While many artists will do whatever they can to gain more fans and make those they already have feel loved, pop rockers Duran Duran are doing quite the opposite: they’re suing them.
The British band filed a lawsuit this week against their own fanclub for breaching a contract the two parties signed back in 2010. The Glenview, Illinois-based fanclub, which is managed by Worldwide Fan Clubs, is accused of not paying out revenues in accordance with the arrangement.
The deal says that Worldwide Fan Clubs would not only run a club where longtime fans could interact with one another and share their love of the group, but they would also maintain records of members and activity, collect fees for membership, as well as act as a warehouse and sell the band’s official merchandise.
The deal stipulated that the members of Duran Duran would receive 75% of all profits, with the other 25% going to WFC. The band says that this has not been the case, and estimates that the company owes them $40,000. While this is a business deal and their lawsuit is fair game, it isn’t playing very well for the former chart-toppers in the press. Many see this as the band going after fans for more money.
Worldwide Fan Clubs builds and operates fan clubs for bands, artists, and organizations ranging from music to sports and more. In addition, they offer additional services, such as merchandise sales, etc., as they did for Duran Duran.
The 80’s megastars don’t need this kind of bad publicity, as the group’s career has fallen far from where it used to be in their heyday. The band racked up several hits, including number ones “The Reflex” and “A View To Kill” and won two Grammy Awards in the 1980’s. Since then, sales figures have tanked and their singles haven’t charted well. The band’s last album, 2011’s All You Need Is Now only managed to debut at number 29 and spent very few weeks on the Billboard 200.
Despite some setbacks, the band is still active, touring and recording new music. They are currently at work on a new album with John Frusciante, the former guitarist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
