Tom is on Modcam!!

[smartrip]

Modlife should be free.

You all know how much money he has. I have only said it 1000times . It's disgraceful that he charges.

So I got no issue with people recording it.

I doubt he charges because HE needs it.  I think he has to pay staff, rent space, etc.  All that other good stuff that comes with starting a business from nothing.  I'm sure he puts in some money, but I think the membership fee is to make sure that the company can survive on it's own. (Fees would be way higher if he didn't put anything in it.  Think of all that technology he's running)

It's expensive yeah, but he is starting his own business.  It requires a TON of capital.  It would be a REAL shaky business if he totally funded the whole thing and then one day was like "ok, im not going to fund this because it is a large enough business now."  It needs to be built by itself if it's meant to last.

Without getting too much into this, modlife is obviously a business that needs money to run, however I honestly cannot see it taking all that much. It's a website with a chat, videos, podcasts etc. How much does that really cost to operate?

At the same time there must be at least 3000 modlife members paying $20 for 3 months. That is $60,000 every 3 months. It doesn't take that much.

Of course they are doing it to make money. Of course Tom is taking in cash from modlife memberships.

And you hit the nail on the head. It's a business, and that=profit.

Just more profit that Tom wishes to get from his loyal fans. Money that he doesn't need.

It's not like he's the only one that does this. Basically everyone does. Greed rules this world and it sucks.

Ollie,

Even if it was $60,000, it's not that much.  I mean, if you considered all that money, it would barely pay for one year round worker's salary.  Modlife, is more than just a chatroom / website.  I'm sure there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that goes on in the office world.

Modlife should eventually be free to join once it's big enough but it's still a relatively small business.  I can see it changing to free membership but charging for different aspects once it's a little more developed. 

I have my complaints about the membership fee but I strongly doubt this is Tom squeezing his fans for cash.  There are much easier ways to do that when you're a huge music star.

[fElon]

So you think they pay $60,000 a year to some idiot who answers emails? Where do I apply for that job? Besides it's $60,000 for 3 months or $240,000 a year. That is being very conservative.

I really don't see how modlife could be much more then what it appears to be, but I could be wrong.

It obvious though that Tom makes money off this site. They wouldn't be offering all these incentives to signup if that was the case.

[Jamie]

So by this logic you should quit your job because you are just doing it to make money?  Bands should stop releasing albums since they make money?

It's a fucking business, Oliver.  If you don't understand this then you have some serious issues and are out of touch with the real world. 

Fans put in money and they get band involvement and some perks in return for a small price.  Just like you put in effort at work and get a paycheck.

Why shouldn't Tom tap all his resources in order to make fans happy and make more money to do bigger things with his band?

Totally different between my situation and Tom's. You cannot even compare the 2. I need my money to live. Tom needs his money to buy his 15th BMW.

I have always said that if I was a "rock star" like Tom, I would make just enough money so I could live comfortable and then everything would be free (minus whatever all the other people needed in terms of money). I would just be honered by the fact that I was in the position I was in. I would never try to screw my fans, and that's a promise.

I swear on my life that's the case. I don't need a mansion, nice cars, or whatever other material possessions to make me feel like I am more important then I really am. I could never own a BMW. It's not me and it never will be me....  Just a small little house with a Honda parked out front is fine by me. True happiness has absolutely NOTHING to do with money.

We have grown into a society of greed and I don't subscribe to a single bit of it. Look at gas prices. That's greed driven and it's hurting us.

So I completely REJECT the mindset that Tom and the rest of them have. I don't understand it. I think it's disgusting.

I agree.

[fElon]

I agree.

WOW! Someone agrees with me.

Thanks.

[_blee1134_]

So Tom is an asshole for not being satisfied with a Honda and a small house?

[smartrip]

So you think they pay $60,000 a year to some idiot who answers emails? Where do I apply for that job? Besides it's $60,000 for 3 months or $240,000 a year. That is being very conservative.

I really don't see how modlife could be much more then what it appears to be, but I could be wrong.

It obvious though that Tom makes money off this site. They wouldn't be offering all these incentives to signup if that was the case.

Just because there are incentives doesn't mean he's suddenly taking all the money.  The incentives are to get people to join so it can be bigger.  If Tom gets a cut, fine. 

I think you guys are getting a little too wrapped up about the whole "TOM IS ADDICTED TO SPENDING AND IS SUCKING HIS FANS DRY" theory.  Why is it so hard to think that he actually wants to start a business?

Every time there's a lull in the news cycle from AVA, Blink, or +44, all you guys start coming out of the woodwork about silly rumors and big bad corporate greed.  It's like clockwork.

[Jamie]

I've just gone from -3 karma to -50 karma for agreeing with Oliver.  Haha.

Pretty cool. Oh well. My agreement still stands.

[fElon]

So Tom is an asshole for not being satisfied with a Honda and a small house?

That's a very simplistic summary of my views.

No point in responding. You are just going to chop up my remarks to the benefit of Tom no matter what I say.

Just because there are incentives doesn't mean he's suddenly taking all the money.  The incentives are to get people to join so it can be bigger.  If Tom gets a cut, fine. 

I think you guys are getting a little too wrapped up about the whole "TOM IS ADDICTED TO SPENDING AND IS SUCKING HIS FANS DRY" theory.  Why is it so hard to think that he actually wants to start a business?

Every time there's a lull in the news cycle from AVA, Blink, or +44, all you guys start coming out of the woodwork about silly rumors and big bad corporate greed.  It's like clockwork.

Tom has made music a business (just like every other successful musicians). Music is so much more then that. It's such a shame everything has to be about money.

[_blee1134_]

So Tom is an asshole for not being satisfied with a Honda and a small house?

That's a very simplistic summary of my views.

Tom is guilty of being greedy and screwing his fans out of money in order to live a wasteful spending lifestyle to make himself feel more important then he really is.

Now answer me a question.......Do you honestly think greed is good?

No I don't. But it's not like Tom is running a monopoly. You don't need modlife. You can still download everything AVA ever does for free damn near everywhere.

If all Tom cared about was money, Blink 182 would still be together.

[Ghent]

I think it's disgusting to rip on someone for trying to make money in a perfectly legal way that makes consumers happy.

Modlife is a service and you get back what you pay for. 

Tom needs money to do all the things he wants to do with his band.  How do you think they had money to do this documentary and movie??  For real?  It's not like he's just crashing into his pockets of infinite depth.  You have to make money to do extra shit like he does.

---------

If you want to rag on someone for living the rockstar life and giving absolutely nothing back to fans then why don't you rip on Travis.  The guy has millions of dollars worth of cars, had an MTV reality show, hangs with Paris Hilton, etc etc etc etc.

Tom never flaunts his money, his cars, his house, or anything.  In fact, you hardly ever see pictures of them or hear him talk about them.  Same with Mark.  I think they are both extremely respectable for keeping it real.

Why wouldn't they spend their money though?  What the hell?  You only live life once and they broke through horrible odds to get where they are at.  Why not go balls to the wall and live life.  I'm not saying money=happiness (in fact research says this isn't true) but there is definitely a correlation between the two. 

[fElon]

I think it's disgusting to rip on someone for trying to make money in a perfectly legal way that makes consumers happy.

Well if that's not just totally taking what I said out of context I don't know what is.

Modlife is a service and you get back what you pay for. 

Never said it wasn't that.

Tom needs money to do all the things he wants to do with his band.  How do you think they had money to do this documentary and movie??  For real?  It's not like he's just crashing into his pockets of infinite depth.  You have to make money to do extra shit like he does.

Tom doesn't need the money for his band. That is nonsense. I want to know what exactly he is paying for. What does the record label not cover? Even if he does shell out some money for his band.........so what? Is he suppose to earn brownie points because he spends money on himself or invests money in his band in the hopes they can make even more?

---------

If you want to rag on someone for living the rockstar life and giving absolutely nothing back to fans then why don't you rip on Travis.  The guy has millions of dollars worth of cars, had an MTV reality show, hangs with Paris Hilton, etc etc etc etc.

I have just as much of an issue with him, mark, or any greedy millionaire rockstar. Your right, he might even be worse. But we aren't talking about him here and he is not the one charging fans to see stuff on his band.

Tom never flaunts his money, his cars, his house, or anything.  In fact, you hardly ever see pictures of them or hear him talk about them.  Same with Mark.  I think they are both extremely respectable for keeping it real.

Doesn't have to. The fact that he takes part in conspicious consumption goes against my principles. Maybe not yours or anyone else's, but mine. Because the poor and middle class in this country are suffering at the hands of the greedy rich. If you look nowhere else, check out oil prices.

Why wouldn't they spend their money though?  What the hell?  You only live life once and they broke through horrible odds to get where they are at.  Why not go balls to the wall and live life.  I'm not saying money=happiness (in fact research says this isn't true) but there is definitely a correlation between the two. 

Oh ok I get it. So then you are saying greed is good. Having millions of people adore you and your music is not enough. You got to make millions of dollars doing it and when that's not enough you got to start releasing signature guitars and subscription websites to make even more.

[_blee1134_]

Modlife is not a zillion dollar industry like petroleum. Modlife is $6 a month, gas is upwards of $400. Modlife is a consumers choice while gas is (basically) a necessity. 

[fElon]

Modlife is not a zillion dollar industry like petroleum. Modlife is $6 a month, gas is upwards of $400. Modlife is a consumers choice while gas is (basically) a necessity.   

I am not comparing gas to modlife. I am using it as as example of greed and wasteful spending.

It boggles my mind that people don't get more upset when some rich guy buys a $30,000 dinner while there are other people who are eating dirt for dinner.

Absolutely boggles my mind.

Every rich person has to be an asshole. Cause they can sleep at night in their $10 million home and not give a thought to the person who is sleeping in a trailer.

I got to stop talking about this. I am gonna get banned for saying "bad" things in this section and I don't want that.

[Huxley's Hero]

I didnt read through the 5 pages of this thread so the point I am about to make may have been made already.

AVA does not sell records.

Allow to me elaborate. Tom has stated in many interviews (there is also a podcast with rolling stone where he talks about this issue) that cd sales is a dead business. He even mentions how it affected Blink 182 and how their sales were down.

He is made his whole career and life around music. In the past, bands would use record sales and tours as their major source of income.

In todays world, bands can not depend on cd sales to fund them for anything. It is as simple as that. Unfortunatly, this is why we see bands such as the rolling stones still making tours.

The record industry is upside down right now. Piracy has seriously changed how bands and record labels are going to operate. It is very apparent that Tom see's this. He is simply trying to use a new medium which bands can make money and still interact with their fans. There is nothing wrong with it. Just because Tom is wealthy and has much more money then you and I do, does not make him wrong for charging money for his services. Not to mention the cost to him for spending two years creating the website.

Furthermore, I believe Tom is trying to expand Modlife outside of the AVA camp. If his service could open the door to 10 bands you like instead of one, more power to him. I absolutley can not understand why it frustrates people that they would have to pay for this.

[fElon]

It's frustrating because Tom is collecting money that he does not need.

Nope, they are making nothing off album sales, but that is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for them.

Even a small club tour will make Tom more money on tour then most people will make in a LIFETIME.

Yes, I did say LIFETIME.

If it's $20 a ticket and the place holds 3,000 people that is $60,000. Lets say Tom only takes in 20% of that (being conservative) that is $12,000 a night. If he runs a 43 date tour, like he did on the last tour. He will end up with $516,000.

So now lets feel bad for poor Tom cause he sold so little records and only made half a million dollars in 3 months.

Poor Tom. Don't we all feel so bad for him 

[Ghent]

LOLOLOLOLOL @ Oliver comparing modlife to the oil industry.

Modlife=Exxon Mobile?  Pretty much right?

hahaahah Exxon Mobile makes 83,000 dollars a MINUTE and that is a fact.  Modlife will be lucky to make that in 5 years.

[_blee1134_]

Oliver, I would go so far as to say that 99% of "rich" people are pretty much scum. I would say Tom is not. Tom brings joy to people. It sounds gay to say, but he does. He doesn't take advantage of them, he provides a service. At the time being, he provides a pretty sweet and totally new service.

Lets say Tom makes 1,000,000 a year - just an example. What should he be allowed to keep? Should he donate 950k just because he can live reasonably off 50k? Where does that 950K go?

[dildo69er]

It's frustrating because Tom is collecting money that he does not need.

Nope, they are making nothing off album sales, but that is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for them.

Even a small club tour will make Tom more money on tour then most people will make in a LIFETIME.

Yes, I did say LIFETIME.

If it's $20 a ticket and the place holds 3,000 people that is $60,000. Lets say Tom only takes in 20% of that (being conservative) that is $12,000 a night. If he runs a 43 date tour, like he did on the last tour. He will end up with $516,000.

So now lets feel bad for poor Tom cause he sold so little records and only made half a million dollars in 3 months.

Poor Tom. Don't we all feel so bad for him 

i dont think anyone can live on 516000

isnt the average cost of raising a kid nowadays almost that lol

[fElon]

Oliver, I would go so far as to say that 99% of "rich" people are pretty much scum. I would say Tom is not. Tom brings joy to people. It sounds gay to say, but he does. He doesn't take advantage of them, he provides a service. At the time being, he provides a pretty sweet and totally new service.

Lets say Tom makes 1,000,000 a year - just an example. What should he be allowed to keep? Should he donate 950k just because he can live reasonably off 50k? Where does that 950K go?

Tom does take advantage of people though. He charges people to meet him and refuses to meet with anyone who didn't pay him. It's money he doesn't need.

If it were me, I would donate it all once I made enough to live modestly. Not saying Tom has to do that, but there is no point in charging people to view stuff on his band. It's insulting.

Let me ask you: If you were a millionaire and you had tons and tons of money that was given to you by your fans who adore you, would you charge them more to view stuff about your band?

I mean can you honestly say you would?

LOLOLOLOLOL @ Oliver comparing modlife to the oil industry.

Modlife=Exxon Mobile?  Pretty much right?

hahaahah Exxon Mobile makes 83,000 dollars a MINUTE and that is a fact.  Modlife will be lucky to make that in 5 years.

Oh Ghent.

i dont think anyone can live on 516000

isnt the average cost of raising a kid nowadays almost that lol

$516,000 in 3 months. That more then the average average american makes in 12 years and it would take the average mexican citizen 120 years to make that amount.

But the rich could care less. They want more.

[doyle]

This topic has got fucking ridiculous.

And if you were making that amount of money Oliver, bullshit would you donate any of it to people "eating dirt". You'd keep it all for yourself, and boast about it on the forum... giggling to yourself in your room of prosthetic vaginas.