RIAA Continues Distributing Dud CDs to Satisfy Settlement 399
cosyne writes "Part of the music industry's recent price fixing settlement involves giving free CDs to public libraries. Although they are technically complying with the the letter of the law, they're abusing the spirit by giving the libraries large piles of crud. According to the Stevens Point Journal, '[the] Milwaukee Public Library received 1,235 copies of Whitney Houston's 1991 recording of "The Star-Spangled Banner," 188 copies of Michael Bolton's "Timeless," 375 of "Entertainment Weekly: The Greatest Hits 1971," and 104 copies of Will Smith's "Willennium."' The recording industry obviously wouldn't want to have libraries loaning out music that people might otherwise buy." See also a related story about shipments to another state.
Re:Sorry. I hate the RIAA (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Artists (Score:5, Informative)
Not a chance in hell. One of the many breakdowns of where the money goes from record sales in the wake of Courtney Love's now infamous anti-RIAA tirade was fairly clear on that. All of the percentages are based on sales, specifically excluding "good will" copies, which are issued at the whim of the RIAA but the artists indirectly get to pay for.
Given the way they have just shown their contempt of the ruling by following the letter of the law and ignoring the spirit I expect they will do the same thing for the contracts too. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if these CDs are classed as "good will" copies too and the artists essentially get sent the bill. I just hope that they build a monument to the RIAA at some point so I can go and piss on it.
Re:BlackListing? (Score:3, Informative)
Yeah, one megacorporation is going to punish another megacorporation for mistreating consumpers. Right.
Besides, this is probably illegal in the US. I remember there was an incident where a restauraunt refused to serve OJ Simpson, citing a "no murderers" policy. They lost.
these were all on the billboard charts (Score:5, Informative)
But since the RIAA pays to get songs on the chart instead of it being based on quality or popularity, this is what you get.
Blame the lawyers this time. They knew what they were doing.
Grade schools got this stuff too... (Score:5, Informative)
"We note that the CD's that are being distributed were selected will an eye towards making a distribution that is representative of all generes of prerecorded music. For that reason we wish to caution you that some materials being distributed may be suitable only for use by teenagers, yough adults or adults."
Um, ya. On a brighter note on things, despite the fact that a lot of the CD's where in fact cut-outs the letter goes on to state:
"If you receive CD's which are not appropriate or useful for you collection, or which are duplicative, you may wish to use those CD's for fund-rasing purposes, such as through library sales or auctions. However, if you do so, any funds raised must be used in a manner that complies with the settlement agreement as noted above."
So let me get this straight, they couldn't sell them, but we're welcome to try... Yah, thanks. Someone dropped the ball here. The music companies just basicly got a chance to clean out the warehouse. One of the CD they got was even smashed. I'm sure that the record companies where able to claim the full value of the CD as being donated, hell they are probably even going to get to write it off!
Ah well, at least this halloween the kids will have really spooky music to listen to. (Even spookyer now Martha's going to be an ex-con, eh?)
Re:On the Road to Utopia (Score:3, Informative)
Not that bad (Score:5, Informative)
Not that I like the RIAA, but really I don't think it is as bad as it looks from the articles.
Re:BlackListing? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:You voted for the RIAA (Score:3, Informative)
They cannot start an independent release scheme because they are bound by contract to produce music exclusively for the label that they signed with for a long period of time (typically 7+ years). If that is not bad enough the costs of producing the albums, including recording studio time, promotion (er..payola), and marketing fees are paid for by the label, but charged to the artist as a LOAN. Thus, many of the bands are trapped in their contracts with the labels until they can pay off all the money that they owe. If an album doesn't sell well then the artist can be left with little to show for months or years of work other than a six figure debt.
Talk with $$ (Score:3, Informative)
No, though it does mean I won't be buying some of my favorite artists. It also means I need to find some new ones and the place I've been looking is Magnatunes [magnatune.com], they're true to their slogan, "We are not Evil", and have a fairly large selection of artists, not all of them are my taste but then again I don't like a lot of big label artists either. You're probably not going to find a Paul Simon or The Beatles here but I've found some nice music. No harm in checking out of course, no harm worrying that you'll buy an album that you won't like. You see all their music is available for listening right on their website so you can listen to a particular album as many times as you want before buying (in a good but lossy format though), then if you decide you want to buy you get to pay anywhere from $5-$18 US, the artist gets half of course. Of course you're wondering if people will actually buy when they can get the music whenever they want for free? Well I've bought two albums already and am quite close to buying a third. Go ahead RIAA, make as much trouble as you want, I don't need you anymore, whine until you end up on the street with the other crackheads, I'll be helping the good guys [magnatune.com].
Re:On the Road to Utopia (Score:3, Informative)
I heard she got a job modelling [nvidia.com] for Nvidia.
Re:Not that bad (Score:2, Informative)
Re:They had an opportunity to look good (Score:3, Informative)