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Major Labels Trying to Stop Artists from Re-Recording Songs

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, Nov 1, 2023.

  1. Melody Bot Nov 1, 2023
    Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Steve Knopper, writing for Billboard:

    The major labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, have recently overhauled contracts for new signees, according to top music attorneys, some demanding artists wait an unprecedented 10, 15 or even 30 years to re-record releases after departing their record companies. “The first time I saw it, I tried to get rid of it entirely,” says Josh Karp, a veteran attorney, who has viewed the new restrictions in UMG contracts. “I was just like, ‘What is this? This is strange. Why would we agree to further restrictions than we’ve agreed to in the past with the same label?’”

    And:

    Adds Dina LaPolt, a music attorney with a long history of grappling with labels over contracts: “Now, because of all this Taylor Swift stuff, we have an even new negotiation. It’s awful. We’re seeing a lot of ‘perpetuity.’ When we were negotiating deals with lawyers, before we would get the proposal, we’d get the phone call from the head of business affairs. We literally would say, ‘If you send that to me, it will be on Twitter in 10 minutes.’ It never showed up.”

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    alkalinexandy likes this.
  2. alkalinexandy Nov 1, 2023
    alkalinexandy

    Trusted Supporter

    This is wild to see. Really hoping that artists stick to their guns on this one... What's interesting, though, is how wildly unsuccesful most moves to re-record classic tracks have been in the past. Even when it's arguably recorded better (e.g., MxPx's Life in General; the Social D greatest hits record) the original is generally going to be what fans stick with. Taylor is the exception and not the rule in this regard, although part of me wonders if we might see an uptick in this because of how successful those have been?
     
    SpeckledSouls, Raku, falafelmywaffle and 1 other person like this.
  3. Shenevercalled Nov 1, 2023
    Shenevercalled

    Newbie

    It always seemed to me the main reason TS re-recorded albums did so well was simply because people were aware of her losing the masters to Braun, and bought the new versions to kind of stick it to him. Of course labels want to own songs and not recordings, they'd want your first born if they could legally slip it in a contract
     
    Raku, falafelmywaffle and algae like this.
  4. theredline Nov 1, 2023
    theredline

    Trusted Supporter

    Big surprise.
     
    Raku and falafelmywaffle like this.
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  6. Sherlock Mahomes Nov 1, 2023
    Sherlock Mahomes

    Regular Supporter

    Fuck these people. Let the art live and breathe. And pay the fucking artists!
     
    Brent, SpeckledSouls, Raku and 1 other person like this.
  7. Jason Tate Nov 1, 2023
    Jason Tate

    chr.us Staff Member

    MxPx really only did that for fun, didn't they? It was released on their website for free and I dunno if it's even on streaming. Recently I think Thrice and Switchfoot were two that did it with pretty great fan reaction.
     
    drun11, Raku and alkalinexandy like this.
  8. overduecollect Nov 1, 2023
    overduecollect

    I sell records here Supporter

    The Starting Line really made theirs an event, the re-records felt like a bonus. That's a nice indie example.
     
    Brent, Sherlock Mahomes, Raku and 1 other person like this.
  9. alkalinexandy Nov 1, 2023
    alkalinexandy

    Trusted Supporter

    I didn't think about the motive on that one, but I think you're right maybe? I think they had the rights back at that point... It is up on streaming, though! I also hadn't thought of the Thrice one, but the reaction was positive on that one initially. But I'd be curious to know if that stuck over time or if people just got excited initially.

    Now I'm thinking about albums that could actually really benefit from this (beyond the motive of wanting to own the record in full)...
     
  10. IAmMikeWhite Nov 2, 2023
    IAmMikeWhite

    @IAmMikeWhite Supporter

    Wait, what? What did TSL re-record?
     
  11. TellYourFriends Nov 2, 2023
    TellYourFriends

    Lexington, KY Prestigious

    I assume they mean the Live at Studio 4 sessions.
     
  12. IAmMikeWhite Nov 2, 2023
    IAmMikeWhite

    @IAmMikeWhite Supporter

    Gotcha! Well, the Studio 4 sessions were awesome...but that's not same, right?
     
  13. Phil507 Nov 2, 2023
    Phil507

    Resident NYC snob Supporter

    Didn't Unwritten Law re-record songs for a greatest hits album?
     
    Raku likes this.
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  15. Raku Nov 2, 2023
    Raku

    Regular

    Yeah, they did that for the Hit List
     
  16. overduecollect Nov 2, 2023
    overduecollect

    I sell records here Supporter

    They also re-recorded "Direction" and "Based On A True Story" in full as part of those sessions.
     
    joenicorata likes this.