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Some Frequently Asked Questions about Detroit's Spring Music Festivals:How much money does the Metro Times make on its annual Blowout event? How much Blowout revenue is actually donated to charity? Is the Blowout one of the Metro Times' top money making events? How many other alternative newsweeklies generate revenue by staging an event where artists are expected to play for free? Why would artists choose to play for free at an event designed to generate revenue for a commercial entity? Would the Metro Times be interested in any alternate means of raising extra revenue? (Perhaps Detroit musicians could sell peanut brittle door to door, or maybe Detroit musicians could stage a series of Saturday afternoon car washes in the parking lot across from Paycheck's.) Are certain bands paid to appear at the Blowout? If so, is this made public? Can a commercial entity that generates income via ad dollars really be considered a proper benificiary of charity? Are there any other charities in the Detroit area who might be in greater need of charitable assistance than the Metro Times? |
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The Festival Formerly Known as MXMW was founded by a group of Detroit musicians, club owners, promoters and fans who felt a growing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Metro Times chooses to handle its Blowout event. Some of these musicians felt that the Detroit Music Awards (the Blowout's sole charity beneficiary up until 2002) was an archaic institution, out of touch with the real and vital core of Detroit's music community. Others became disillusioned when they realized that the Blowout's prime financial beneficiary was the Metro Times itself, a commercial entity that garners revenue through the weekly sale of advertisements. In 2001, The Festival Soon to be Known as Something Other Than MXMW donated nearly four thousand dollars to HAVEN, an organization that provides shelter and assistance to abused women in Southeast Michigan.
Because of its homegrown roots, and because so many associated businesses generously donate their services to make the event a reality, The Festival Formerly Known as MXMW has almost no overhead. And because The Fest That Currently Has No Name but Was Once Called MXMW makes its receipt numbers available to everyone, both artists and audiences can see exactly where their money goes.
The 2002 event benefited Gleaners and the Food Bank of Oakland County; both organizations do extraordinary work in and around the Detroit area feeding homeless and low-income citizens.
The 2002 event was hosted by the Majestic Theater, the Lager House, the Old Miami and the Motor City Brewing Works.
The Charities
MXMW is proud to announce that 2002's charities will be Gleaners Community Food Bank and The Food Bank of Oakland County.
Both Gleaners and the Food Bank of Oakland County strive to alleviate hunger by storing and distributing food to local nonprofit agencies and charities that directly feed the poor and hungry. Gleaners serves the entire metro Detroit area, while the Food Bank of Oakland County serves Oakland County.
E-mail: mxmw2@golddollar.com (Please note: this address is subject to change. When it does, we will post notification on this site. So keep your eyes peeled.)
2002 Prices: All-access wristbands - $10 Single-show tickets - $5. Available at the door to each venue on March 8th and 9th.
