The record labels now want a cut of ..... EVERYTHING

[The_Cynic]

....as sales of the CD, its mainstay product for two decades, slowly decay.

As a result, the big record companies, whose fortunes are still overwhelmingly tied to CD sales, are taking a far more expansive view of how to carve out pieces of the music economy, which by some estimates runs as high as $75 billion, including recording sales, music publishing, concert ticket and merchandise sales and other sources of revenue.

Lately, the major labels have in effect tried to move into the talent management business by demanding that new artists seeking record contracts give their label a cut of concert earnings or T-shirt and merchandise revenue — areas that had once been outside the labels’ bailiwick.

“They’re all starting to ask for the same things,” said Theo Sedlmayr, an entertainment lawyer based in New York who represents acts like 50 Cent.

There has also been a scramble to squeeze revenue from other unconventional sources, including amateur videos posted to YouTube that incorporate copyrighted songs. Universal Music threatened to withhold its huge music catalog from Microsoft’s new digital music service unless it received a royalty of more than $1 on each sale of the technology giant’s Zune portable music player.

The labels are hoping that these moves will help put the industry back on track after a slide in overall sales in five of the last six years. But amid the holiday shopping season, which typically accounts for a third or more of the industry’s annual sales, many are not sure whether to be cheered or disenchanted by the new order of business.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/bu...rssnyt&emc=rss

From Slashdot
"As many a Slashdotter has pointed out, musicians make their money not from selling records but from going on tour. Now record labels are trying to get a piece of the action. 'Now the music labels, hungry for revenue from any source, are mulling over whether to make a grab for a piece of the tour biz. One company already has: In October EMI Recorded Music signed a deal with Brit singer Robbie Williams that gives the label a cut of the pop star's merchandise, publishing, touring revenue and sponsorship.'"

Also the Record labels have moved to kill internet radio

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...ght_royal.html


So as the labels look to squeeze every revenue stream especially merchandising, we could be looking at a move to tour contracts that restrict
posters to those offered by these guys

http://www.tourdesign.com/

http://www.concerts.com/home.asp

I would hate to see the slop these hacks call a concert poster be the only the memory I have of a show by the bands I like.

Just throwing this out there, this thing can easily be killed by the labels.

I know people claim to have band approval before selling posters but once the label suits start to step in, they could easily decide that they do not like "Studios" selling limited edition prints with their bands names. No matter what assurance a tour manager or band member might have given. They could easily view these items as merchandise and not advertising. Band Names are -trademarks- that they own. Any unauthorized use of a trademark can result in a big lawsuit.

It would just take a couple of lawsuits for trademark infringement to put a damper on this whole thing.

You can call me cynical but that is the way I see it.

[MaximumFluoride]

I told you.

[IVARTON]

yep

[El Negro Magnifico!]

Hey...whatery'gonnado? (shrugs)

[The_Cynic]

more on the death of internet radio

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-the-Death-of-Internet-Radio-Imminent?&id=491417


The article makes some good points. I don't think the labels are trying to kill internet radio, though. After the ruling they will go back to the major internet radio stations and offer them deals, discounted royalty payments. The thing is they will offer to to throw away the part of the royalty payment that should go to the artists. They then keep the rest, which goes direct to their bottom line and cuts out the artist.

This was pointed by someone in the know at a label in another forum.

Same old story, the artist gets screwed.

[The_Cynic]

Also those sites that do the most of admats for the big names

Bill Young and Tour design.

They are effing awful!!!!! I would hate to see the scene be dominated by that crap.

[austininin]

i guess i won't be doing any sinbad or billy ocean posters from now on then. such a shame though.

[The_Cynic]

I don't think it as bad as that.

For example, if you ever check the pollstar site, they list the biggest tours. Just to see, I checked the artist site merch links and only about 10% of those artists are selling posters from their sites. Even at the concerts, a big percentage don't even have posters as a part of their merch. The poster scene maybe on their radar but it is at the bottom of their list of revenue sources to horn in on.

When it comes to merch, in comparison to t-shirts and other clothing/bags etc.., posters are almost nothing $ moneywise.

Also, if your poster is actually used to advertise the show. Meaning it was posted around town, used in a flyer or print ads. you are in a much stronger legal position due to the first sale doctrine. But still, the way the RIAA throws around lawsuits, the best bet for sales might be to just take the band name off and hawk it as an art print.

This is a complex area of the law and I am certainly no expert so don't rely on anything I may say.

[piemel]

gig poster artists no longer have free reign to create and sell posters advertising a concert for a big time band....

are you fucking just waking up and finally realizing that you have been walking a tight rope ever since kozik decided to throw the poster world upside its head in the 80's? at least kozik had the braincells to actually give a rats ass about the band and treat them well.

things changed and this shit has beenb a long time coming

i am surprised some people haven't been busted yet

there are shows with three or more different posters.. all being sold on websites and virtually none of them being used for actual promotion.

kids thinking they have the 'right' to do a poster because they know the bouncer at some fucking club

amateurs doing posters for a band because they want to build a portfolio so they can look good... without talking to either the band or the venue.... lets do a series!!!

time to grow up

[Papercuts]

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...