Back in 2002, a butler to the British royal family, Paul Burrell, was charged with stealing a number of Princess Diana’s possessions. The case came to court, but was dropped a few days later...
READ MORE...
“We’ll withdraw our entire catalogue if this happens!”: the petulant threat made by major label executive after someone suggested Spotify invest into their industry – just like Netflix do…
Word reaches me in my emails of a story which I’ve had to sit on for a little while. I’m not keen on this practice – not least because it means someone else could...
READ MORE...
Congratulations to Sony Music on making $1billion out of streaming in three months – now is there any chance you can tell us how much of that is going to the artists who made your success possible?
This blog is occasionally accused of being curmudgeonly about the success of major music labels. And like most accusations, it’s one that isn’t based in fact. If record labels are releasing high quality music...
READ MORE...
The staggering story of how Universal Music Group tried to crush a startup company over just one 30-second U2 video – demanding 50% of their company or they’d revoke their licence
The major labels are run by a pack of bullies who aren’t terribly bright. And frankly, it’s a miracle they’re still in business at all. This has been my opinion of the majors for...
READ MORE...
And whose side are you meant to be on? Music Business Worldwide publish editorial slamming UK’s “outwardly hostile” attitude towards the major labels – and just end up looking like fools…
Some people aren’t easy to defend, but someone has to do it. That’s why we have solicitors in the world. And it’s apparently in this spirit that Music Business Worldwide decided to publish an...
READ MORE...
Do you feel like Eric Cartman yet? Threatened probe by UK competition authorities into streaming and the majors has just moved one step further…
The very first episode of South Park, broadcast in 1997, featured Eric Cartman having an alien probe stuck up his backside. Cartman would spend the entire episode denying its existence, yet he would frequently...
READ MORE...
What IS going on at Glasgow Underground? Rattled record label posts rant about Danny Tenaglia’s “hate campaign” – and then a producer claims he hasn’t been paid for his releases
Update (14/12/2021) – Kevin McKay points out that T Markakis was in fact paid shortly after he went public with his allegations. Happy to correct the record. As I write on this Monday morning,...
READ MORE...
Another day, another empty gesture from the music industry! YouTube removes two R. Kelly channels following sex trafficking convictions, but refuses to impose outright ban on the abuser’s music
Much of the music press today is trying to pretend that the industry they cover is serious about changing its ways. This blog, of course, sees through their lies on the subject – the...
READ MORE...
Would they refer to their own mothers like that? Rebecca Ferguson speaks the truth once more – by reminding us the music business is filled with misogynists…
The more time I spend reading the musings and opinions of Rebecca Ferguson, the more I like what I see. Indeed, I occasionally feel like she’s reading thoughts and comments straight out of my...
READ MORE...
Is there anyone you can trust these days? Claude VonStroke reveals there’s a fake Dirtybird label being run right now… and he reveals how to avoid being scammed
The Simpsons broadcast an episode called “Wizard of Evergreen Terrace” for the first time in September 1998. In it, Homer Simpson tries to overcome a midlife crisis by inventing new gadgets, which mostly turn...
READ MORE...
From spending 20 days on a ventilator with Covid-19 to being in line for a £110million bonus – what a curious pandemic it’s been for Universal boss Lucian Grainge…
I wrote earlier this week about Lucian Grainge, the boss in charge at Universal Music Group. He’s pictured on the far right of the above image. But it’s not just me who’s been scribbling...
READ MORE...
Could the major labels be facing a competition probe shortly? The scenario they dread is looking more likely – as this blog revealed over two months ago…
Regular readers of this blog will almost certainly know the identity of the man on the left of this picture. He is, of course, Daniel Ek – the billionaire in charge of Spotify and...
READ MORE...
Rebecca Ferguson proposes that labels hire welfare officers to help their artists – but how would you ensure they weren’t a stooge doing the majors’ bidding?
Dare I say it, but I’m starting to like Rebecca Ferguson. Over the past year or two, she’s decided to take her position in the music industry and do something useful with it. In...
READ MORE...
As Anita Baker joins De La Soul, Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder in owning her masters, why does this continue to be the exception than the norm for music artists?
Earlier this year, Anita Baker did something extremely unusual for a musician. She told everyone to basically stop listening to her music. Yes, someone in a group of people who normally wants us to...
READ MORE...
Want us to release your music? Then it’ll cost you $75 – and that’s not the only thing about Beige Music which has this blog’s spidey sense going…
One thing I immensely enjoy about blogging is that no one is constraining what I say. If I feel like writing about something, I don’t have to go through a team of editors first...
READ MORE...
So what do the majors think when their artists slag them off online? One of Parlophone’s A&R people gives us a rare insight – and says “half of artists don’t have a clue what’s going on”…
Finding out what’s going on inside record labels is notoriously difficult. This has always been the way, especially inside the majors. So when Raye recently went on a Twitter rampage against her former record...
READ MORE...