p2pnet talks to Nettwerk Music
p2p news / p2pnet: Canada’s Nettwerk Music Group, based in Vancouver on the British Columbia mainland, manages some of North America�s best-known artists, including Sarah McLachlan and Avril Lavigne. It’s also a member of the Big Four record label cartel’s RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
But that doesn’t mean the man who runs it, Terry McBride, is a fool. To the contrary, in fact, and like p2pnet, based on Vancouver Island in BC, he’s doing his best to help an American family which is being pilloried by the RIAA.
In August, 2005, the RIAA, subpoenaed David Greubel for alleged file sharing, accusing him of having 600 suspect music files on the family computer, but targeting only nine specific songs.
Nettwerk got into it when 15 year-old Elisa Greubel contacted MC Lars, a Nettwerk artist, to say she identified with ‘Download This Song,’ a track from MC Lars’ latest release.
“My family is one of many seemingly randomly chosen families to be sued by the RIAA,” Emily emailed MC Lars. “No fun. You can’t fight them, trying could possibly cost us millions.
“The line ‘they sue little kids downloading hit songs’, basically sums a lot of the whole thing up.”
But, “Suing music fans isn’t the solution, it’s the problem,” says McBride.
He answered a few questions for p2pnet during which he said although he’s behind the Greubels, “it’s not about winning the case: it’s about stopping all the litigation. Period. That’s my focus.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
p2pnet: How far are you willing to go with this?
McBride: As far as we need to in order to save the music business from itself.
p2pnet: Have you had any feedback from any of the artists you represent other than MC Lars?
McBride: Yes … all supportive. All have gotten behind this.
p2pnet: Bob Lefsetz says, ” Nettwerk manages such international superstars as Sarah McLachlan, Avri Lavigne and Dido. Along with middle tier acts like the aforementioned Barenaked Ladies, Sum 41 and Jars of Clay. And DEVELOPING acts like Brand New. Isn’t this JUST the kind of guy who should be lining up behind Mitch Bainwol and the RIAA?
McBride: Why? …. we’re members of the RIAA, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t disagree with them, which on this subject I do
Lefsetz …… I mean Terry McBride is IN BED with the major labels. Doesn’t Nettwerk function as the A&R for Sony BMG in Canada now??
McBride: Yes. We have and A&R deal to help Artists who want to be on a major label.
p2pnet: Lefsetz also says, “But Terry McBride is drawing the line. Because Terry McBride knows it’s about fans, and careers, and what the RIAA is doing is eviscerating both. The fans are the present and the future … it’s been that way for decades, as has the sharing of music, its essential to the fabric.” Is that how it is?
McBride: We love what we do. We’re creative people with infinite imaginations. Litigation is destructive and has no place in the world.
p2pnet: Have any other production company people said they’d do the same as you?
McBride: Martin Mills from Beggar’s in the UK.
p2pnet: What’s your personal feeling about p2p, file sharing and the online music scene?
McBride: I think p2p should be a vibrant part of the on-line music scene, not bastardized.
p2pnet: Do you agree that $1 and up is a fair price for a download?
McBride: No higher than $1.
p2pnet: How do you think the labels should be dealing with Elisa and others like her?
McBride: The Labels should stop these actions.
p2pnet: Do you have a message for Mitch Bainwol and his colleagues?
McBride: Yes. Stop litigating. You’re ruining my artists’ futures.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Nettwerk Music is where I get my music “fix” right now, but I’m easy to please.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:16 pm
It’s nice to see a sane Big Music CEO for once. I never thought I’d say this about anything or anyone related to the RIAA/IFPI, MPA(A) or BSA, but I like this guy. He’s obviously an intelligent and fair person.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
How many other music industry executives would even be eligable?
February 15th, 2006 at 12:10 am
I really respect someone who’s willing to speak out against something that they would be pressured to fall in line with. The one thing Mr. McBride doesn’t give us are nice answers to these questions. They seem very curt, however I’m probably just splitting hairs
February 15th, 2006 at 12:37 am
BearShare
February 15th, 2006 at 3:50 am
Well at least this Mr. McBride put’s his money where his month is!!!!!! Got to respect someone who fight’s for what he believes in!!
February 15th, 2006 at 6:03 am
Sounds like a good cop/bad cop routine to me. If they are serious about their opinion they should disown the RIAA publicly.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:48 am
Spammer.
February 15th, 2006 at 8:41 am
McBride [to RIAA]: Stop litigating. You’re ruining my artists’ futures.
You don’t think that’s good enough? We need guys on the inside to screw the RIAA up internally!
Terry McBride is demonstrating right now that there ARE good people within the RIAA organization and if anything is showing how corrupt it has become by doing things that are DAMAGING to the people they are supposed to represent.
February 15th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
“Spammer.”
<——– Look here.
Don’t be such a scardy cat. :-p
Personally I prefer uTorrent and Shareaza as my two favorites, but to each their own I guess.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
My 13 (at the time)year old daughter downloaded kazaa and
through that downloaded 604 songs.She assured me it was a
free thing free cost me 4500.00 I tried through an atty. freind
of mine to settle for $1 per song The RIAA said they don’t
negociate any settlement they want their money,I was
extorted out of 4500.00.I have 4 children and buying any kind
of music from these monsters is off limits in my household
I am going to treat buying music like Baseball treats Pete
Rose lifetime ban.It’s sad because we all love music but I
have a sour taste in my mouth after being threatened then
sued by the monsters of music.I wish all parents good luck
getting through this.
Later,Spider