Middle of the Road
Once you achieved chart status, you could command a much higher fee and people took notice of you. This practice was rampant in the 60’s. The Danes had a much simpler system, they had a panel of judges from within Radio and TV and simply voted which song they liked the most. It had nothing to do with sales.
In 1971, one of our first English dj's to come over to Europe was Tony London, and I remember contracting him to a venue in Italy. One day, whilst he was there he called me up to ask if I would take a popular English band to Denmark who happen to be playing at his venue. I said I wasnt interested. Then the lead guitarist grabbed the phone and talked to me directly begging me, I said I had never heard of them. But he stammered we are number four in the Danish Charts! So what, I said, it meant nothing to me. Finally, they kept on until I succombed to booking them for my standard 15 % commission.
I took their material to Tivoli who agreed to book them for Dkr 2000 (around £200 at the time), and 3 other places for a similar fee. I was on good terms with Ema Telstar the large entertainment agency in Stockholm who agreed to tour them in Sweden, All on a similar fee as none of us had ever heard of this band.
And, that was how MIDDLE OF THE ROAD came to Denmark.
Between April of 71, and July they charted to number one in virtually all european countries, and the danish panel voted the same. This was the new Beatles and Alan Lawrie had nailed them for a Scandinavian tour. I had Danmark’s Radio calling me for an interview, national television plus all the national newspapers. I never felt so embarrassed.
They played at Tivoli gardens which made an absolute killing on the deal. I was there backstage long after the standing ovation subsided when the lead guitarist came searching for me, his face black as thunder. He pinned me to the wall, grabbed by the throat and demanded to know where the rest of the money was.
They had gone from £200 per night booking to over £20000 in less than three months. The band refused to play another gig until the whole tour had been renegotiated without me - Ema Telstar rescued the Swedish end. I had no experience in dealing with high end concert bookings and massive egos and their riders.
Either Way, they were signed up on an Idea Contract- all correct and legal with a commission to the agency for arranging it all. How quickly people turn.
Snivelling little one hit wonders!