The proposed solution came in a Patreon-run online membership system where people can pay for monthly subscription in four different tiers, and get exclusive content and special access to tickets, merch and most of the band’s activities. The so called Sleeps Society seemed like an interesting idea but surely had lots of doubters and critics. Now, two weeks later, the Sheffield crew have shared an exclusive update of the phenomenal response and initial support from their fans that have ralied and more than smashed the 500-subscribers target to reach a staggering 2190 members and counting.

The initial reception of the track, and the feedback of While She Sleeps’ sustainable business model have been overwhelmingly positive across all social media channels and media outlets. Some of the most popular YouTube reaction channels such as Nik Nocturnal, Hard Core, METALBIRB and Hoopsick have immediately jumped on board and supported the cause, alongside many of the of the leading metal bands in the UK. As seen in the above video desctiption, While She Sleeps are truly grateful to all of the support and promised that “content within the Society is coming in full force and [they] haven’t even scratched the surface yet!“.

The last couple of weeks have more than exceeded any of the band members’ expectations and are already proving to be hugely beneficial. As it is, getting the 2000+ subscribers have helped While She Sleeps hire in some of their touring crew which in itself is a phenomenal progress considering the difficult situatuon all workers in the live entertainment indsutry are finding themselves in the COVID-19 crisis, especially with a second nation-wide lockdown on the line. The fans’ support also goes towards the recording and production of the band’s new record, with bits of the process being available to members of the their Patreon Society.

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The first vocal tutorial series is dropping tonight at 6 in the Sleeps Society! Stoked for you guys to see this one!

Публикация, споделена от WHILE SHE SLEEPS (@whileshesleeps) на Окт 28, 2020 в 8:00 PDT

So far, members of the Sleeps Society have received loads of special perks including warm-up lessons and vocal tutorials from singer Lawrence Taylor, exclusive peak at new tracks, teasers for the new album, podcast and upcoming merch. There is also a Discord community set up within the membership where fans share instrumental covers, art ideas, photos or simply hang out with fellow like-minded people.

The official Sleeps Society Patreon membership starts from £4.99 for Support member and carry on with £7.99 for Defiance member, £19.99 for limited Mutiny member with only 6 remaining at present. Incredibly, the £59.99 top level Revolution Membership has already sold out – a clear evidence that the system works and fans should not be underestimated.

Moreover, most of the early bird tickets were purchased upon their release, and in some cases shows from While She Sleeps’ 2021 tour dates have completely sold out, forcing more events to be added. As it is, the band is playing three shows at The Key Club in Leeds, and another three in Camden’s Underworld due to popular demand, some of these exclusive for members of the Sleeps Society.

All dates for While She Sleeps UK shows can be seen below, with tickets available here:
02/05/2021 – Stereo – Glasgow
03/05 – Stereo – Glasgow
06/05 – O2 Academy – Leicester
07/05 – Asylum – Birmingham
08/05 – Hobos – Bridgend
09/05 – Hobos – Bridgend
12/05 – The Key – Leeds
13/05 – The Key – Leeds
14/05 – The Key – Leeds
17/05 – Underworld – London
18/05 – Underworld – London
19/05 – Underworld – London
23/05 – Chalk – Brighton

‘Sleeps Society‘ openly criticises the global music industry with its long introduction outlining the main issues with its current state, hierarchy and distribution of wealth, and sharing a new concept centred around bands’ sustainable self-management through online platforms such as Patreon. The song goes on to glorify While She Sleeps’ own fans, well known for their dedication and passion, and supporters of music in general who are the main reason bands do what they do. The composition and production of the track offers a brilliant foundation of its message with fast bouncy riffs, groovy rhythm and unifying lyrics focused on creating “a system where the people exist“.

The response for the track has been overwhelmingly positive so far with fans sharing their love and support for the band, their idea and the song itself all over social media. When the singer Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor shouted “welcome to the guilty party” back in January 2019, noone could predict the global pandemic will send the music industry in downward spiral that would eventually lead to the sobering growl “welcome to sleeps society” from yesterday. The COVID crisis and recent developments put aside, the band challenges the status quo and joins the long list of acts inspired to create a better future for themselves and their fellow musicians with their followers at the heart of everything.

Speaking from personal experience, While She Sleeps throw shade at an industry where 5000 online streams generate no more than £20 for the band, and 14 year are often not sufficient to turn music into an actual career with steady income. While openly acknowledging the huge positive impact of streaming platforms, publishers and labels, the band offers an alternative where fans have all the power to support the bands they love. Without being a revolutionary concept, establishing The Sleeps Society and turning the tables around immediately makes While She Sleeps one of the first bands from the UK to offer a solution and switch to audience support systems.

Not surprisingly, the support video opens with Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement that has prompted an angry response from almost every UK artist and band in the past few weeks. With the uncertain state of the industry, alongside the openly criticised streaming monetisation system and the potential live events restrictions running into mid-2021, While She Sleeps have reacted accordingly and adapted to the new way of life, hopeful to pave the way to other bands and inspire a generation of likeminded artists willing to break the conractual restraints, all of this backed up with the killer metalcore banger ‘Sleeps Society‘ worthy of the WSS brand.

The Patreon-based Sleeps Society offers members four different tiers (Support, Defiance, Mutiny and Revolution) with monthly fees ranging from £4.99 all the way to premium £59.99. The benefits for all tiers vary but most of the packages offer a “too good to be true” value to a membership that starts from as little as two coffees. While She Sleeps are promising to pay their fans back with exclusive content and updates, music tutiorials and track run-throughs, early ticket and merch access, members only events and secret shows, live stream writing and recording sessions and even mental health guidance and support groups.

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Sleeps Society guitar run through will be available from the Defiance tier and higher from 6pm this evening!

Публикация, споделена от WHILE SHE SLEEPS (@whileshesleeps) на Окт 16, 2020 в 7:03 PDT