Linda Ronstadt - 1977 press - part 13

[Partridge]

Radio and Records, November 25, 1977





Billboard, November 26, 1977





Billboard, November 26, 1977





Billboard, November 26, 1977





Billboard, November 26, 1977





CashBox, November 26, 1977





CashBox, November 26, 1977





CashBox, November 26, 1977





CashBox, November 26, 1977

[erik]

It seems to me that these press clippings bring up an important point about how different things are in 2021 compared to 1977.

Although Linda was clearly the most dominant female artist of any musical genre (but especially rock and country) in 1977, I don't seem to recall her ever being hyped up in the same way by Elektra/Asylum the way that, say, Taylor Swift or Beyoncé are hyped up these days. Her extreme modesty. which was by no means false (though perhaps a bit much to us now), probably had more than a little to do with that. And as we all know, her shyness kept her from ever being particularly flamboyant onstage, which more than a few critics saw as a fault. To those of us who were fans, and especially that part of the fan base that were her peers, however, it was an advantage, because she was who she really was; and that remained true throughout her many musical ventures.

[MokyWI]

Another thing these clipping bring up is her earnings. If you look at the amounts her shows generated and considering the fact that she at most made about a dollar off each album she sold, and that would have been a generous deal, there is no way she was making as much money as some said she was. I am talking net income. After she paid her band and all her career expenses I find it very hard to believe she net nine million in 1979 mostly from album sales like Playboy magazine said she did. Linda herself has said she didn’t earn the amount of money the press said she did.

[Guest list]

In the 70s, especially when Ronstadt became an arena class performer, her " bashfulness" was a potent part of her appeal. She graced numerous magazine covers unlike any other pop star of the era and whether Asylum hyped her or not, she was often speculated about in columns - gossip or otherwise.

Her modesty was not apparently in full force until she grew bored of a Rock Scene she helped create. Did she have a sanctimonious critic here and there? Sure, but if you came of age in the 70s you experienced an acclaim unprecedented for a female singer. Then to turn that pop superstardom into a more serious exploration of music is very important and rare.

The radio stations and record stores promotion of Linda Ronstadt was intense and IMHO well deserved. Thinking some of you came to Linda a bit later and have some revisionist's history.

It was in the 90s when she abandoned "Fame" for family. Fortunately, upon her retirement, the Ronstadt revival began. From the memoir, the documentaries, the honors, her simple being has celebrated her legacy. She really is a special unique songbird.

[RobGNYC]

On Mike's point about earnings, the Playboy interview said: "She is rich (in 1978, she made an estimated $12,000,000)." They didn't specify gross or net but that's probably gross. Warner took over Asylum in 1972 and since Warner was a public company with stockholders, its sales and earnings/annual report would have been available. But I doubt that Playboy would have known (or that Linda or the label would have said) what she took home.

[MokyWI]

RobGNYC well if what Playboy said was correct and they meant gross $12,000,000, after taxes, paying her band, recording expenses, etc I would guess that would take it down to about 6,000,000. That sounds much more realistic if you look at the number of dates she performed on average in a year, her record sales, and other appearances. Not that any of this is any of my business, to begin with. She was said to be the highest-paid female performer for a time back then.

[RobGNYC]

Feb 2, 2021 15:14:52 GMT -5 MokyWI said:

RobGNYC well if what Playboy said was correct and they meant gross $12,000,000, after taxes, paying her band, recording expenses, etc I would guess that would take it down to about 6,000,000. That sounds much more realistic if you look at the number of dates she performed on average in a year, her record sales, and other appearances. Not that any of this is any of my business, to begin with. She was said to be the highest-paid female performer for a time back then.

In Streisand's 1977 Playboy interview, she was asked if she was the highest-paid performer in the business and she said (paraphrasing--Playboy won't allow the interview on any Barbra sites) "maybe, if I did concerts." So with record sales and so many concerts, Linda very well could have been the highest-paid.