This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Paul Birch, Managing Director of Revolver Records, yesterday left the BPI council (Wednesday, June 10th 2009) having been voted off the board after serving the BPI for 18 years and chairing its international committee up until last Christmas.

Birch had acted as an independent expert witness in the BPI anti-piracy case involving FSH, having been appointed by the Court. Paul Birch: “It’s clear the BPI are upset with my giving testimony in a criminal case concerning FSH last year. For me this was a matter of conscience, I believed there were inaccuracies in the BPI case that needed to be set straight.”

Several issues arose in testimony given by APU officers that were misleading. The courts judgement sent the manufacturing agent to prison, but let off two of the pirates. Birch says he disagreed with plea bargain deals being done with career criminals and that much heavier sentences should be imposed upon pirates who threaten sales, jobs and the prosperity of Artists. Crime is the enemy of corporate industry but if it is to be curtailed, then industry must be at all times honest, legal and truthful.

There have been concerns about the veracity of the APU and internal investigations have been both white washed and glossed over. The Police should look closely at the issues I had raised with the IFPI head of Anti-piracy. In the FSH case the pirates were let off with a slapped-wrist, but the CD manufacturer was sent to prison for four and a half years leaving a four year old and a six year child to be looked after by their grandparents.

We have a responsibility to those that supply our industry under our duty of care that we will create systems allowing manufacturers to check for infringing repertoires. In the FSH matter the entire repertoire was by unknown artists and they were found guilty under strict liability. An industry that relies upon the law but cannot establish justice in its dealings has lost sight of its moral compass. BPI has lost sight of its objectives to represent its members, it’s long been thought of as a club for the majors. Regrettably that has become a reality.

The BPI has to be hard on piracy and we must fight it if we are to survive, however, suing kids in their bedrooms, cutting off people’s internet connections and locking up our own members is not the right way to go.

I stood with nine other members of the BPI, including two other companies from BPI council in supporting FSH (one being a former major label MD who had been a member of the BPI council). Another council member company gave evidence in their defence. Nevertheless the BPI is litigation mad and has more lawyers attending meetings than commercial directors.

This is a matter where the BPI were fighting its own members. For my part, my position is with our members, even if it means I have to face the humiliation of being thrown off the board, so be it. All of the Pirate bay money just like the Kazaa money will again go to the majors. Our independent community is threatened, reduced and violated by the very trade associations meant to represent us. It’s one rule for them and another rule for you and me.

Other members of council have raised objections to a proposed draconian code of conduct that BPI is seeking to introduce that will effectively gag its independent members. The code of conduct is being described as the Record Industry equivalent to the official secrets act. But the BPI has refused its own board independent legal advice, forcing them to sign or get out. 

Birch: “BPI is struggling with its communications. It has sued its own customers, its own members, what next; its own directors?”  Often the only people qualified to give evidence in precedings as experts are current practitioners, by acting against those called by the court to act as independent witnesses the BPI is calling the criminal justice system into ill repute. In this case they came close to perverting the course of justice; they may even have crossed that line.

There are a range of issues its own board is uncomfortable with and not everyone is in agreement on term extension. As most of the majors refuse to license any longer to the Indie community, PD is the only way many smaller companies can survive.

Birch: “I have always believed in changing things from the inside, my opportunity to do so has been slowly diminishing since the exit of the last chairman. Perhaps its time to rock the boat, though as the saying goes ‘corporate rock – still sucks!’”

[ends]

For further information, contact the Revolver Press Department, or telephone +44 (0) 1902 345 345.

The test is how committed they are to the Indies that’s at issue.

If you asked them if they would put the interests of any 100 members above the interests of the smallest of the majors, and they had to answer you truthfully, they would have to say “No we can’t do that”.

How about 200 members then? – Still no.

The entire membership? Still no.

Take the Chart for instance. As irrelevant as it is, the information that flows from it is important data. To market effectively Indies need this information, but the minimum charge to get it in any useful format is £3500.00. Recently as a result of pressure, the OCC introduced a lower subscription rate, but took away most of the useful tools – meaning Indies that can afford less are second class data citizens under the new deal. And in the 21^st Century, information is power, we all know that. Can it be the BPI just don’t want the Indies to catch-up?

Companies have to make a choice. You either take the “One nation” view, goes like this; “We are all record companies together, doesn’t matter if we are majors or Indies, we all have the same problems. Yes there are areas we disagree – but come on we can work it out. We are all basically all on the same side”

Then there is the other view; “things used to be like that, but now the majors only represent themselves. They don’t trust us anymore, maybe for good reason, but we have to move-on and develop an Independent agenda for what we want for our side in any negotiations, and we have to join that up with AIM and IMPALA. When we have that one-view, we can then negotiate with the majors”

Sorry, I am sure there are at least three hundred views in-between, but you have to lean towards one or the other.

I am going to be honest. If you are for the first statement, don’t vote for me, I ain’t delivering that. Mike Batt’s your man for that, not me. You want to know where you stand with me, I am at statement two. In fact I used to be a statement one man. After I negotiated the creation of the Vice-chairman position to level the playing field for the Indies, the BPI intervened to allow the majors a vote on the Independent they wanted to see as Vice Chairman. The Indies were split on their vote, but the majors as usual voted unanimously. No surprise then they voted for the man they most wanted to negotiate with; Batt.

In this life, we have to be careful what we wish for….we just might get it!

How does that Meat Loaf song go?

DMWmedia.com news feed reports

London - U.K.-based major record label EMI, which under new owner, Guy Hands’ Terra Firma, has already announced 1,500 to 2,000 layoffs at its recorded music division, now plans to eliminate an additional up to 1,000 positions, bringing the company’s total headcount from around 4,500 to 2,000, The Telegraph reported, citing sources.

The first round of layoffs was announced back in January.

The planned second round, expected to come in waves throughout the year, was necessary, people familiar with the situation told The Telegraph, because “the business will stall have more employees generating less revenues than its competitors at Warner Music and Universal.”

Ben Harrington writes for the Telegraph   

EMI’S owner, Guy Hands, is planning to axe up to 1,000 more jobs at the music company.

Mr Hands, who runs buyout firm Terra Firma, told senior EMI directors last week that the company’s headcount at its recorded music division will need to be reduced to around 2,000 people from 4,500, according to sources.

In January, EMI announced that it was planning to axe between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs at its recorded music division EMI Music. Several senior, highly paid executives in Britain have recently been made redundant.

They include Mike McMahon, senior vice-president of commercial and digital media. He will be replaced by Matthew Crosswaite, who was a vice-president in EMI’s digital division. Mr Crosswaite was yesterday formally appointed senior vice-president of sales, sources said.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Unger-Hamilton, managing director of Virgin Records in Britain, is also understood to be leaving. He is said to have left the business last Friday.

People familiar with the situation said Mr Hands was looking to cut more jobs at the company because, even after the round of redundancies announced in January, the business will still have more employees generating less revenues than its competitors at Warner Music and Universal.

Insiders speculated that the next job cuts will come in waves throughout the year.

Terra Firma bought EMI for £3.2bn last year

Comment:

Seems like EMI’s desire to join the Independent sector is becoming a reality. Though with Ames gone is the rudder missing? Its all Hands to the deck then as less people are expected to do more. Its fine in SME’s, but corporate business expects experts in every field. Please don’t ask the Marketing people to get on the phone and sell – it’s not necessarily that they wouldn’t know how, its just not how corporations work.

As the bottom line is continually polished for improved performance, is anyone watching the top line as the rule of diminishing returns becomes ever increasingly significant?

Desperately in search now of dry land (terra firma), Hands continues to toss bodies off the ship in order to maintain ballast and stay afloat. But should the Admiral really be at the helm when he has no sailing experience and he’s already made a life raft out of his captains’ remains?

12:27 | Wednesday January 9, 2008

By Ben Cardew MUSIC WEEK

Kickin Records founder and independent champion Peter Harris has died.Kickin Records founder dies 12:27 | Wednesday January 9, 2008 By Ben Cardew MUSIC WEEK

Kickin Records founder and independent champion Peter Harris has died. Harris passed away on Sunday January 6 after a long struggle with cancer. Harris founded the Kickin Records label, which pioneered early rave music, in 1988. It went on to release music from artists including The Scientist, Shut Up And Dance, and Messiah, as well as pioneering the careers of Grant Nelson, DJ Hype, Phil Asher, Matthew “Bushwhacka” B, Dominic B (Stanton Warriors) and Rennie Pilgrem. Kickin later became an umbrella company housing the Kickin Records, Slip ‘n’ Slide, Hardleaders, Stoned Asia and Slip ‘n’ Slide Blue labels, and also had a publishing arm in the form of Haripa Music Publishing in 1990.

Revolver Records owner Paul Birch, who worked with Harris on the BPI international committee, says that Harris had “a big brain but a bigger heart”. “He was big for independent cause and totally selfless, a strong advocate of moral issues,” he says. “He always fought the corner, not only for black music but for black executives. And he always had a very strong argument for more women in the industry.”

a7 Music managing director Seven Webster adds, “No music conference would be complete without the lifeblood of the industry, the happy independents like Peter. “I met Pete because as well as running my management company I once reviewed records for Teletext many years ago and as a result reviewed the first releases on Kickin Records. “From then on Peter would call me every Friday night and we would chew the fat about each other’s week and became the best of friends. While we both worked in our own separate space within the industry we really just maintained and shared a great and happy friendship and exchanged ideas, jokes and advice on a regular basis.” Harris is survived by his partner Cleon Roberts and three daughters, Jada, Yasheen and Neomi. The funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Clydesdale Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 1JE at 1030am on Saturday January 19. All friends are welcome. A bereavment gathering will also be held in Ladbroke Grove after the funeral service, with more details to follow.

Tributes flood in for Kickin founder

12:07 | Friday January 11, 2008

By Ben Cardew MUSIC WEEK

Tributes continue to flood in for Kickin Records founder Peter Harris, who died on January 6 after a long struggle with cancer.

Wendy Wyatt, who worked with Harris during her time as international manager at the BPI, says, “He was undoubtedly a driving force on the BPI international committee in revolutionising the way the British independents were represented overseas at the trade fairs like Midem, SXSW, Winter Music Conference.

“Always on my case to improve our services and promotion and pushing to get a better deal for the indies, generous with his praise and forever keeping me on my toes. He will be undoubtedly missed by all the many communities he was involved with, I was lucky to have known him.”

Former Kickin Records A&R man Lewis Dene adds, “Even though Peter and I had our ups and downs and he was never the easiest person to work with, the time I spent working for him at [Kickin associated label] Slip N Slide was a period I thoroughly enjoyed and still look back on with great fondness.

“Anyone that knew Peter will agree he was an incredible man and an inspiration of what could be achieved with little or no resources at your disposal. He was a true character who never did anything by the book, and that was what made him so unique and an inspiration to me and so many others. He’ll be missed.”

BPI communications director Matt Phillips says, “Peter was a real character and a great guy to know. But despite his great drive, passion and enthusiasm for the business, he was first and foremost a music lover and real family man. A key member of the BPI’s international committee for many years, he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed.”

BPI director of events Maggie Crowe says Harris was “a ray of sunshine on the British At Midem stand”. “For eight hours a day, he’d host his meetings on the stand and yet still drop a joke in between times. I can remember he was particularly proud to become a PPL Board member,” she adds. “He was a gorgeous human being – once met never forgotten.”

Harris is survived by his partner Cleon Roberts and three daughters, Jada, Yasheen and Neomi.

The funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Clydesdale Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 1JE at 1030 am on Saturday January 19. All friends are welcome, although the family has requested that well wishers send donations to St.Charles hospice where Peter spent his final night, rather than flowers.

A bereavement gathering will also be held at The Cobden Club, 170 Kensal Road, London after the funeral service from 1-6pm.

Donations can be made via cheques made payable to Pembridge Education Fund (along with a note indicating that the donation is on behalf of Peter Harris) to:

Palliative Care Unit,
St.Charles Hospital,
Exmoor Street,
London,
W10 6DZ.

Alternatively donations can be sent to:

Kickin Music Ltd.
282 Westbourne Park Road,
Notting Hill,
London W11 1EH