Open Letter to Cherrytree Records/Martin
This is an attempt to very respectfully ask you to take a moment, and look at the current Tokio Hotel situation from the angle most of us are seeing it from at this point.
From what I understand, you guys are under a lot of pressure from TH fans to share news and information and answer questions constantly. I also have gathered that you are all very friendly guys, and enjoy making contact with people and getting to know them. However, I feel that it is necessary at this point to get across to you the way you are now coming off to the vast majority of Tokio Hotel fans on the internet.
First of all, it will not kill us to wait for information until it is something that can be officially announced and confirmed. The constant teasing wears thin. Yes, it has been a very long time since Tokio Hotel was in the spotlight, and yes, fans are getting anxious and impatient. However, I feel that rather than encouraging fans to find something better and more constructive to do with their time during the wait (as it is NOT uncommon for artists to have huge gaps of time in between releases and/or promo), it seems as if you are throwing out little bits of information to keep them hanging on. It is not enough, and it never will be. All it serves to do is appease fans immediately, and leave them wanting for more five minutes later. It is turning much unwarranted and undeserved negativity on the artists themselves, as well, as they are who the fans truly wish to hear from, and every new piece of insubstantial news or info you give us only serves as a reminder that it is not coming from them.
Second, not to be rude, but I find myself wondering if Cherrytree is turning into a dating service, or if you guys are confusing your artists for Disney stars. For the last three years, it has been made very clear to us that the guys in Tokio Hotel are very private people. We have come to understand this, and more than that - many of us have come to work very hard to help them maintain that privacy. We care about them, and we respect them. And quite frankly, it is an insult, and feels like a kick in the face, to see someone we are largely unfamiliar with talking about their personal lives so freely. Of course, Chantelle is only answering the questions that are being thrown at her, which may give you some indication that people wouldn’t be asking the questions if they didn’t want to know. But just because we are fans, and just because some of the more invasive fans are asking, does NOT mean that the questions absolutely must be answered. Beyond merely answering the questions, your staff itself is encouraging the questions, and is quite blatantly playing up the “relationship” between Tom and Chantelle. If they truly were dating? Of course, most of us would be happy for them - but again, it would be none of our business. We do not WANT to know the intimate details of Tom’s love life. And we most especially do not want to know the intimate details of his love life from his record company, or anyone else involved in the situation besides what he himself decides to share with us. We want him to be happy, and that is as far as our noses should get into it.
It appears as if, to many of us, you are sacrificing the credibility and respect you originally had from us in the name of shameless self-promotion. It has gotten to the point where the German Fanclub (arguably one of the most reliable sources of information on the net for the band) are continuing every single week to discredit your information, feeling that you cannot be trusted anymore. I cannot help but personally find your way of handling these situations unprofessional and juvenile. I am sure that you are not the only record company to have felt this level of pressure from the fans, but never before has there been this kind of issue. The more you acknowledge it and encourage it, the worse it will get.
I also understand that you guys are getting a lot of rude messages and hate right now. I believe that everything mentioned above is where this is coming from, and this is my attempt to communicate the situation in a more respectful and intelligent manner, with a hope that it could be taken seriously. I fear that these attacks you’ve already received have closed your mind and ears to criticism, but please understand that things have progressed past your being able to comfortably ignore it altogether. If there are further questions, please feel free to contact me:
melanie@tokiohotelinternational.com
Thank you,
Melanie
ETA 19 July: The intention of this letter is not to attack Cherrytree Records or to start a war with them. It is not to criticize their actual role as Tokio Hotel’s American label or to express any want of having them pulled from that role. It is merely to express a reasonable concern, in a reasonable and calm way, over the way they are handling the fanbase itself. It is a request that the band we are so passionate about be treated with the dignity and respect we feel they deserve.
ETA 20 July: If you would like to sign the petition in agreement with this letter, please feel free to do so here! ♥
Zimmer 484 said,
July 18, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
Great letter! Thanks Melanie
Tanit said,
July 18, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
Great letter, I love how you managed to put in words the frustrations of many fans in such a concise way.
Catalyst said,
July 18, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
It is with great appreciation I write this. Yesterday, I too, was at the breaking point of trying to devise a letter to CherryTree Records and cc: David Jost but I knew it would have to be worded ever so carefully, tactfully, and professionally. I owe you a sincere thank you as I think you did a lovely job! I did not know if it was ‘my place,’ to meddle. I laid in bed last night praying the right persons affiliated within Tokio Hotel would see and understand the damage that is being done via the conduct and condonance of Miss Paige’s disclosures. I am a grown adult (as opposed to an emotionally entwined younger generation) and I confess I have no problem with Tom or any of the band members dating. That is not the issue here. The disregard of professional conduct and violation of ‘industry’ rules regarding publicity is what has from the start been very unsettling for me and the fans are finding disturbingly insulting.
Please take this comment as my sincere attempt to pat you on the back. Bravo!
eleonora said,
July 18, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
This is nice letter, but you should sent it to TH managers, not to CherryTree.I think that Martin and Co do what they do with support of TH crew. I see that TH became a PR band, less music - more rumours. This is not Martin`s fault, this is a TH managers strategy. I am TH fan since 2005, there is no old TH anymore.
Sorry for my english.
Nik said,
July 18, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
Nice, Mel, exactly what a lot of people think and you’ve written it so friendly and calm
kzweite said,
July 18, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
Nicely said Mel. I would like to add that I think Martin is really misreading the TH fandom. TH fans do not equal Jonas Brothers fans. TH fans are more of the type that feel like outcasts in someway. TH has managed to speak to them, making them feel that they are not alone in the world, and are very respectful of this band for what they have done for them personally. They don’t take to being toyed with lightly, and they do not like anyone mistreating the band they love either.
Sure there are the fans that are like Jonas Brothers fans, that are happy to hang on to every scrap of information that they can get. These are fans that will most likely move on to the next band of pretty boys as soon as they get bored with TH. So why appease the fans that aren’t going to stick around, rather than be respectful to the fans that are here for the longevity of the band. I don’t think the band themselves would like any of their fans to be alienated in any way.
THRox said,
July 19, 2009 @ 8:47 am
You are absolutely right, Mel. I loved TH for their music and their originality. They are completely different than every other homogenized band (at least here in America). Their sound is different. Their look is different. Their attitude is different. And I appreciated that. I shudder at the lack of professionalism brought about by Martin & the CherryTree staff concerning the promotion of TH. They are trying to make TH more about who they’re dating or sleeping with, rather than about the music they’re making (which for me is the ENTIRE reason I love them). I’m much older than your average TH fan, so the actions of Chantelle revealing intimate details of her date with Tom (who has always maintained a level of privacy in his life) reeks of a record label desperately trying to launch one act at the expense of another.
I don’t want TH to be another Jonas Brother juggernaut. I want them to be successful and have global domination, but I want them to accomplish that on the quality of the music they create.
CherryTree should be embarrassed of themselves. Not only the way they handled this whole PR situation with TH & Chantelle, but the way they’ve treated the TH fans in general, when we call bullsh*t and they know they’ve been caught.
Melanie, I commend you on the courage to stand up and say what we’ve been feeling for quite some time. You stated your position in a professional and resepectful manner. The label’s response was childish and juvenile. If I was TH management, I would be morbidly embarassed by the way my record label handled the thoughts of OUR fanbase.
Karma is coming CherryTree.
toms_ravisher said,
July 19, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
I’m so glad I can tell my opinion here
First of all,the letter was really good and I hope the guys from Cherrytree will read it.It’s really important for all of us,I think.
As a matter of fact,what happens is not only Cherrytree’s fault.I guess everything happens in association with TH’s management and so on.With the whole thing about Chantelle and Tom,both sides could take advantage of.Flipsyde and TH ,but basically Tom, and I’ll explain why.
First of all,we were all shocked when we found out about the incidence with the stalkers and tom who punched the girl.This made Tom seem rude with girls and someone who’s not gentleman at all and has no manners.Chantelle was always repeating how sweet and gentleman he is.This way,what some fans started to believe about Tom and his character,reversed.It was vanished in fact.Tell me,who remember this incidence now?Everyone forgot about it.Yeah,they did what they want.And now Tom’s blog.Another way to delay the album’s release.To make us forget about it.
On the other hand, Flipsyde benefit because they got promoted through tokio hotel.who knew them before that?Not to mention about how unprofessional the whole situation was handled by Cherrytree and its employees as it was said before.Even the scene on the date seemed so fake.Guys,next time just try to be a bit more cunning and credible.
It strikes me that they might didn’t expect TH fans’ reaction.They used to answer every question and so on and when the fans started to tell them bad things what did they answer? “haha you can still be a TH fan..although TH wouldn’t like that ;p” i mean wtf?Does she intimidate us?Girl,don’t be that reckless because you’ll get back want you give us.Because i’m a TH fan doesn’t mean that i will be YOURS too just because you arranged a fake date with Tom.I love TH because at least they used to worth a lot .Their management is very smart and professional.I respect them for many reasons.
Did they expect us to be calm and cool or become fans of them because of just this?I,personally,would listen to Flipsyde if a friend of mine liked them and sent me a song to listen to.but now,knowing all these things i say oh sorry,I won’t.They thought they could play with us?mock us?nah,then you didn’t know TH fans at all.I’m sorry you had to learn them this way.Yet I’m glad to be one of them.
Cherrytree’s shameless.What I only have to say about Chantelle and her band,even though my opinion doesn’t even count,is that even if I liked their music and was a fan of them,now they would have lost half of their valuation for me.And the worst of all?TH isn’t the same for me anymore because of them.Because they don’t seem to be the same anymore.
Lately,I’m so so so disappointed and sad.I wake up in the morning and i’m afraid of what I’m gonna see on the web.It’s getting really crazy.I’m so sick of all this.I want old TH back.I wish they’ll realize what’s happening in the fandom and try to save it before it’s late.I haven’t been treated from TH’s management like that all these 4 years i’ve been a fan of them.I won’t accept that from someone’s band who wants to be promoted using those I care so much about.Just be aware of this.Because they do respect their fans and so they get their respect back.
“If I was TH management, I would be morbidly embarassed by the way my record label handled the thoughts of OUR fanbase.”
no more words to say.
mitternacht said,
July 19, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
Thank you so much for writing this. You took the words right out of my mouth. You worded everything perfectly.
I feel that everything involving TH during this time has been so unprofessional and uncalled for. I don’t need an “insider” revealing private details of the boys’ personal lives in a public chatroom. Not only is it unprofessional but it is just downright disrespectful. I love TH for their music, and I don’t want to deal with all this drama. It’s not going to get them anywhere if it continues. It certainly isn’t going to give them the respect they deserve either.
Hopefully someone will end this situation and ensure that it will never happen again.
THgirl said,
July 19, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
Tokio Hotel is being used by cherrytree for promoting the shitty bands Cinema Bizarre and Flipside!.
ich bin nicht ich said,
July 20, 2009 @ 2:40 am
Geat letter!!!!!! I agree 100%
If Tom wants to talk, all talkshows in Europe will welcome him with open arms.
But Tom doesn’t talk to us about this. Only Chantell does…
At least she said that Tom is “big and impressiv” after their two houres at the hotel in Germany. LOL.
Thanks.