Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Record Royalities
Posted by: tonymiro Mar 30 2014, 04:58 PM
This makes very sad reading:
http://www.jagshouse.com/music/billnelson.html
One of the first albums I bought was Be Bop Delux's 'Sunburst Finish'.
Posted by: klasaine Mar 30 2014, 07:38 PM
Holy crap! So sad ... and all too common.
One of the coolest album covers of all time - and a great record.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 31 2014, 01:11 AM
Also a great example of how important it is to specify whose getting paid in any contract. In this case, they signed a contract stating the label only had to pay the legal entity set up by the bands manager. So when that entity went out of business, they no longer had any legal obligation to pay anyone anything.
Very sad, but a good lesson on knowing what's in ones contract!
http://www.jagshouse.com/music/billnelson.html
One of the first albums I bought was Be Bop Delux's 'Sunburst Finish'.
Posted by: tonymiro Mar 31 2014, 06:23 PM
Very true Todd - and sadly as Ken says it's all to common for people to sign rather iffy contracts.
I think this was one of the reason why Robert Fripp set his own label up as he never got royalites from all his time with King Crimson. He sued the label and won and then kindly shared that with the rest of the band members who also hadn't received any royalties.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 1 2014, 12:59 AM
Cheers to Fripp! All to often, rather than learn about the "biz" folks sign without reading or consulting a lawyer about a contract. A buddy of mine (Steve Flynn of Atheist) signed his first contract at 18 and it was a huge rip off for the band. It said the label keeps everything but they were young and signed it anyway. Never got any royalties and the label went bust.
So yeah, crucial to consider anything you sign and to have the help of a lawyer. Honestly, probably better to pull a Fripp and do it yourself!
I think this was one of the reason why Robert Fripp set his own label up as he never got royalites from all his time with King Crimson. He sued the label and won and then kindly shared that with the rest of the band members who also hadn't received any royalties.
Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 1 2014, 08:44 AM
That's more than sad to see this problem at such a high production level 
It's like taking the hope away that anything is wort doing....
Posted by: klasaine Apr 1 2014, 03:43 PM
It's like taking the hope away that anything is wort doing....It can definitely influence how serious one is willing to be about their art making once they have to get a job and/or support a family.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 2 2014, 05:26 AM
I wouldn't say it's as dramatic as all that 
All he would have had to do is write a clause in the contract that transferred payments to him personally in the event the production company went out of biz.
It's like taking the hope away that anything is wort doing....Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 2 2014, 09:24 AM
Probably we have to learn a lesson on others experience
Posted by: klasaine Apr 2 2014, 03:55 PM
They were kids in the 70s when those contracts were written. Wide eyed and excited just to be able to make a record and be 'signed'.
Posted by: tonymiro Apr 2 2014, 04:04 PM
And also almost certainly very badly advised by their management and lawyer (if they had a lawyer).
Posted by: klasaine Apr 2 2014, 04:11 PM
Don't be so negative Tony
, I'm sure the management co. or the rec co. 'provided' them with a lawyer.
Posted by: tonymiro Apr 2 2014, 04:13 PM
I haven't asked him but I think Bill was only about 16 or 17 when they signed to Harvest and so as Ken says really only a kid.
, I'm sure the management co. or the rec co. 'provided' them with a lawyer.
. Our's did that for us as well to be 'helpful' to us (and we were screwed).
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 3 2014, 02:06 AM
Good point!!! My buddy from ATHEIST was 18 when he signed and they got screwed as well. Hindsight is 20/20 they say.
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)