RIAA Hogging Profits?
March 1, 2008
Glassjaw/Head Automatica frontman Daryl Palumbo, one of the many artists that may be entitled to money from settlements.
According to this article, the RIAA has not shared any of the money that it gained from a series of legal settlements that is esitimated at a combined more than $300 million with any of its artists. This has led to several artists managers going public with complaints that the artists they represent are not being paid the money they deserve. The three in question include Universal (home to artists such as Beck, 3 Doors Down and Amy Winehouse), EMI (KT Tunstall and Kanye West) and Warner (Glassjaw, THe Used, R.E.M).
The money in question came from a variety of companies, including Napster, Kazaa and YouTube.
This is a rough week for the RIAA, as major labels were also just lambasted by Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra as being reminscent of the titular character of The Godfather, bullying people into settling by threatening massive debt if they lose in court.
Not familiar with the always outspoken Biafra? Check out this live video of DK’s best known song, “Holiday In Cambodia.”
March 3, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I especially like your blog DJ. I find it easy to navigate, visually appealing and can find sources of information easily with all the hyperlinks you provide. On top of that its easy reading and you clearly know what you’re talking about.
March 6, 2008 at 9:06 am
Now this is a story you should really stay on top of. The RIAA has been very aggressive in going after so-called “pirates” but wouldn’t it be ironic if they were caught not sharing the profits with the artists they proclaim they are trying to protect?