"You're on your own, kid. You always have been."
June 20, 2023 4:51 PM Subscribe
The Etsy sellers paying rent with Taylor Swift merch (The Hustle)
Featuring the 'Midnight Rain' t-shirt, which is not official merch.
(Not to be a backseat driver, but if you don't have anything to contribute other than that you don't enjoy the music of Taylor Swift, maybe sit this one out?)
Featuring the 'Midnight Rain' t-shirt, which is not official merch.
(Not to be a backseat driver, but if you don't have anything to contribute other than that you don't enjoy the music of Taylor Swift, maybe sit this one out?)
There is definitely a grey area you can exploit, using generic-enough snippets of lyrics, and imagery that matches the words but doesn't directly reference the song of artist.
Like, how would you prove that the Snow on a Beach t-shirt isn't just a picture of snow, on a beach, captioned? (Assuming this particular lyric isn't subject to trademark or something.)
It's a fine line to stake your living on, though.
posted by Dysk at 5:42 PM on June 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
Like, how would you prove that the Snow on a Beach t-shirt isn't just a picture of snow, on a beach, captioned? (Assuming this particular lyric isn't subject to trademark or something.)
It's a fine line to stake your living on, though.
posted by Dysk at 5:42 PM on June 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's a fine line to stake your living on, though.
Especially since Swift is notorious for filing the shit of out every combination of mark and class. Buffett is the only artist I can think of offhand that's even close. It's been obvious for years the plan is to have some sort of licensing empire, and those licenses are only worth as much as how aggressive they are enforced. Buffett will surely beat herein that category, although she has given him a run for his money in the "aggressively litigious" department.
but her official merch has been so boring
Most artists above the level of "sleeping on fans' floors while on tour" have what is called a 360 Deal between themselves and their label. The deals run the gamut, but a common component is handing over the merch licensing, and getting something like 30% of gross for absolutely no work. And I do mean "no work". The artist just gets a check, and doesn't even know what the merch looks like until the merch company on tour with them sets up their booths.
And, for whatever reason, all the big players in the merch licensing business are just creatively bankrupt. A decade ago I was loaned out short term to one of the bigger firms that acquired the leftover pieces of a "Direct to Fan" digital/physical merch company, and it was incredibly depressing. The showThe Office depicted a more creatively engaging workplace with better leadership. But, they owned a bunch of the licenses for bands you 100% have heard of and might own tour merch for (not Swift though). So, if you saw such-and-such band at the Staples Center and wanted to t-shirt, someone like "Meredith Palmer" might have designed it.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 6:14 PM on June 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
Especially since Swift is notorious for filing the shit of out every combination of mark and class. Buffett is the only artist I can think of offhand that's even close. It's been obvious for years the plan is to have some sort of licensing empire, and those licenses are only worth as much as how aggressive they are enforced. Buffett will surely beat herein that category, although she has given him a run for his money in the "aggressively litigious" department.
but her official merch has been so boring
Most artists above the level of "sleeping on fans' floors while on tour" have what is called a 360 Deal between themselves and their label. The deals run the gamut, but a common component is handing over the merch licensing, and getting something like 30% of gross for absolutely no work. And I do mean "no work". The artist just gets a check, and doesn't even know what the merch looks like until the merch company on tour with them sets up their booths.
And, for whatever reason, all the big players in the merch licensing business are just creatively bankrupt. A decade ago I was loaned out short term to one of the bigger firms that acquired the leftover pieces of a "Direct to Fan" digital/physical merch company, and it was incredibly depressing. The showThe Office depicted a more creatively engaging workplace with better leadership. But, they owned a bunch of the licenses for bands you 100% have heard of and might own tour merch for (not Swift though). So, if you saw such-and-such band at the Staples Center and wanted to t-shirt, someone like "Meredith Palmer" might have designed it.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 6:14 PM on June 20, 2023 [13 favorites]
So, if you saw such-and-such band at the Staples Center and wanted to t-shirt, someone like "Meredith Palmer" might have designed it.
I knew it.
posted by ZaphodB at 7:51 PM on June 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I knew it.
posted by ZaphodB at 7:51 PM on June 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty sure my wife got our daughter and Etsy Taylor Swift shirt, because she just liked the style better. I think she maybe got some official merch too, online, because not old enough to pay $300 for a concert ticket.
But IMO the designs for less famous bands, between their official merch and their Etsy/random googling, is so much better its not even funny. I have bought several. I would prefer to support the band, but guys you have to put out some better product!
Ironically, I'd be more worried about Old Navy or JC Penny suing that 'snow on the beach' shirt than T Swift. You have to be in the know to recognize that one.
I still remember the olden days of SubPop merchandise, where the smallest available shirt looked like a tent on me. Man '90s style was awful.
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:28 AM on June 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
But IMO the designs for less famous bands, between their official merch and their Etsy/random googling, is so much better its not even funny. I have bought several. I would prefer to support the band, but guys you have to put out some better product!
Ironically, I'd be more worried about Old Navy or JC Penny suing that 'snow on the beach' shirt than T Swift. You have to be in the know to recognize that one.
I still remember the olden days of SubPop merchandise, where the smallest available shirt looked like a tent on me. Man '90s style was awful.
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:28 AM on June 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
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I like Taylor Swift & I'd be happy to wear a T-shirt (I don't really leave my house so ...) but her official merch has been so boring. I did like that Midnight Rain tee, though, and even if it's a dubious legal area, happy to give an independent artist some money (Swift has also gotten plenty of my money too).
I'd love to see a day when stars like this work with these smaller creators. Everyone wins!
posted by edencosmic at 5:22 PM on June 20, 2023 [7 favorites]