dispatches from the new world of work

The Business of Books

Random House is fighting it out with rappers now. It ends up Sean "P. Diddy" Combs was supposed to write his memoir, but never managed to do it and they want their $300,000 advance back.

Combs is not the first musician who failed to meet the deadline for delivery of his life's story. Years ago, Mick Jagger received a seven-figure advance to write his memoirs. He eventually returned the money, saying he couldn't remember anything of significance.

I can't imagine that Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger, who attended The London School of Economics would have a dull memoir, but perhaps he does have a dull memory.

Halley Suitt posted this on 02/15/05.

Comments

Probably has something to do with the alcohol/brain cell connection. ;)

Plus . . . you can't always get what you want!

Posted by Tom Asacker at February 15, 2005 7:19 PM

Forget about the business of books !! Let's talk of the business of blogs..

1) Never change your blog Name. It was "dispatches from the new world of work"
and now I discovered the name changed to "The Tom Peters Weblog ". This moved my aggregator listing from a "D" to a "T"- it took me quite some time to understand what the heck happened to TP.com in my aggregator.

2) Now I have to re-enter my creditials for every comment posting. That sucks !!

..thats my 2cents for business and blogs..now back to this blog posting..

Who cares..about "Sean "P. Diddy" Combs" and "Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger" memoirs?? Is this serious business in terms of WOW'ing the world ???

Seriously Halley ?

Posted by /pd at February 15, 2005 7:31 PM

Thanks for the good comments. Appreciate the aggregator info, I'll look into it.

Meanwhile, I think "serious business" is a tricky term. If you think the business of music -- rock and rap in this case -- is not "serious" I'd ask you to reconsider.

When Dan Pink's terrific new book, A WHOLE NEW MIND, comes out in April, you'll see he makes a great case for America's unique status in the world economy thanks to our artists, musicians, designers, graphic artists and other right-brain thinkers. The businesses which are founded on the artistic gifts of our uniquely creative thinkers and doers will be very serious businesses indeed.

Posted by Halley at February 15, 2005 8:04 PM

Yeah, I'll reconsider when I wear that T-shirt which says "I'm da man --who married Britney Spears !!" --j/kidden :)-

I don't disagree with the "right brain thinkers". Que in play.. do you say that Puff Daddy and Jagger are right brain thinkers ?? The latter, I just may a agree, the former -- I ask in what way ?? Mind you..lets not talk about the east coast vs west coast rap wars !! OK ?? u hear me ??

Posted by /pd at February 15, 2005 8:41 PM

If I were Random House, I would seriously considering giving P.Diddy a killer wireless notebook and renegotiating for Diddy's blogging rights.

/rick

Posted by Rick Kennedy at February 15, 2005 8:51 PM

The Stones are not "serious business"? I suppose neither are The Beatles, etc. Just tell Sir Paul McCartney his business (along with John, George, and Ringo) didn't WOW! the world...

Posted by Lee H. Igel at February 15, 2005 10:15 PM

Why stop at a blog for P.Diddy? Why not force him to hook up webcams throughout his home? Pictures, in this case, would be much more "revealing" than words.

Posted by Fred at February 15, 2005 10:19 PM

I guess when you have as much money as Jaggar or P. Diddy, $300K isn't really an incentive.

Posted by Troy Worman at February 16, 2005 1:03 AM

Drugs, SEX and rock and roll really were/are a marketing scheme - maybe we are weary of le Mick and he knows it.

Actually jennifer lopez is by far the most boring of them all to me.

Posted by John at February 16, 2005 8:13 AM

Halley

For a seven figure advance I could make some memoirs up !! ...just joking!

As a proud English man John Lennon is my hero and Jonh's memoirs would be worth a lot more than a seven figures!

Trevor

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 16, 2005 8:37 AM

Sorry, Peter. We knew we'd get comments, but we had to change the name, since it was an error to begin with, and you'll adjust, as you've indicated you already have. We knew you were smart enough to do so.

I came to these comments specifically to see if anyone had speculated on why Mick's memory was fuzzy. I see you've got that covered, Tom.

And, yes, this is a WOW! topic. Or did you forget that part of Tom's business is books?

Posted by cathy at February 16, 2005 7:50 PM