How Oasis Saved Their Bank Account With Autographs

Oasis once offered a FULL REFUND to fans, after a very publicly hyped up hometown gig ran into some very public (and genuinely frustrating) technical difficulties. 

It was 2009. The show was at Heaton Park. As happens with outdoor venues sometimes, they had an issue with electricity and there was no easy or immediate fix. The band had to call the gig cancelled on the spot. Everybody was upset so Noel called it a “free gig” and said everyone with a ticket could get a refund.

The problem with the refund offer, which was done off the cuff, was… it turned out to be crazy expensive. They had a lot of money to pay back (especially considering concerts have lots of expenses besides what you pocket and this show basically had every cost without a final performance). This was going to hurt.

And yet, as Oasis always seems to do, the brothers turned their bad news into something else (which, this time, at least makes for a great story and business lesson).

Looking at the books, the band found themselves on the hook for about 1 million pounds, divided up across about 20,000 people, which in Oasis speak, were referred to by Noel as “cheeky c****” (seeing as nobody was really expected to demand that refund).

Understanding that they ethically wanted to offer them the money, but also aware that doing so would more than drain their bank account, they got creative. 

The Gallagher brothers got out the check book, personally signed 20,000 individual checks, and sent them out. 

Now, ask yourself this question: would you rather have a signed autograph from an artist you presumably like enough to pay to see perform,

OR -

the 45 quid the check with said autograph on it is worth?

You’re probably not surprised to learn that most of the checks went uncashed and Oasis’ bank account was saved.

For every novel problem, there’s multiple creative solutions.

Give the people something they really want.

Value isn’t always about money.

ps. read the whole story in The Guardian here. They have the check image too. The stacked signatures on the line are adorable.