Speaking on motzei Shabbos with Menachem Tucker of Galei Yisrael Radio, Mordechai Ben David announced that his career is not over and despite signaling the last CD would be his final production.
When asked about the sales of this disc, which MBD says is “mamash chassidi”, he explains that Baruch Hashem is selling well, adding in Chassidish areas like Boro Park, Monsey and others the disc is being sold in big numbers. He explained that for him, this is a message that in “chassidish areas, they don’t steal the songs but purchase CDs legally”.
He adds that if this continues he may head further “to the right” to even more chassidish since it appears this will be a marketable album, something he can sell for profit, whereas other albums, those purchased by the general public, the tzibur burns them illegally, without permission, and as such it simply is not cost effective to produce CDs.
MBD explained the reason he announced that he plans to stop producing CDs is that too many people download and copy it illegally and one cannot profit from the industry. This disc however shows him that in the chassidish sector this is not the case and it may compel him to produce another CD in the future if Moshiach does not come first.
When asked to comment on the situation in Eretz Yisrael, MBD quoted the late Satmar Rebbe Rav Yolish M’Satmar ZT”L, “that the time will come when a chareidi Jew will not be able to live in Eretz Yisrael”.
The scoop of the interview is that MBD is planning to move to Eretz Yisrael and his home is under construction, apparently at the site of the former Tnuva plant near Kiryat Belz in Yerushalayim.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
11 Responses
If the Satmer Rebbe WAS right “That a chareidi Jew will not be able to live in Eretz Yisrael” how is MBD moving to Israel?
May be that the Satmar Rebbe knew that his followers will one day make such a big Chilul Hashem and create hate amongst Israeli’s(Frum and non Frum)against Chareidim.
If not Satmer financially supporting those extremists the damage and hate would be much less.
To MBD: I’m ahuge fan of your music but the best idea for you would be to stay there. It’s chutzpah to say Richilus on litvaks, have you maybe just considered the broader audience that this last cd appeals to litvaks chassidim from all backrounds and ages, on the other hand your other were not listened to by the general chassidish communities. It was also not listened to by the older generations due to its modern music on the other hand was this that kissifim is an older style.
P.S. MBD you owe your fans an apology in public. Thanx
#2- Are you saying that he’s wrong? More Chassidim don’t have MP3 players or even computers, so the idea of copying and stealing doesn’t even occur to them. On the other hand, I think I have more friends who copy illegally than friends who have actually bought. We don’t like to hear it, but you can’t deny that it’s true, and he’s right- why make albums if you can’t make money off of them?
MBD whose tapes were just about the only ones I listed to from about 1976 till 1990, is totally off base. To claim that in ‘chasidishe’ areas like Monsey & Borough Park they don’t copy CDs tells me that MBD has had one too many before his concerts. The reason he hasn’t done as well with his CDs is because his songs went in der erd in the mid to late 90s when he got boring. He also ran up to stiff competition from the new younger voices as well as the boys choirs.
It hurts to say it but its time for the former great one to finally retire.
He explained that for him, this is a message that in “chassidish areas, they don’t steal the songs but purchase CDs legally”.
GOODBYE MBD, anyone looking to buy old CDs (that were bought legally in Eichlers), selling them for a discount to the Chassidisha community. In this way I can then buy MARVELOUS MIDDOS #4 and have them make a profit.
Chill it fellas! he didn’t name any group or name whom he’s blaming for copying & burning, he just named those whom he realized they absolutely don’t, hope nobody is offended by this.
To: HeimesherYid.
The Satmar Rebbe z”l never advocated for violence, go learn his seforim (V’yoel Moshe, Divrei Yoel and others)or listen to the thousand’s of hours of tapes and tel me if he ever writes or says that one should throw stones or burn trash etc
“those whom he realized they absolutely don’t”, complete motzi shem rah.
Sometimes its hard for someone to realize that their time is up and retirement is an option so instead blame the lack of funds of ‘illegal copying and downloading’. BTW there are forms of downloading that are 100% legal.
MBD:
I loved your last album to pieces, אדרבה! go ahead and provide more like this!
And regarding the quote of Satmar Rabbi, I’m realy proud that you had the guts to say that, while we all know you don’t belong to Satmar, and still you were honest enough and brave to say the truth that we all know in heart.
Moderators Response: Please be honest “we all know in heart”… you should be honest… you mean “we” as in “266 KEAP STREET”.
” MBD: I loved your last album to pieces,אדרבה !”
Sorry Yossi but אדרבה was an Avrohom Fried album… ☺
Seriously, to me MBD has always had the ‘middas’ touch my whole life from a young boy thru yeshiva, kolel and working life, as in everything he touched was pure gold for me. But this last album, in my opinion, is boring besides for a few songs. Its not the style of album that I buy. I know many litvisher people who sold their cds on cause they did not like it.
MBD – do not make another album like this! Sales will be embarrassingly fewer than Kissufim. I and many others will not touch it!
Hatzlocha in your future!
What I wrote above is only in regard to personal use.