Rock stars threaten labels on copyright cash
By staff writers
February 29, 2008 03:00pm
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Musicians say labels haven't passed on settlements
- Lawsuit threat cash not handed over
- Napster alone paid US$270 million to labels
SOME of the biggest names in music have not seen any money from copyright-infringement settlements and could sue their record labels, their managers say.
While Napster alone paid record labels US$270 million to settle a lawsuit, some agents told the New York Post that many artists have received little or no money from the settlements.
Lawyer John Branca, who has represented The Rolling Stones and Korn, told the newspaper that agents were discussing taking record companies to court if they did not cough up the cash.
"Artist managers and lawyers have been wondering for months when their artists will see money from the copyright settlements and how it will be accounted for," Mr Branca said.
“Some of them are even talking about filing lawsuits if they don't get paid soon.”
Manager Irving Azoff, whose clients included The Eagles and Jewel, said it was a struggle to get money from settlements out of record companies like EMI, Universal Music and Warner Music.
“They will play hide and seek, but eventually will be forced to pay something," Mr Azoff told the Post.
“The record companies have even tried to credit unrecouped accounts. It's never easy for an artist to get paid their fair share.”
An EMI spokeswoman said the label had started the process to give artists money from lawsuits, while a representative for Warner said “nearly all settlement monies have been disbursed” to musicians.
A spokesman for Universal said it was company policy to “share a portion of various settlements with its artists”.
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