We Want Our Money Back!

Jessie J unfortunately hit the nail on the head with her lyrics "It's all about the money, money, money." From the fee demanded by The Rolling Stones to headline glastonbury, to the cash magnet of cricketers leaving for the IPL, and from the price of a Bob Dylan ticket for his latest stadium tour, to the £400+ million spent over the summer by clubs in the English premier league, money is the only objective driving the people who pull the strings of the music and sport industries. Sport clubs are already the play toys of the super rich and music is following a similar trend, in that artists sign to a record label and then that label can throw them around as they please.

But without us, the punters/fans, both industries would collapse. A fact i think is often forgotten by the men in suits. In order to see the (supposed) best talent of both the music and sport industry we are required to part with vast amounts of our hard earned cash so why should we have to put up with it if the artists/athletes in question are crap?

Last season i was forced to endure watching my beloved football team throw away a 4-1 half time lead to go on and lose 6-4, a remarkable feature, but why should i have to pay for that misery? Surely some compensation would not go amiss and encourage me to come back to another match? A free pie anyone? How about Usain Bolt getting excited and jumping the gun in the final of 100m at the world championships? I was also unfortunate to witness Oasis headline glastonbury in 2004, they performed an awful show at the worlds biggest music festival. People pay an absolute fortune to attend the wonderful festival, but we have to gamble on wether or not the overpaid "star" performer will bother? Where is the free apologetic pint?

Left: Oasis looking crap and sounding crap.


However, maybe a revolution is underway. Arsenal recently got thumped 8-2 by Manchester United, a disgraceful result and even though nearly even seat in the ground was filled by a southerner or cockney it was the small section of Arsenal fans who travelled home embarrassed. In ordinary circumstances the manger would apologise and everyone moves on feeling robbed, yet, correctly in my opinion, Arsenal announced that any fan who had been to Old Trafford and witnessed the horror show would be granted a free ticket to attend another away match, to compensate them having to view such an atrocity. Similarly, Ipswich Town, who were recently on the end of a 7-1 hammering to Peterborough, offered to pay their fans travel expenses for the consecutive away match against Blackpool. We should have more of this in music and sport.

I therefore propose that a panel of experts are set up to view a sports team/musical artists performance. A representative should be appointed to each sporting team/event/music venue in the country, whom will have the power to decide if the team/artist was guilty of performing poorly resulting in their loss or booing by the fans, then some compensation should be given to the loyal followers. The guilty ruling would not apply for example, against Leeds Rhinos after their defeat to Wigan in the Challenge cup final at Wembley the other week. Despite losing the rhinos put in a sterling second half performance to restore pride and almost make a dramatic comeback.
I am not claiming that the fans should have all their money refunded but a free pint at a next gig, a free pie in the stadium or cup of tea at a rowing regatta wouldn't leave people feeling so cheated! We fund your careers so show us we mean something!

Above: How you could look enjoying a complimentary cup of tea after the rowing boat you came to watch sank.