Mar
4
Spanish Indies Are Preparing to Take the Gov’t to Court on Charges of Piracy Negligence
Filed Under Distributor News, Industry News, Music Retail News, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Due to the “massive free downloading” over the past few years, many Spanish indie labels and distribution sectors are preparing to take the government to court on charges of negligence, and demand compensation for the damage done by piracy to the indie sector. The labels - which all belong to 46-member indie label association UFI or its equivalent in Catalonia, Apecat - gave the government until mid-March of 2010 to respond.
A spokesperson for the culture ministry pointed out that the inter-ministerial commission proposal to block or shut Web sites has been adopted. But the labels say that shutting websites will not solve the problem. If they close down one website, lots of other websites could sprout somewhere else.
“The measure would not resolve the most relevant problem, which is the actual impossibility of us taking civil action against those final users who appropriate music without paying, and systematically violate intellectual property rights,” says Gerardo Carton, director of PIAS Records Spain and spokesman for the 20 or so labels.
It is estimated that the number of stores and other establishments connected to the music industry that have closed in recent years tops 800 in Spain.Carton and UFI quote Promusicae figures, which show that in 2008 there were some 2 billion illegal music downloads in Spain, compared to just 20 million legal downloads.
It’s about time the government does something drastic in saving the music industry before it becomes extinct.
Aug
30
World’s Fair Label Group Closes
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Label Services Group World’s Fair has folded, president and CEO Kevin Wortis confirms to Billboard. The demise of the organization comes as something of a surprise; just yesterday, World’s Fair sent an email promoting the premiere of the new Lyrics Born video to writers.
World’s Fair Label Group is a full-service, worldwide record label administration company. In operation since 2004, World’s Fair Label Group provides complete administration services to independent labels, and directly to artists for self-releases.World’s Fair worked with labels such as Daptone, Nat Geo Music, and Quannum. They worked with artists such as Dizzee Rascal, British Sea Power, and Pela.
Aug
23
New eBay Rules Affect Indies
Filed Under Distributor News, Industry News, Music Retail News | Leave a Comment
Indie retailers will face another massive hurdle this September when eBay introduces a rule that means they will have to double the advertised price of many of the records they sell. Ebay has a new rule which means sellers are expected to absorb the price of domestic postage costs in to the starting price of CDs or records being sold is expected to cause widespread hardship and chaos for hundreds of Indies trying to offload old stock through bulk deals and those that have a sideline in second-hand product. Some are expected to close.
Proper Distribution indie sales manager and retail expert Graham Jones said “Every indie uses eBay, it’s a fantastic way of clearing out old stock, so this isn’t good. If sellers have to add a typical £3.20 postage charge to their upfront price it will make their stock look far less attractive.”
Read the full article here.
Jul
30
Portugal.The Man’s fourth album, The Satanic Satanist’s packaging features the band guitarist Gourley’s trademark surreal, psychedelic-era drawings. Gourley wanted to make an album package without the plastic so he and designer Austin came up with a colorful Origami-like cut-outs made of paper.
What is more amazing is that they’re doing it completely on their own - no help from any major record label to supply big budgets for high-end graphic designers. Now wouldn’t it be wonderful if we stop using our lack of resources as an excuse for our lack of imagination?
