The Smiley Smile Message Board

Given that I have no guarantee that I will always be able to hear Beach Boys music or see the Beach Boys, no more than I have a guarantee I will always be able to eat dark chocolate; and given that there are multiple ways I could be a blessing to others if I had access to a sum of tax free money; I can't say the answer would be an absolute "no."  However, depending on how much currency I ask for, and the country of origin of the currency, I could essentially destroy the value of a nation's currency, which would make my sacrifice pointless. 

There's a lot to consider here before coming to a final answer.

Gee, Stephen, what a question!  Wasn't this a "Twilight Zone" episode?   ;)  If I could retain all memories of the music, I'd still be able to 'listen' whenever I wanted.  And as long as everyone else can still hear the music....hmmm.  A few million dollars would put my daughter through any college that she chooses, and would keep me living very comfortably for the rest of my life.  Tell the genie that there's a sucker in Wisconsin who would take ten million dollars.

Aww jeez....  I don't listen to CDs tapes whatever now as  all their songs are firmly, magically ensconced inside; BUT, not being able to see/touch my current collection and the cool stuff yet to come??!? 
  I'll take 1  Trillion dollars, destroy every economy everywhere, scoop up every collectable I've ever wanted, then spend the rest to make everyone everywhere happy  *** 























































***    If I like you.....

Do you like me bgas? ;)

I would never take that deal. Beach Boys music is priceless!

I'd have to tell the genie that there's no way he could possibly recompense me for the amount I've ALREADY spent on Beach Boys' and related music*. Back in yer bottle, fiend!!!!!


* confession: supported one or two East Asian economies, I confess!

I'm not greedy.  I'll take $50 million and run. >:D

$100 million is my price.  I've got expensive tastes, not to mention a wife (I realize I'm being redundant).

I can make this deal with no regret, since you gave me an out.  I've still got my memories of that wonderful music, which I can conjure up in my head at any time.  And the memories of the Boys, including my hero, the great Carl Wilson.

Think of it: Filthy rich, AND a lifetime of memories of the greatest music and the greatest band in the history of the world.

Thanks, Mr. Desper.  You made my day.

I would do it for maybe $500,000.00

I would miss it, but it's not as though the only way to enrich one's life is to listen to only the Beach Boys.

I feel embarrassed to say this, but I don't believe I would take the offer at all. I feel the group's music has been too much of a spiritual guide for me in my life.

The memories part is key. And my price would be a cool billion, since we're able to name it.

No deal.

This hypothetical genie is sitting on a bad business model. If he were to flip the scenario, and instead of offering a payment for removing a positive, pleasant experience offer the same elimination of the negatives in pop culture, music, etc in return for a small fee...he'd be sitting on a goldmine.

Offer a sliding scale for payment so the elimination could be paid for and applied to anyone or anything the customer wishes to avoid, from politicians to political pundits to the Kardashians to Beiber to Chris Brown to "The View" talk show to overrated NFL wide receivers to whatever else...

I'd pay. And the genie would need to hire a staff of genies to keep up with the demand.

You know........I would LOVE to completely pay off my house and one of the cars. Go on vacations all over the world. Be debt free until I die.

Remove The Beach Boys from my life? 

No dice.

I've had many years of hearing the music they made, and though it would be a loss to no longer be able to hear it (though not seeing their pictures would be less of a loss) - I would have to say, that if I can name my price, tax free - a billion dollars ought to do it.   I would personally only be keeping a tiny fraction of this amount, the rest would go to many needed people/places/things. 

Sorry "Boys" but there's other amazing, beautiful music to listen to and times demand sacrifice.

btw, how would this apply to cover versions by others?   Could one hear those?  Not that I'd particularly want to, but curious.....

oooooh, no more 'sunflower'...... 'brian Wilson 67' period...... no more sinking into a 'pet sounds' session...

no documentaries......no more hearing upcoming/new treats from 'the vault'....... no more smiley smiling  ;D

I could go a little while without all of the above, but to completely remove all those goodies from here on it??......... no amount of money Genie!

I would decline....... take my Beach Boys, and you take all of my whatever pathetic life I have left ..  :smokin

RickB

I'd take four dollars and a box of condoms.
Maybe I'd actually go outside.

This genie lives not in a bottle but a transistor radio. The hardest part of this would be the future releases I would never get to hear. Does this include solo albums? Any way, to answer the question, I would take 10 million, build a studio and make my own music. :)

No deal for me, as well. Ain't no amount of gold in any mine could take away this Beach Boys music of mine.  ;D

50 Million

  If I took the deal, regret would be a key component of my being for the rest of my life...can't do it.

I wish I could say I'd decline...but because I'm a shmuck I KNOW I would take the deal. $50 Million richer, and I would have an unfulfillable void in my soul for the duration of my life.

Given this context, money is a terrible thing.

I'd take a surprisingly small amount of money, maybe in the thousands, but I wouldn't tell the genie that. I'd ask for at least five million, hidden in a Swiss bank account.  I've listened to the Beach Boys so much I've gotten a little tired of them, actually, at least compared to when I first got into them.

Everybody has a price.

The sliding scale but for different reasons. Discovered the music at 18 and have had over 35 years of listening pleasure so my amount back then would have been high. Nowadays at my age not so much.

Ok..I admit it...I could be bought today!

$1m

Mr. Desper - it is really food for thought.  I had The Beach Boys' music in my life before I had my kids, who are not for sale, at any price, my eighth grade diploma, high school, college, career, etc. The music has been on the journey with me, and even if I've failed at something, (many things) the music has never failed me.

So, I guess the genie would have to find one more willing to negotiate away that which can transport me, give me a giggle, imagine the possibilities, and enhance the quality of life.  

Just about everything else might be for sale.  ;)

I say no.... Because if I took the money, I'd likely spend it quickly and unwisely trying to fill the spiritual/emotional void left by there being no Beach Boys in my world...

"Outside"? What's that???

I'm like you Pinder. As George Best said along the same lines, "All my money went on birds, booze and fast cars...The rest I just squandered!"

That's a fantastic quote!

I discovered (I mean REALLY discovered) The Beach Boys at 18, I'm 40 now and I swear not a single day has gone by where I didn't either listen to them, read about them, or at the least, think about them.... Even in the other parts of life, they come up... If I meet someone new, I'm always half thinking "So, is this person more of an Al, or a Dennis, or a Carl, or a Mike, or a Brian?" .... Or a Bruce. Or, hey this guy's kinda like a Dave type" ...... And I've come across many a Murray too.

Take away The Beach Boys and I'd pretty much have to start from scratch and be reincarnated or something as someone or something completely new and different.

Two questions:
1. Can I limit it to Summer in Paradise?
2. If so, will the genie accept a personal check?
Thank you.

$50,000,000,000.


But only after the last surviving Beach Boy dies and I hear their entire discography - released and officially unreleased - at least once.

'ere we are. I can't imagine never hearing something that's brought me so much joy ever again, including future releases. I can't even hypothetically really put any kind of price on that, but no matter the amount, I could really, really use that money ^_^ However, I really do believe there'd be a big ol' Beach Boys-sized hole in my life for the rest of my days.

How about this: would you accept the Genie's offer of world peace forevermore if, in exchange, your only awareness of The Beach Boys would be Summer In Paradise?

Sure - I wouldn't know what I was missing.

Absolutely, even if my awareness of the Beach Boys were what it is now. I'm just that cool of a guy. I would accept the Genie's offer of world peace forevermore in exchange for never hearing the Beach Boys again and then we'll have world peace.

.

.

.

Yes, that includes Blondie and Ricky. They're each just as much of a Beach Boy than Brian, Dennis, Carl, Al, Bruce, Mike and David!

I'm surprised that (as far as I read) nobody has mentioned giving to charity.  I'm not trying to put on a facade of selflessness like I would give it all away (I probably wouldn't), but I do think that the possibility of giving the genie's money away to charity is still in the spirit of the question and an important implication.
For those of you who answered in astronomical figures (like $50 million), you could save a lot of lives with that kind of money--and all it would hinge on is you (just one person) giving up something you like.  In other words, how many lives could be changed/saved with the money simply because one person doesn't get to listen to the Beach Boys?

Any thoughts, anyone?

70 billion dollars.

I'd take £5 mill, minimum. The Beach Boys music means a lot to me, but I'm not that dumb. After all is said and done, it's just music, and now and then down the years, it's caused me more grief than pleasure.

To be fair I don't think anyone has said what they would do with any of the money.

F*ck the Beach Boys. I recently discovered the deeper ABBA tracks.

I don’t even have to think about this for more than a second. I wouldn’t take the offer. Just thinking about doing it, no matter the price, makes me feel empty and regretful.

Seeing as you put it out there - a hypothetical $20M or so to cover off my family and close friends (a mill each), a hypothetical $5M to Amnesty International, a hypothetical $5M to an environmental related cause, a hypothetical $5M to Autism Australia. The remaining hypothetical $15M for travelling the globe while avoiding backpacker hotels.

Hmm, I'd need sufficient cash for every worthwhile and reputable charity to get what it needs, every government to receive sufficient for it to waive all taxes for ever, cessation of war, end to poverty, Simon Cowell to be paid off into retirement, a real Barbie for my daughter, more Brio for my son, compensation for my favourite store in Newcastle to cover loss of income, expenses for me and the famy to hike the PCT together and pay the fines for school absenteeism, lifetime's supply of KitKats, budgetary requirements for the next ten seasons of Dr Who met (with me as story editor, obviously), extended family kept in comfort forever, and the complete works of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to be handed to each and every person on the planet (except me, obviously).

I'm coming around to the idea… cash can buy happiness, just not happiness with a soundtrack!

$100
















then I shoot the genie before he erases The Beach Boys from my mind.

That's a pretty brilliant plan

COMMENT

Thank you all for taking time to write and to consider just how much value you personally place on the Beach Boy brand.

For some of you their music transcends any economic measure. Others have a more practical view and see what monetary gain could accomplish for others and are willing to make the sacrifice.

As with any lifeboat situation, what you might really do, you do not know until confronted with the actual, real and living situation. But it is fun to conjecture and such exercises in possibilities lend insight into each person’s own internal attitudes.

Perhaps one measure of value that could be placed on the Beach Boy brand, and thus act as a guide to its monetary value – in exchange for its removal from your awareness – would be to examine the actual world value of the brand.

Since 1998, the corporate entity Brothers Record Inc (BRI), equally owns, in 25% shares by Brian Wilson, the estate of Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine, the registered trademark of “The Beach Boys.” Brian’s personal worth is estimated to be 75 million and growing. Michael continues to use the trademark in concert tours keeping a net of 15% of all gross receipts, so his worth is growing and is now estimated at 50 million. According to court documents Mike contends that between 1998 and 2005 he made around 55 million in royalities alone. Carl’s estate and Alan come in at an estimated 35 million. Dennis’ estate at around 20 million. Bruce is worth more, but his estate is made up of properties outside the Beach Boys, due to his success with writing songs for other people. So even though only Mike and Bruce are on stage, everyone shares in the income and is therefore still gaining from live events. That’s around 200 million for the group’s members and their survivors.

Usually you can figure that any artist will retain about 10% of the intellectual property rights of their endeavors if involved in commerce, which when extrapolated would place a value of two-billion dollars on that part of all income for the various record companies that have owned the rights to distribution. This is, of course, a projection or supposed value based on a general history of how it all works. Over the last 50 years the Beach Boy brand has had a cyclic ride, sum highs and some lows, so a more realistic projection may be a total more like one-billion dollars for the last 50 years. One billion over a 50-year lifespan is 20 million per year of income from this brand. That may seem a bit too much, but consider that this treasure represents worldwide sales of their entire catalog, plus royalty payments from broadcasts, plus concert income. We’re talking gross here, not after taxes or after expenses. The figures drop considerably when deductions are made.

I have not included Ricky or Blondie in the brand, as they are salaried employees of the corporation. Not being participants in the trademark or having any seat on the BRI board of directors they are as much “Beach Boy” as Tony Asher, Van Dyke Parks or Jack Rieley – sort of the CC” of the authentic group or token visitors from another group, The Flame. Besides, their worth is minor compared to the original group of six. Many of you relate to the brand through CD’s or the Internet and may take issue with my views, but I relate to the brand through LP’s 45’s and live shows featuring the three brothers and three friends of long standing.

This total figure, whatever it is, one could say represents the value that the planet places on the Beach Boy brand. However the Genie isn’t wiping the Beach Boy brand from the entire planet in exchange for a lump sum, rather just one fan – you. So at first, asking for a billion dollars in exchange may seem way out of proportion, but when looking at the overall fifty years of activity, one billion could be warranted. Even if we exclude all the income from concerts tours and performances, over all the years they have sold over 100 million units at an average price of ten bucks each. That is one billion dollars gross.~ swd

An interesting post.

I can imagine some might pick up on this point. :)

The value has to be much much higher in reality. One could argue that a lot of Brian, Al, Carl Dennis and Dave's solo sales and concerts are wracked up on the strength of their association in the public's perception, with The Beach Boys brand.

And it doesn't, of course, even start to take into account re-sales – second-hand values of music and memorabilia on eBay and elsewhere (where one of two here probably spend a billion a year from their personal wealth!).

Then there're T-shirt sales, programme sales, biography sales, poster sales, Brian doll sales, Panini sticker sales… you could probably count sales of albums by members of BW's band, as they're likely boosted simply by association with Brian and therefore, down the line, with The Beach Boys.

I suppose that line of thinking could continue eternally … it's fascinating, and likely incalculable. Could you start to estimate how many jobs The Beach Boys brand helps support, indirectly, in this manner?

If this genie is willing to make me a comparable offer with the "music" of, say, Nicki Minaj, I'd accept $3,000,000 and it'd be a win/win scenario for me. >:D

However, stripping me of the ability to ever hear The Beach Boys again... much as I'd appreciate and enjoy the money and the possibilities it would present, I think I'd have to pass. Part of me can't believe I just wrote that... :o

Did I dream it, or did I read the words "Beach Boy brand" somewhere in this topic? Brand?? Luckily i also read the word "hypothetical". ;=)

COMMENT:   You did read "brand" and it's not hypothetical, it is very real.  The Beach Boy brand covers any and all commercial products that bear the registered trademark "Beach Boys®" That is the proper business term for any trademark used in commerce.  The Beach Boys® or Beach Boys® is a considered a brand. If you are not involved in business it may seem strange, but it is the proper term just as Ford®, Apple® or Coke® are brands.

US GOVERNMENT TRADEMARK RESISTRATION

MARK-----------------   SERIAL NUMBER--------REGISTRATION NUMBER

Beach Boy------------   86053221
The Beach Boys------   85702419---------------44333632
The Beach Boys------   76363052---------------2631628
The Beach Boys------   73059442---------------73059442
Beach Boy------------   86053221
The Beach Boys------   85702419---------------4433632

If you go to the US Government Trademark Office link (below) and click on any of the numbers, it will tell you the date and use of each mark. The site may time-out. If so, click on the blue "trademark" box and then re-enter "Beach Boys" in the query box.

http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4806%3A1y1t8e.1.1&p_search=searchss&p_L=50&BackReference=&p_plural=yes&p_s_PARA1=&p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA1%24LD&expr=PARA1+AND+PARA2&p_s_PARA2=Beach+Boys&p_tagrepl%7E%3A=PARA2%24COMB&p_op_ALL=AND&a_default=search&a_search=Submit+Query&a_search=Submit+Query

The business of music is a business.

~SWD

Wow. That's quite an eye-opener. Thank you, sir. If posting without due consideration gets results like this, i should do it more often. ;=)

.

Oh COOL!  My favorite number !!!  Neat you noticed

RATS !!   My cover is blown!  >:D

It is surprising to read some of the posts here and in the "did radio turn its back on the Beach Boys" thread and get the impression sometimes that folks consider the music business and the radio business and anything related to be other than about the money. Most of what we get as fans of the Beach Boys has been researched, marketed, and delivered as a branded item designed to make money, just like the romanticized notion of radio DJ's spinning records they "believe in" because they want to promote the artist or the music is a notion that comes from Hollywood films. Not that it doesn't happen on some non-network stations or that some old-school AM DJ's wouldn't spin records of their choice, but all of that pretty much ended with corporate FM in the 70's.

Beach Boys = Coca Cola. Simple equation!  :)


I'd still ask that the Genie consider taking requests to silence certain annoying artists and public figures for a fee. My list is a simple one.

I think if you take Mr. Desper's question seriously and practically, there is one aspect that has to affect the answer to some degree, and that is age.

When you are a young or new Beach Boys' fan, and I'm talking serious diehard, you probably wouldn't give up the "experience" for anything. You're enthralled by discovering and purchasing new/old music, you're traveling to every BB-related concert your car will take you to, you're reading every book and article you can find, you're combing through YouTube videos, you're probably a collector to some degree, you are committed to spreading the gospel according to The Beach Boys, and you're spending way too much time on message boards. You are hooked and it's a wonderful thing. It is an unbelievable feeling and "experience". Not to sound too hokey but your life will never be the same. And you probably can't conceive of giving it up...for anything.

But a funny thing happens. You get older. You've accumulated all the music, released and (cough) unreleased. You've listened to the music for decades. You've seen dozens of concerts. You've read all the books. You might even go from buying BB stuff to eventually selling it. You might be burned out on spreading the word. And, maybe you've said everything you wanted to say on the message boards! This might be hard to believe for many fans, again for those who might be new(er) in their Beach Boys' devotion, but you do peak in your fandom. And, while YOU WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND CHERISH THE MUSIC, there is an inevitable fading in your active Beach Boys' experience. I don't know if I'm expressing it properly, and I don't mean to be negative, because I'm not. I'm just trying to give a perspective, one which I have experienced.

Two other things happen with age - both good. First, you expand your musical horizons over time. Think of all the artists/groups you now listen to that you never imagined getting into years ago. It might astound you. They might not "knock" the Beach Boys out of the top spot on your list or in your heart, but they do take up listening time that was once occupied by The Beach Boys. You will always have your love of Beach Boys' music, but, believe it or not, that love will not always be as intense as it was at the peak of your fandom; that's common sense. But, also, you will grow to love other groups that, again, won't quite reach that level of Beach Boys' diehard-ism, but will have a wonderfully positive effect on your musical life.

Finally, many other things will come into your life that take on more important meanings - your wife/husband, your children, your family and friends, births and deaths, health issues, financial concerns, careers and vocations, and other ways of spending your free time. In other words, you go through a lot of changes. It's called living. :-D

Along the way, one thing is certain. Your values will change. Yes, absolutely, you will always love and cherish The Beach Boys' music. You might even play it every day for the rest of your life. But....I'm wondering how and if it (the music) would take precedence over other values, financially speaking, and that is the question proposed in this thread. Mortgage payments, rent, doctor bills, hospital bills, college tuition (for you or your children), charities, church offerings, and just plain old financial security. That's reality for most people. You wake up and, all of a sudden, those things are taking on more importance, and other things are put on the back burner.

When you take EVERYTHING into account - and get older - the answer to Mr. Desper's question isn't as clear cut as you might think. Well, for me anyway. :police:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jTmXHvGZiSY

Sidestepping this question, while agreeing with MDH's statement that "Beach Boys music is priceless!" in the past the hypothetical question I used to ask myself was "If you had to choose between listening to only the music of The Beach Boys or to all other music ever recorded, which would you choose?"  My answer for many years was "I'd choose the music of the Beach Boys and give up all other recorded music." 

Today my answer would be the opposite, not only because I've heard the BBs stuff over and over and over and over, but also because throughout the years I have found more and more music that really appeals to me.  (As Sheriff John Stone said, "Two other things happen with age - both good. First, you expand your musical horizons over time ...") (Although I know a bunch of people whose horizons never expanded much and who mainly just want to listen to the music of their youth.)

The other hypothetical question I would ask myself was "If you had to choose only one single disc album which was originally released as new material (ie, no greatest hits or various artists compilations), and that was all you could ever listen to, which album would you choose?"  My answer to that question has remained the same for over 43 years - Sunflower.

But will you be still be able to hear Sunflower, if you don't make the genie an offer he can't refuse?  ( that takes much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) 
but yeah, you caught me, I'm still listeninbg to the music of my youth.  The only rap I like is Smart Girls

I'm 56 and have been a fan since 1964 (just a wee tyke) and I do well enough that I don't have to have a price to give them up. And while this forum has capped my fandom outwardly, the music still affects me inwardly just as it did when I was becoming a fan. So, as long as I'm not destitute, no amount money is worth giving up one of my main joys in life.

Great topic, Mr. Desper! Like to know you can amuse us too, not only educate.

Good idea, Chad. I'd demand genie to give me $3 billion, & a quarter I'd spend on a shelter formation for stray animals & zoo leftovers. The rest would be for my family, relatives by my own selection as I don't like everyone of them (who would?). That said, w/o the BBs music, even though it would fall into oblivion, my listening experience would be less colorful & magical.

You've just summed me up perfectly! I've been a fan since '88, aged 15, and I'd say I've definitely peaked. Obsessive fandom is, on the whole a youthful pastime

.

I don't listen to this music every day. But I love it and it brings back many memories. If I had gone deaf - irrevocably deaf - then I might accept the genie's offer and I'd ask for perhaps £10 million (I have friends, relatives and charities to consider). But the genie isn't going to make the offer if I'm deaf. So my answer is 'no'. Faustian pacts go wrong. And in a way it matters less to have loads of money as you get older - less time to spend it and fewer expensive pursuits I should think for most people.

I think I'm in this camp. My number would be somewhat higher--maybe $250k?--but as long as the genie's pocketbook is open...

Seriously, while losing the BBs would suck, there is a lot of great music out there. I don't think I'd suffer much.

I'm not interested in the money. But if Mr Genie offered to make me the life and soul of the party rather than the no-life and arse'ole of the party, I'd drop the BBs like a stone. ;=)

A very interesting question. I'd love the money because i could buy a better house and take better care of my family.

I'd still have my own memories, which would be kind of a torture i guess if i could never hear the music again, but i am looking forward to trying to get my young son into the Beach Boys so he can experience what i have experienced.

I'd like to say £1,000,000, but realistically i'd settle for less. Maybe £300,000? I'm not saying i wouldn't be devastated over the loss, but the money would be very helpful in the short-term.

Interesting post.

I would approach this from a business perspective.

In a given year I spend a fair amount of money on BB vinyl, CD's, or concerts.  This year I will probably end up spending about $800 not to mention the $9.99/month on Spotify that I usually listen to BB music anyways.  This year has been abnormal with my stocking up on AP pressings and buying tickets for my parents to go see BW in Atlanta with me. So let's say I spend $400 (plus Spotify) in a given year on average.  So that's $520 in total and let's say that the inflation rate is 2% and that there is declining marginal value in purchasing records and going to concerts (there is only so much to buy!  :lol).  I'll say that it declines at 3 percent a year compounded.

The time and value I get from analyzing vocal arrangements and practicing them, playing the piano and guitar alongside the Keep An Eye on Summer sessions, going on long walks and listening to Wild Honey or Holland, and other emotionally satisfying ways to spend time (such as reading Mr. Desper's posts over and over), I'd value at about $65/hour since I value my leisure at a premium to my wage rate.

There are 8760 hours in a year and let's say 4 hours a day, on average, is BB related.  In a year, derived value from leisure in this case would be $94,900 which would grow on a compound annual basis at 3%. (I hope to make grow my earnings over and above inflation!).

I probably have 65 good more years left and I'll assume a discount rate of 8% per annum. 

That calculates to a present value of $1,192,750.00. 

So you would need to pay me that amount roughly to get me to give them up, financially speaking.

At an emotional level, I'd say it'd take about a million dollars to make me feel that it was worth it so my math more or less is in synch with how I truly value the Beach Boys inwardly (listening to "Please Let Me Wonder" for the 10th time on my walk to hear the beautiful backing vocals) and outwardly (purchases).