Carly Simon’s Starbucks lawsuit claims the label didn’t properly promote her new record. Now Carly Simon is suing, claiming Starbucks’ actions led to poor sales.
Last year she was set to release “This Kind Of Love” on the coffee-chain owned label called Hear Music. The problems began a few days before the release, when according to the New York Times, the label began to “scale back” its promotion efforts. Sounds like they didn’t have their coffee that week!
The singer claims the alleged lack of promotion had a major impact on sales. The suit also alleges that the CD wasn’t abundantly available in a “substantial manner” at the coffee shop locations, and that the price was reduced.
The lawsuit states that by reducing the price “…Starbucks stigmatized Ms. Simon’s album as an album that could not be sold at full price.”
So what does Hear Music have to say about the suit? Well, a spokeswoman for Starbucks said they are “disappointed” to hear about it, and that they have “great respect” for the singer. The spokeswoman went on to say:
“…(the company) is hopeful that this matter can be resolved in an amicable manner.”
They aren’t buying the claim that it’s their fault her record sales were low, saying:
“Unfortunately, sales continued to lag as the title received tepid response from music consumers.”
Ouch. Tepid. So it seems like the company thinks the music was just bad!
I’m not sure whose side I’m on in this. I do have to say I’m glad the lawsuit isn’t over a hot cup of coffee spilled in Carly Simon’s lap! On the other hand, how silly is it to sue based upon the claim that reducing the price would somehow cause the consumer to think…”hmmm.. this album is priced a little low…the music must not be that good.” I mean, really? If anything, you’d think they would say “woohooo! This album by an artist I like is on sale!”
I’m just saying. What are your thoughts? Please let us hear it below.
Check out some photos and video of Carly Simon actually performing at a Starbucks.
Photos: www.wenn.com/Tina Paul
October 12th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
It is obvious the author has done very little marketing. Of course the American consumer connects quality with value, especially if theproduct hits the market at a price lower than the average. Cheaper almost always equates with low quality. Starbucks could easily have taken that CD, wrapped it in some sort of package, perhaps as part of a special Starbucks collection of new music, offered it as a Starbucks value deal, sales would have been much better. What they did was the kiss of death for that CD. Marshall’s, Kohl’s, Ross and other such stores are chock full of product that didn’t sell. It is offered as an unheard of bargain and people scoop it up as if they’ve found the buy of the century.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I do not believe Starbucks can be held accountable. Their marketing reflected low interest in Ms. Simon’s music. That is part of the business. It is difficult to determine what will interest the public at any given time. I am in business for myself and I know all too well how fickle the public can be. Ms. Simon just needs to accept reality just like other entertainers have had to do.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Don’t tell me you have never rumaged through the dollar bin at a music store and decided it probably isn’t worth the dollar. Starbucks know exactly what they were doing or that would not have cut the promotion activitities/money days befor the release. Hay, Starbucks, nothing like a good lawsuit to wake a company up in the morning.-Sounds like a new slogan to me.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
How can Carly Simon blame Starbucks for people not buying her album ? I heard some tracks off of it and was not impressed enough to buy it..
Com’on Man!!!
October 12th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
You couldn’t pay me to listen to her ‘NEW CD’, she is obviously living off of her OLD NAME reputation, and expects EVERYONE to bow down to her with TOP DOLLAR pay for terrible singing…just because it is coming out of HER mouth, doesn’t make it GREAT every time she sings..Where o where have the HIPPIES GONE?…..that was YEARS AGO!! ACID ROCKS, then they DIE from it, or brain rot themselves, COOL MAN, CARLY SIMON SONG!!? Leave Starbucks alone, they were her ONLY FRIENDS in the end, doing her ‘OVER and DONE with’ singing career a BIG favor by offering it as a choice in the hopes that she would sing something worth listening to!! Yikes, can you even believe her brass???! I wonder what she will be doing next, suing the music stations, all the DJ’s, and ALL of the music museums, and other singers because they are really singing GREATER songs instead of HER?? Come on, move on, and RETIRE already…….there are BETTER singers out there than you EVER REALLY WERE, get over yourself already!! Who are you REALLY….someone SPECIAL??
October 12th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Who?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Oh, come on Carly suck it up and just do your concerts. Why do you haft to waste your time with Starbucks when you could be promoting your new album on tv shows or other means.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
If Carly Simon’s CD was so good she wouldn’t have to promote her music at Starbucks. She can’t sell her CD at a real music store or sell it online? If you are good people will buy your music by word of mouth.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Carly Simon should not put the blame on a coffee company for lack of promotion, instead she needs to fire the dude who had the idea that a coffee company would help sell her album. BTW maybe you need better music. Who is Carly Simon anyways?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
It’s not selling because it’s horrible. Starbucks is not in business to sell CD’s. I don’t care what spin you put on it. It simply cannot be Starbuck’s fault. What is Carly Simon doing trying to sell CD’s at SB anyways??? That’s a stretch and since her music is horrible, she needs to find someone to sue over not selling CD’s. I hope you win, Starbuck’s. Also, put her CD because it’s hurting your sales. This comes from a person that NEVER buys coffee from Starbucks but has been in the music business for over 20 years.