JKR Backlash ... was JKR on MSNBC "...of the Year" poll

[alyeskakc]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "harpdreamer" <pbnesbit at m...> wrote:

> 
> (Snip) 
> Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure Joanne has that 
> much say-so over merchandise or marketing.  I think that's all WBs 
> doing.

I was watching People's 25 most intriguing people Tuesday night, one 
of whom was JKR. Anyway in the segment they said she has pretty much 
total control over merchandising and/or marketing of all things 
Potter, including final say over the WB. They also said she will more 
than likely become the first billionare author, she already has more 
money than the Queen.


--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "dracos_boyfriend" 
<dracos_boyfriend at y...> wrote:

> > I'd genuinely like to know what you guys think of the marketing 
> hype, and JK herself at this point in time.  Do you agree that 
there's potential for a backlash, or not?  If not, why not?  Are 
people in the fandom beginning to get bored with Harry?  Are we 
suffering from burn-out?


I can see a huge potential for backlash on several fronts. People are 
getting restless for OoP to come out and the further she keeps 
pushing that back, the worse things in the fandom are going to get 
I'm afraid.  I think we're already starting to see some 
manifestations of this in the fandom now. People are getting bored 
with the same old subjects rehash and they're starting to get a bit 
cross with each other, especially in the ship wars.

The marketing hype could come back to bite her as well. The more she 
falls into the "Lockhart Zone" and doesn't work on the next three 
books, then the more irratated the fandom will become and conceivably 
decide not to read the remaining books out of spite.  As much as I 
enjoyed the movie and everyone in it, I wish now that she would have 
waited until at least the 5th (if not 6th) book was out before taking 
on a movie deal. 

Another worry is how will all this pubilcity and attention effect the 
remaining story? Will she stay true to the orginal story arc or will 
she start to drift to some marketing focus group mold from hell? 
After all this is a franchise now and certain perceptions must be 
maintained. HP has the potential to be just as big and maybe bigger 
than Star Wars, but the marketing has to be strictly controlled and 
regulated. Lucas has this down to a fine art, which is why the SW 
franchise has endured for almost 25 years and counting.  Hopefully 
we'll be talking about HP for at least that long as well.

Cheers,
Kristin