Collective Memory – the Surface Unsigned Debacle

Are you sitting comfortably? Well, it all started back in March with Danny’s post about Surface Unsigned.

A couple of months later (on 15 May) Danny received a threatening email from Surface Unsigned which worried him. After a weekend of checking that CiB had done nothing wrong, the original post was amended and an addendum was posted.

Danny blogged about it, then Pete blogged and I blogged. Then a lovely thing happened – the blogging community of Birmingham showed their support. As ever, BiNS and D’Log were quick on the scene.

Cat Bray was amused. Russ L made me laugh. Goodfaf Central chipped in. Birmingham Alive put up a banner. Simon Gray posted on his blog and on The Stirrer forum where an interview with Surface was promised ’soon’ (as if that forum and the comments section of an increasing number of blog posts didn’t give them enough space to reply/apologise).

And the blog posts did increase, with contributions from Brenda Dada, Bobbie Gardner, Si Hammond, Mabblog, The Careless Gene (aw, one of my faves), Graphiquillan, Art Stalking Ana and New Folder. Andrew Dubber pondered pay-to-play on New Music Strategies while Antonio Roberts got visual.

Dave Harte got forensic on his Birmingham Post blog, revealing who was behind Surface, shortly before the interview on The Stirrer appeared with the representative of Surface asking not to be identified (hello to Jay, probably). The interview discussed pay-to-play but not sending unnecessarily aggressive emails. Dave Harte cross-posted to his own blog, where dp wisely commented that

it’s interesting watching this thing unfold, partly because it’s going through phases, where the first reaction was indignation, then organised criticism, then more reflective stuff

Widening the social media net, several people tagged the story on delicious including Joanna Geary and Catnip, who deployed the word ‘nastygram’ to devastating effect.

Then things started moving away from Birmingham. First to Oxford (OxfordBands), then Yorkshire (fictions) and then on to the national music site Culturedeluxe.

By the end of the day Danny was feeling much happier.

But it didn’t stop there, with Ben Neal (who once played at Surface) saying hi. The Getgood Guide got with the LOLspeak. Stef examined what Surface should perhaps have done (executive summary – anything but what they did) and even the Daily Mirror’s forum received the good news. Paul Thewlis threw a link in, as did Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From. Dunc from the Autumn Store says we don’t need battle-of-the-band contests.

And so on.

Today’s the day we’re supposed to take down the original post. We’re not going to, obviously – Danny’s still not even received an apology.

However, as far as CiB’s concerned I intend to draw a line under the matter with this post (the comments are still open of course). It’s been fun but we’ve made our point. I for one would rather turn my attention to the many positive things happening in Birmingham (although every time I Google ‘Surface Unsigned’ I stare hungrily at all the forums that appear).

I’d just like to say thanks to those who have offered support, kind words and legal advice over the past few days. You’re beautiful people.

13 Comments

  4. What an explosion of responses. Perhaps it has gone a little too far and instead people have got carried away using it as an example to demonstrate the power of blogs.

  5. I opened my email to find a link to the 4tallent site and an article on ‘WASTED TALENT?’ about battle of the bands ripping people off. Topical, i thinks, then i read on to find its actually inspired by CIB and birmingham blogers!

    “Surface Unsigned recently showed that you can’t fool all the people all the time when they issued a cease and desist notice to the Created in Birmingham blog. The ensuing furore at their attempt to stifle criticism in such a clumsy fashion has shown a lot of people how un-sussed these chaps are about basic PR skills, never mind the ways of the music industry.”

    http://www.channel4.com/4talent/feature.jsp?id=11606

  6. Of course I agree that music should not involve bands having to pay to play and I would not involve my own band or advise others to get involved with surface unsigned, i have never had any interest in battle of the bands or any other strategies to get tickets and beer sold….. but surface unsigned has a right to do it’s own thing, maybe i’m wrong, maybe I missed the point, maybe people don’t have to get involved if they don’t want to but….If this blog, perhaps, and it’s readership is going to act in a similar way as to how I imagine a witch hunt… can we take Dave Harte to task next over his hilarious leadership of Digital Central or perhaps The L.S.C over Gigbeth, or Creative Networks over the rest? How about birminghamusic.com, how about some other projects that may actually put up a fight? How about Birmingham City Council….Come on people, surface unsigned are not the enemy, fair enough draw attention to the issues but don’t assassinate them in the process, none of us are perfect and this sort of thing just makes me wonder what the hell all of this and all i’m involved with…. is all about? Have I lost the plot? What day is this? Or are the lot of you using surface unsigned as an excuse to promote your own righteousness and your blogs and websites in the process?

  7. Personally, the pay to play business model doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

    My issue with Surface is that when they saw something written about them they didn’t like they (wrongly) invoked the law. They referred to their ‘standard procedures’ in this sort of situation and threatened legal action against one of CiB’s contributors. They wanted to appear big & scary and we reacted as if they were.

    None of this was necessary and to be honest I’m growing less keen on such negativity attached to this blog.

  8. Chris said – “None of this was necessary and to be honest I’m growing less keen on such negativity attached to this blog”

    Glad to hear it Chris, I hope you understand i had to make a small comment but essentially I’m supportive of those who faced up to the issues involved but it’s a difficult area…..nuff said. The rest of your work here seems pretty good to me, keep on keeping on mate. and it’s ok, I don’t really find Dave Harte hilarious…or at least not all the time but I’m sure you get where I’m coming from…

  9. I can’t help but think that everyone who attempts to use pretend legal threats to silence criticism deserves as strong a response as sensible people can give them, be it Surface Unsigned or anyone else. Use as many deliberately emotive terms as ‘Witch Hunt’ as you must, but I’m glad it happened here and I hope it happens next time the matter comes up too.

  11. […] Speaking of occasional contributor, I just wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate CrIB on winning the best UK blog 2008. And, because in some press my name has been mentioned with it, feel the need to state my part is, and was, only ever a small footnote in its progressively amazing history. To receive ANY congratulations myself would be to play down C-c-c units and Guru Pete’s hard work. In fact Jules’s contribution is oft overlooked and has the added bonus of not causing a massive shitstorm. […]

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