Sad Sony stiffs Dylan fans

SONY IS ASKING Bob Dylan fans to vote on a specially-created website for songs to be included on a forthcoming collection of the great man's works.

In a press release, the music giant says:

“Song selection for this comprehensive set is still being determined, and will be greatly influenced by impassioned fan lobbying on website dylan07.com. This site -- which went live in February for fans to share thoughts on Bob Dylan's music, swap stories about first hearing the artist's songs and seeing him in concert, and more -- has been updated today with the DYLAN artwork, a promotional trailer for the album, as well as the ability for fans to vote on the DYLAN track listing.”

Considering that the first of many Dylan retrospective collections was issued four decades ago, this has got to be the most desperate, grasping use of the web for a commercial promotion yet. And it gets worse.

“Visitors to dylan07.com will also find details on a forthcoming online photo exhibit in which notable fans from the worlds of music, film, art and fashion will contribute images inspired by Bob Dylan. Fans will be able to contribute images as well, and a winner will be chosen by one of the celebrity photographers to receive a Sony Alpha digital camera and have his or her image included in the exhibit.”

Yeah, and maybe you could get “fans” to put discs in the cases, drive them to stores for you and upload their credit-card details so any future milking can be done automatically?

But let's be fair to Sony. There is a deluxe edition with cloth-covered case and “limited edition postcards”.

However, Dylan's fans seem to be setting up a protest movement of their own. Over at Dylan Pool, a site for obsessive cases, there is already talk of how the poll could be rigged amid fruity remarks on the ethics of the release.

Says one poster: “It's getting like Elvis.” µ