Idolator
Last week, the Insane Clown Posse's The Tempest debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, selling 33,000 copies and shocking those of us who'd forgotten that they were still around. As it turns out, the duo serves as the public, painted faces of a small corporate army. From Reuters:
A smaller, more underground version of Kiss and its "Kiss army," perhaps, ICP feeds its juggalos and juggalettes a bevy of products, from board games and lunch boxes to lighters and watches, and stages its own multiday convention of sorts (the Gathering) every July. Dates have not yet been set for this year's event, but last year's fest — staged outside of Columbus, Ohio — featured such performers as Too $hort, Digital Underground and Drowning Pool. The Columbus Dispatch estimated last year's attendance in the 7,000 range.
"We do everything but the actual manufacturing of the CDs," Violent J says. "That's the only thing we don't do yet, but we're getting a damn pressing plant one day."
For now, the act will have to settle for about 30 full-time employees manning its own studio, office and 25,000-square-foot warehouse space. ICP also started an extreme wrestling league in the JCW (Juggalo Championshit Wrestling), and works such artists as Twiztid, Blaze and Boondox under the Psychopathic banner. A recently launched imprint, Hatchet House Records, will release lesser-known acts.
It makes sense; ICP's Juggalo-base is too small to make a major-label balance sheet's cut, but considering that they're rabid enough that they attend conventions, the possibilities for revenue are far-reaching. And ICP's been smart*—the side businesses they enter are particularly tailored to their fans', um, peculiarities (yes, it really is called Juggalo Championshit Wrestling). We only have one question: When do they buy a controlling interest in Faygo?
* We never, ever thought we would write this sentence. Ever.
Insane Clowns prosper even as album sales wane [Reuters via Hypebot]
Comments
People can laugh at ICP and their antics, but their merchandising business and work ethic is beyond compare. I think there are many 'independent' bands that complain too much - hell, even bands signed to other larger lables - and could do more themselves. Sure, ICP has a gimmick (or twelve) that makes them a bit easier to merchandise, be creative, and what not. But smaller bands are too quick to sign away their merch rights and then complain that they have no control and the 'label isn't doing anything for me'. Music should be free, and artists should know their real money is in the merch. ICP fans could download their music all day long and rarely pay for it, but they'll still want the 5 new t-shirts. Its a self-sustaining business, unlike few other acts have created for themselves. Or will ever learn from!
Fuck Insane Clown Posse. Has anyone ever heard their lyrics? I used to teach high school and had a bunch of kids who LOVED this band, so I looked at one of their CDs one time. Wow, it was like giving a midly reatrded 12 year old a command to write about whatever popped into his head when he was showed pictures of dog turds and fake breasts.
And i mean, seriously, didn't eminem pretty much eviscerate these dudes years ago?
I think ICP performs a sort of public service: When they run out of Hulkamania t-shirts down at the Wal-Mart, there really needs to be an option for the smart shopper.
Didn't anyone see the White Rapper Show? Those clowns know how to merchandise.
Sharon Osborne still owes these guys 50 large.
And now we know why Bob Pollard is not a millionaire*: he was too busy making his fans pay for every fart of musical output, rather than emphasizing the merchandise!
Who knew we could all learn from ICP?
* maybe he is, who knows.
The loyalty these wealthy shitheels inspire in their fans is terrifying -- some kid left a message on my office voicemail telling me he was going to kill me after I slagged ICP in an alt-weekly.
I guess everybody needs to belong, even badly tattooed, wifebeater-wearing psychotics whose futures almost certainly include incarceration.
I was asked the other day if I was a Juggalo.
It was the most insulting thing ever.
No, sir. I am not a grimey 40 drinking hick.
I maintain my anthropological hypothesis that Juggalos are the most useless subculture in America today.
Terrible human beings.
True...Juggalos are worthless...but Juggalo Championshit Wrestling on the other hand - is hilarious!
Wow. The bile that spews forth from such a collection of highly-educated, left-leaning commentors... I always thought the liberals were all "peace love and understanding" types and were not quick to judge... Learn something new everyday I guess.
I do not consider myself a Juggalo, but I liked a couple of ICP's songs. But you people, so freakin self-righteous and arrogant! I'm surprised that no one has found some way to bring up Arcade Fire or Modest Mouse yet just to figuratively suck their dicks some more. Many people have said that bands like Sonic Youth are just so amazing and creative and OMG! but it's a bunch of clanking and banging to me. Sometimes, the world just needs a song about Piggie Pie, for fuck's sake.
To you, heathermylove, please, dear, go drink a 40 and chill the fuck out. I mean, at least he didnt ask you if you were a republican! *GASP*
And to you, Aquemini, are you kidding me? ICP has done some fantastic things to the American language. Only ICP could have come up with the amazing simile "I'm back like scoleosis" I lol'd so hard the first time I heard that, I think I pee'd a little
Only ICP could have come up with the amazing simile "I'm back like scoleosis"
You've got to admit he has a point there.
Championshit! I see what you did there. Pretty clever, grown-ass man wearing face paint.
They sold 33K?
Now I know who is buying KFC Famous Bowls.
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