Important Change To Ten Club Membership Benefits

The vinyl was the only reason why I was analog. My renewal is in January, going digital now. 

First time posting in the forums in years. Came back to share my feelings on this decision. 

Really disappointed in the band for this from a variety of perspectives. 

Not so much for the decision, but lack of explanation as to why this decision was made. Through the years there has been zero accountability for the lack of production timelines on these xmas singles.

In addition as fans, we are paying the exact same amount annually, without explanation as to what (if anything) will be replacing it.

Top it all off, on then sharing this news between Christmas and New Years, and it’s a significant hiccup from what we’ve come to expect from the band.

I wish 10c would understand how the lack of communication translates directly to their organization that they are leading. The way you communicate (or choose not to), will be judged by stakeholders and reflects back not only on you, but the entire organization you lead.

Not leaving, and likely never will, but really, really disappointed in this decision, and the lack of communication and detail around it, especially over the holidays. 

BF25394 said:

"Viva la vinyl."  Et tu, Eddie?
What a pathetic joke.  Why do I have a feeling I'm never going to see the physical singles that this message is promising "once physical production is complete"?

I have the same feeling, they already screwed us analog members a few times in the last few years on singles and Deep. I'm not really sure how they justify not fulfilling those and not giving a refund. 

Time to switch to digital, I guess.

The cold hard reality is that the band probably spend very little time together collectively anymore, outside of the few weeks they tour together, to record ANY new material let alone tracks for a fan club single. And the output has been diminishing over time. It’s auto-pilot revenue generation mode at the moment. I’m not sure how old all the band’s kids are - I hope in a few years when they have a bit more time on their hands and the kids are out the house they get back to spending more time on the band, songwriting and stuff like that. In a way, we’re lucky they haven’t broken up and just taken their foot off the gas. I’d echo the same concerns over what an Analog membership means now - I’d accept a physical CD bootleg of my choice each year as a replacement for a vinyl single!

jheal said:

The cold hard reality is that the band probably spend very little time together collectively anymore, outside of the few weeks they tour together, to record ANY new material let alone tracks for a fan club single. And the output has been diminishing over time. It’s auto-pilot revenue generation mode at the moment. I’m not sure how old all the band’s kids are - I hope in a few years when they have a bit more time on their hands and the kids are out the house they get back to spending more time on the band, songwriting and stuff like that. In a way, we’re lucky they haven’t broken up and just taken their foot off the gas. I’d echo the same concerns over what an Analog membership means now - I’d accept a physical CD bootleg of my choice each year as a replacement for a vinyl single!

This is a great idea. I really hope they come up with details on the new club benefits ASAP.

I also agree that the band sadly probably doesn’t spend much time together anymore. Hopefully they get in the studio soon and there is some sort of spark again. 

HughFreakingDillon said:

demetrios said:

Is there no way that Mike McCready's Hockeytalkter Records company could take over Pearl Jam's 10club annual Christmas 7" Single?

i don't think it's pressing the vinyl that's the issue. it's the band not wanting to record material they won't make money on. and i gotta be honest, it's surprising to me it took this long. songs on vinyl hasn't been an 'exclusive' since file sharing began in the late 90's. so the band is essentially giving music away for free to anyone that wants it. 

Yeah...when it started in 1991, it was a "thanks for sticking with us and here's something really cool on an almost-dead format." As vinyl fell out of favor in the 90s, it was really cool and a bit retro to get something in the mail for free.

Now that vinyl has surged in popularity again, maybe the band sees it as sort of a "mission complete."

stef1885 said:

I really hope 10c doesn't go the way that the 'Metclub' went.  They removed all memberships benefits and basically disbanded the Metallica Fan Club, there were no fees to join, as no fan club, the only item left was priority tickets to those who had been in the Metclub previously.  Cynically / realistically! some Metallica fans thought this was all to save costs and 'effort' as a new company had been bought in to take over the running of the fanclub.  I don't know how close PJ members are to running 10c these days but i really hope they are aware of any changes being implemented. Stef1885.

The band produces those songs/records... I have zero doubt that they were the ones to make the decision to end the vinyl.

Lost In Ohio said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

demetrios said:

Is there no way that Mike McCready's Hockeytalkter Records company could take over Pearl Jam's 10club annual Christmas 7" Single?

i don't think it's pressing the vinyl that's the issue. it's the band not wanting to record material they won't make money on. and i gotta be honest, it's surprising to me it took this long. songs on vinyl hasn't been an 'exclusive' since file sharing began in the late 90's. so the band is essentially giving music away for free to anyone that wants it. 

Yeah...when it started in 1991, it was a "thanks for sticking with us and here's something really cool on an almost-dead format." As vinyl fell out of favor in the 90s, it was really cool and a bit retro to get something in the mail for free.

Now that vinyl has surged in popularity again, maybe the band sees it as sort of a "mission complete."

Nice headcanon. But I can bet you that is not the reason.