characters. Usually, it's better to give them a wide berth, but this week something happened that tipped the scales. I was asked to review Steve Bug's new album for DJ Mag. I emailed the PR, Kim Booth from Rebel Butterfly, for a copy, but got no response. So I emailed the reviews editor and was told that she wouldn't send me one because I had slagged off Josh Wink, one of her other clients. Quite rightly, he said that he wouldn't let a PR tell him who would or wouldn't review releases in the magazine and that he would get me a copy, irrespective of what the PR thought. So let's break down this sad little woman's thought process; I assume she's pissed off with me due to one or both of the following: 1. When Josh Wink had a release out a few months back I posted on a Resident Advisor thread that it wasn't very good; Kim replied to say it actually was very good without declaring that she was the PR for the release and therefore had a conflict of interes - to which I replied that she was indeed the PR. 2. When Josh Wink did a podcast for RA recently, I posted a reminder in the thread about the accusations Dan Bell made in 2002 that Wink had 'copied', without his permission, one of his tracks and sold it as one of his own. Neither post could be construed as being especially damaging; the first was merely a point of information that Kim 'neglected' to mention her vested interest in the release; the second a story that has been around (almost) as long as there have been techno message boards. I wonder even if Wink knows (or cares) about either post - he's made his money. Unfortunately, his PR seems to be on a power trip and I'll probably never see another Ovum promo as long as she holds the account, which given her puerile behaviour will hopefully not be for too much longer. Unfortunately, Kim's moronic attitude has implications for her other clients; due to her fragile ego, Steve Bug, merely by association, a 100% innocent bystander, has been potentially denied coverage in a major magazine, a great example of the customer getting value from the press officer for hire. Of course in her thick as pigshit decision to deny my request for a promo, Kim probably didn't take the time to think that I know Steve's label peeps. I emailed them to tell them about Kim's behaviour and guess what? They were shocked that she could behave in such a way. They have sent me a promo themselves and they've had a word with Steve to explain how this excuse for a press officer could have potentially resulted in him not getting a review. So well done Kim, your childish behaviour has managed to alienate me and surely raised eyebrows at DJ Mag and in Steve Bug's operation. You have not succeeded in your stated aim of denying me a copy of the release. If this is your best attempt at 'public relations', then you clearly need to sit down and consider a career change. I hear McDonald's are hiring, darling...
Too funny!!
Posted by: theUbiq | April 24, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Richard! Amazing! I just got sent this. Do you fancy me or something? I sense sexuial tension,
Kim x
Posted by: kim booth | April 24, 2009 at 03:19 PM
if that's really her, you should totally wax that ass. if not, i really don't think that not being on Ovum's promo list is the end of the world. in fact, i would be pretty happy about that if i were you!
Posted by: tom/pipecock | April 25, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Kim, I don't fancy simpletons, so no, I don't fancy you. By the way, there is no "i" in sexual - but I would imagine literacy isn't one of your strengths.So would you care to explain to us all why you refused to send me a copy of Steve Bug's album?
Tom: I'm delighted to no longer be getting Kim's inane emails - ironically the one time I needed to get one of her promos, she had a big sulk.
Posted by: Brophy | April 26, 2009 at 07:59 AM
funny funny funny
how politics can come back and bite you in the ass, lovely! but sad how having a simple opinion is no longer respected...
Posted by: franco | April 27, 2009 at 03:04 AM
lol - power trip insanity. methinks someone thinks they are a little bit more important than they are!!
Posted by: Dave A | April 27, 2009 at 03:19 AM
yeah, don't have an opinion any more and definitely don't have an opinion on how josh wink might have made his way to the top - otherwise a small minded fool like kim might stop doing what she is paid to... hilarious/...
Posted by: Brophy | April 27, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Yet another corker Rich!
When can we expect the next episode of this techno soap drama?
Posted by: Jay Galligan | April 27, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Funny thing is, what most people fail to know is that DBX's (aka Dan Bell) biggest record "losing control", which 'made' Dan's name, was copied and ripped off from a lesser known Chicago artist; Sleezy D. The original came out on Trax records in 1986 and was even called "I've Lost Control". Dan went online with only "accusations" that Josh "Copied" him, when Dan actually ripped off "I've lost control". Sleezy D, never went online to dish out his dirty laundry like Dan. People get influenced every day by life. Just move on.
I think both artist are good, and I really enjoyed Josh's RA mix!
Posted by: jr | April 27, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Yet another corker Rich!
When can we expect the next episode of this techno soap drama? - I don't know Berghawk - surely you have some funny stories?
Posted by: Brophy | April 28, 2009 at 08:18 AM