View source for ABBAMAIL

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox website
| name             = ABBAMAIL
| favicon          =
| logo             = ABBAMAIL greyscale.svg
| screenshot       = ABBAMAILscreenshot21july2007.jpg
| caption          = Final logo of ABBAMAIL in 2009. <br/> ABBAMAIL's website in 21 July 2007<ref name=abbaemail>{{cite web|author=Graeme Read|url=http://www.abbamail.com/ |title=ABBAMail: The Independent Voice in ABBA Fandom |publisher=ABBAMail.com |date=21 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070721015718/http://www.abbamail.com/ |access-date=2 April 2018|archive-date=21 July 2007 }}</ref>
| url              = http://www.abbamail.com/
| commercial       = Yes
| type             = Musical fan site
| registration     =
| owner            = Whitread Pty. Ltd.
| author           = Graeme Read
| launch_date      = 13 January 1997
| current_status   = Closed 28 October 2008
| revenue          = Mailing List Memberships / Web Shop
}}
'''ABBAMAIL''' was an [[ABBA]] fan organisation on the [[Internet]], based in [[Sydney]], Australia. It was founded by Graeme Read and Grant Whittingham on 13 January 1997. The web site featured monthly columns, regular news updates, and a comprehensive archive including pictures, [[press release]]s and original articles. Revenue for the web site came from a [[subscription]] based [[e-mail list]] and an [[online store]]. It also contained a subscription-free forum and chat room. ABBAMAIL claimed to be one of the popular ABBA fan sites on the web, with over 25,000 unique hits per month. The web site was closed on 28 October 2008.
== Origins ==
The ABBAMAIL e-mail list went live on 13 January 1997 to give ABBA fans an unmoderated voice on the Internet. The [[incumbent]] list at the time, Abba-List, was criticised for not allowing [[freedom of speech]].
Co-founders Graeme Read and Grant Whittingham (previously President and Treasurer of the Australian ABBA Fan Club from 1976 to 1983) brought their combined experience in managing such organisations to the new venture.
Hundreds of people initially joined the list, and within months the web site had been created. In addition to content provided by the founders, much content was provided by the e-mail list members.
== Conventions ==
ABBAMAIL was responsible for bringing fans together, both via the e-mail list and web site and via [[fan convention]]s held in Australia. The usual format of an ABBAMAIL convention was a welcome, followed by merchandise sales, rare or topical video presentations, a break for lunch, a guest speaker with question and answer sessions, followed by dinner and an ABBA [[disco]].
The following conventions were held by ABBAMAIL in [[Sydney]] -
'''Australian Tour: 20 Year Celebration''' – March 1997. Special Guest – Annie Wright, who was an employee of [[RCA]] in the 1970s and accompanied the group on their Australian tour.
'''Women of ABBA''' – June 1997.
'''Summer Night City''' – November 1998.
'''The ABBA Generation''' – November 1999. Special Guest – Shelley Benson, who was Abba's promotional manager at [[RCA]] in the 1970s. According to ABBAMAIL founders, the event was inspired by Gabriel Zubowski, an ABBA fan from Poland.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20001007062609/http://www.abbamail.com/credits.htm / Archive.org saved version of the convention's webpage</ref>
'''CMP Down Under''' – September 2001. Special Guest – ABBA historian and author, [[Carl Magnus Palm]].
'''MAD 05''' – September 2005.
== The ABBAMAIL Effect ==
Through its ability to focus comments from a large number of ABBA fans into one forum, ABBAMAIL impacted parts of ABBA's music production, such as [[PolyGram]] and [[Universal Music]] re-releasing CDs in a corrected form.  In 1997, all eight studio albums were [[remastered]] and re-released. [[Audiophile]]s among the fan group immediately noticed errors and problems with this mastering and discussed being disappointed by the quality of the covers. The original negatives were sourced for the cover art, resulting in the first clear covers since CDs had been released.
ABBAMAIL was also asked for assistance in locating additional material for the ABBA – In Concert DVD and the [[ABBA: The Movie]] DVD release. In his book, "Bright Lights, Dark Shadows – The Real Story of ABBA", author [[Carl Magnus Palm]] thanks the ABBAMAIL list along with many individual ABBAMAIL members who assisted him with his work.
Fans on the list connected initially via the e-mail list. These personal friendships have resulted in people travelling around the world in order to meet face to face.
== Controversy ==
In May 2006, ABBAMAIL were threatened with [[legal action]] by MIPI (Music Industry Piracy Investigations) working on behalf of [[Universal Music]]. ABBAMAIL had offered [[bootleg recording]]s of non-commercially available television appearances and home-recorded live concerts on CD. According to ABBAMAIL, Universal Music had known about this for several years and previously chose not to take any action.
Initially, they demanded all items in the web shop containing the ABBA logo to be removed from sale. This was completed. A new demand was issued demanding names and addresses of all ABBA fans who had purchased material from the site. This was not completed.
A campaign was begun with ABBAMAIL supporters e-mailing the record company and the group's representatives to protest the action.  As of 15 September 2006, the legal action was complete at a cost of over A$4,000 in legal fees. MIPI advised they were happy with the compliance with their demands and no further action was pending.<ref>[http://www.onlinefandom.com/archives/universal-drops-suit-against-abbamail/ Universal drops suit against ABBAMAIL]</ref>
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.abbamail.com/ ABBAMAIL]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/08/11/1154803074288.html Abba fans cry SOS – newspaper article on legal action]
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[[Category:Organizations established in 1997]]
[[Category:ABBA]]
[[Category:Music fan clubs]]