Paul Weller (Photo: Paul Bachmann for Live4ever Media)
The organisers of Record Store Day have said they ‘share’ Paul Weller‘s frustration at various special releases being sold online at vastly inflated prices after Weller revealed he will not take part in any future campaign because of those touts.
“I agree with all of you who have sent messages expressing your anger and disappointment at the exploitation of these “limited editions” by touts,” Weller said on his official website.
“Apart from making the record, the rest has very little to do with me but I am disheartened by the whole thing and unfortunately I won’t be taking part in Record Store Day again.”
In response, organisers of Record Store Day have issued their own website statement, and expressed their ‘disappointed’ that efforts to ‘drive out the touts’ haven’t worked entirely.
“At just 500 copies Paul Weller’s ‘Brand New Toy’ was one of the most limited editions available on RSD and so some re-selling was expected,” the statement continued. “However, thanks to the measures we have taken on re-sales, overall the number of complaints about unauthorised sales this year is well down on previous years, though we continue to monitor eBay on an hour-by-hour basis.”
