Linkin Park takes on WMG
p2pnet.net News:- Edgar Bronfman jr`s hopes of becoming the Music Man through the Warner Music Group appear to be diminishing fast in the wake of Linkin Park`s public statement that it`s had it with Warner Music.
The nu metal band, which dropped out of p2pnet`s Music File Share Top Ten this week, has angrily denounced Warner, claiming the Big Four record label cartel member was fleecing it.
Now, WMG`s, impending $2.6 billion (£1.4 billion) flotation has been thrown off course by accusations from one of the label`s biggest artists that record bosses have taken `massive rewards` at the expense of musicians, says The Times.
Of course, this kind of accusation against the cartel members, singly or together, is nothing new. They`ve been ripping artists off forever and exactly a year ago were ordered by New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer to pay $50 million in back royalties.
And singer Joni Mitchell once likened the corporate music business to a “cesspool“.
Of the planned $750 million raised by an IPO, “only about $7 million will be put toward the company’s own operations, with no money going to WMG artists,” said Linkin Park in a statement slugged Linkin Park Opposes Fleecing of Warner Music, Demands Immediate Release.
The band says it’s been responsible for about 10% of Warner Music’s record sales but, “After reading numerous and daily articles about how WMG executives and corporate raiders have ridden the coattails of the creative community to extract massive rewards, Linkin Park has become increasingly offended and discouraged,” it says.
The Big Music cartel depends on two things – bands and fans, but it has no respect for either.
It’s also treating its customers like garbage, trying to sue them into buying over-priced dross.
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See:-
fleecing it – Linkin Park hates WMG, p2pnet, May 2, 2005
The Times – Warner Music flotation hit by lack of harmony from artists, May 4, 2005
ripping artists off – Big Music and royalties, p2pnet, September 8, 2004
$50 million – Return $50M, record labels told, p2pnet, May 4, 2004
cesspool – File sharing, p2p criminals, p2pnet, March 12, 2005
May 4th, 2005 at 6:10 pm
HAHAHA take that you stupid RIAA!!
Go Linkin Park! GO!
May 5th, 2005 at 2:12 am
“It’s also treating its customers like garbage, trying to sue them into buying over-priced dross.”
Actually, it sues them for aquiring a product they obviously want, dross or not. If people are stupid enough to want the crap being peddled – well – they should pay for it.
In downloading what we’ve been told is good by a massive PR engine (and not a creative one, just one that has a crushing monopoly, great power and very little respect for the -potential- for intelligence and diversity in consumers’ tastes), people extend the myth that the cartel’s are providing a product worth ‘ripping off’.
The solution is simple: boycott commercial FM, go to an independent record store, discover that other people besides Nelly, Linkin Park, Jessica Simpson and some country hicks have been releasing music.
Or even better; go to http://www.bleep.com (Warp Record’s and affiliates digital download site) and buy Autechre’s back catalouge in FLAC format. Gotta start somewhere.
May 5th, 2005 at 10:49 am
whats this got to do with the riaa?
nothing..
what you should be questioning is why wmg only made 38m on sales of 1billion
what you should be questioning is why wmg was sold to investers whose only interest was obviously flogging it on a few years later for a profit
and yes it is a contract renegiotaion ploy, though linkin park still have to deliver 4 albums on a contract that they were quite happy to sign before they became famous (which by the way all artists now use the best music lawayers, so they can hardly complain now)
they should do what all other bands do in this situation, give them a couple of live albums, a b-sides album and a best of and then thats the 4 albums delivered – then go and live in the real world
(i am a linkin park fan btw and an ex major label employee)
May 5th, 2005 at 11:03 am
totally agree, its like people who complain about “naughty” stuff on tv, switch the channel, use the off button etc
theres a ton of music out there, go find it and dont moan – if you dont want the majors earning big bucks (which they dont anyway) dont give them your money
its not hard