Post by valerie davenport on Jul 31, 2007 6:59:29 GMT -5
Queen star Brian May has criticised the use of TV talent contests to promote West End shows.
The guitarist claimed that it is "insane and incredible" that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was able to give free publicity to The Sound of Music and Joseph on his BBC reality shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do.
"Both gained disproportionate advances, primarily because they had weeks of free advertising on TV," Brian explained. "It's insane and incredible that the BBC didn't get paid for it."
May added that Queen musical We Will Rock You has been incredibly successful due to its high quality, rather than as a result of TV promotion.
"We are still rocking at the Dominion Theatre, primarily because people love We Will Rock You and come back with their friends for a good night out," he said. "Word of mouth, in the end, is the only real judge of what is valuable."
The guitarist claimed that it is "insane and incredible" that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was able to give free publicity to The Sound of Music and Joseph on his BBC reality shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do.
"Both gained disproportionate advances, primarily because they had weeks of free advertising on TV," Brian explained. "It's insane and incredible that the BBC didn't get paid for it."
May added that Queen musical We Will Rock You has been incredibly successful due to its high quality, rather than as a result of TV promotion.
"We are still rocking at the Dominion Theatre, primarily because people love We Will Rock You and come back with their friends for a good night out," he said. "Word of mouth, in the end, is the only real judge of what is valuable."
