tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post4250077244376568443..comments2024-03-22T03:28:24.897-04:00Comments on Recording Industry vs The People: My open letter to Rounder Records on the success of "Raising Sand"raybeckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11063235302436280455noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post-49925715128250370622009-02-10T10:03:00.000-05:002009-02-10T10:03:00.000-05:00I emailed it to them, but the more people that wri...I emailed it to them, but the more people that write to them, the better. <A HREF="http://rounder.com/index.php?id=contact.php" REL="nofollow">Here</A>'s their contact page.raybeckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063235302436280455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post-21452314614935399462009-02-10T02:15:00.000-05:002009-02-10T02:15:00.000-05:00Mr. Beckerman,Have you submitted your open letter ...Mr. Beckerman,<BR/><BR/>Have you submitted your open letter directly to Rounder Records?<BR/><BR/>As someone who in the last year has purchased two albums from them with the intent of repurchasing a third once released in the US, I'd like to somehow let them know that not only am I aware of your open letter but also that it has prompted me to undertake a sort of late New Year's resolution that anything I buy from them or any other RIAA label WILL see me make an equal donation to you or other good faith efforts to defend the victims of the RIAA.<BR/><BR/>At least I have the hope that you will receive more of my PayPal donation than unfortunately I suspect will the artists the RIAA supposedly represents.<BR/><BR/>How to let Rounder know this?<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/>JudyJudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656031407072054347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post-39849498834832143022009-02-09T17:38:00.000-05:002009-02-09T17:38:00.000-05:00Dear Ben,I have no objection to a business trying ...Dear Ben,<BR/><BR/>I have no objection to a business trying to make a profit.<BR/><BR/>The major record companies, however, have always demonstrated an excessive interest in money, doing everything in their power to ensure that no one who does business with them gets a fair shake.<BR/><BR/>I first became aware of their excessive greed early in my career, when I first began looking at recording agreements, and realized that these were full of fictionalizations as to the expenses incurred, which were in place solely to ensure that the recording artist would receive no royalty beyond the advance... or in those rare instances where they did receive a royalty, the amount would be much much less than the supposed royalty rate.<BR/><BR/>I then learned that it was their common practice to grossly underreport the royalties earned, forcing the artist -- who may be starving -- to hire royalty accountants and legal counsel. And then usually the royalty accounting -- which shows mistakes too large to have been inadvertent -- is "settled" at a sum which is much less than the artist is entitled to, even under the one-sided recording agreement.<BR/><BR/>I could go on and on with instances of their excessive greed, but of course my blog was engendered by one of those -- their attempt to bottle up the internet.<BR/><BR/>The reason they are dying is because in their shrunken hearts and weak minds, the music long ago died.raybeckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063235302436280455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post-31949594082408824172009-02-09T17:25:00.000-05:002009-02-09T17:25:00.000-05:00I rarely comment on any forum, but felt compelled ...I rarely comment on any forum, but felt compelled to here. I wanted to ask the question, isn't the RIAA and other record labels there to make money? In number two you present it as though the label must choose between money and music. If I could recommend, wouldn't it make a more powerful letter if you concentrate on the dishonesty and unethical behavior that the RIAA has consistently displayed? I don't think a business can be self sustaining if it concentrates on greed alone, and thus agree I do agree with you that greed alone is bad for business, but I think it is important for one who is in business to realize that that metric is an important one. So, to present it as an either or forces one to decide greed or money since that metric is so important. That said, since I don't comment often I would like you to know that I have a very high respect for you and the work you do. <BR/>Thank You.<BR/>BenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15479871.post-29727849608331517142009-02-09T14:29:00.000-05:002009-02-09T14:29:00.000-05:00Peer Pressure can be an extreme force in personal ...Peer Pressure can be an extreme force in personal relationships. In business relationships it can be brutal. Until true reform happens and the Pirates of the RIAA have to become law abiding, they will naturaly intimidate all those who do not have a similar lack of ethics. My hat is off to those Judges that did not bend the law to suit the RIAA. <BR/> My hopes were that Obama would see how the RIAA has played those in the Justic System over the last 5 years. Now I am utterly disappointed that RIAA bottom feeders have recently been appointed high positions within the Legal System. I am afraid that the foxes have now been put in charge of guarding the chickenhouse.<BR/><BR/> My hat is off to Rounder Records. I pray they will do what is right and "just say no" to the corruptive influences of the Recording Industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com