Jack White OU Concert: Publication of Contract and Guac Recipe Causes Rift Between Performer and Newspaper
ByJack White was not pleased with a certain newspaper publishing his performance contract with the University of Oklahoma (OU), as his booking agency has now blacklisted the school.
The Oklahoma Daily published the contract in full on Sunday, Feb. 1, one day before his scheduled concert at OU's McCasland Field House. White was apparently unhappy enough to address the issue with a one-liner during his concert.
"Just because you can type it on your computer doesn't make it right," he told the crowd, the Daily reported a few days after the show in an article defending their decision.
OU spent $80,000 to bring in White, who Sunday night added two more Grammy Awards to his collection. White has now won 10 Grammys, all with his bands the White Stripes and the Raconteurs and in his solo career.
However, the Daily's publication of White's contract is perfectly normal, even common (the Smoking Gun complied a long list of musicians' contractual requests). They obtained the document, which also included a recipe for guacamole, through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
But White apparently claims to have discussed the FOIA with three editors from the Daily, which the newspaper said was not true. In fact, the newspaper said they tried to get in contact with White and were left hanging.
The Daily also said they agreed completely with White's quip, stating their utmost commitment to journalistic ethics.
"Journalism must hold public figures accountable. By our university paying White and his band $80,000 to play on campus, he is a public figure," the newspaper said in their statement. "Also, the university officials who booked White were public officials tasked with managing money, some of which comes from students' fees. We reported the costs so students could see how their money was being spent, who was spending and on whom it was spent."
As for White's other compensations and requests: he was awarded 100 percent of the CD and DVD merchandise sales and 85 percent of t-shirt sales. White could have taken a deal to give him 90 percent of ticket sales, which could have totaled $140,000+, but he opted instead for the guaranteed $80,000.
OU spend an estimated $40,500 for set-up, catering, security and other concert expenses. In comparison to some other strange and costly pre-show requests, White's were fairly reasonable, as he emphasized a strict ban on bananas and a particular way of preparing guacamole.
For his meal of choice, White wanted a "New York strip steak, prepared medium, no sauce, with clean, steamed vegetables on the side."