Originally Published: 2010-01-17

For years now the Canadian record industry has been harassing it’s customers over copyright issues, from the days when they claimed that kids with double tape decks were major pirates, to the campaign that stopped the renting of CDs. Now it’s come to light that it is the four major labels themselves that have been ripping off their artists to the tune of $6 billion in damages for unpaid licensing fees. The largest ever class action suit in Canadian history has been going on for over a year, concerning the practice of music labels releasing compilations featuring hit tunes and never paying the artists accordingly. All it took was a change in the copyright laws in the late 1980s that altered wording about a “compulsory license” to release a recorded work, to mere notification of a “pending” desire to obtain said permission. Since then, a growing collection of more than 300,000 songs has been on the pending list with no artist approval or fee for use in sight. The class action on behalf of the artists seeks damages of $20,000 per infringement, which will cost Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada (the four primary members of the Canadian Recording Industry Association), quite a bit of change.

Well rattle my rusty cage, alternative rock fans got some good news on New Years when CHRIS CORNELL tweeted that SOUNDGARDEN’S twelve year divorce was over. This mighty group of Seattle grungers had split up in 1997 after breaking out of the Sub Pop scene with best-selling albums including Badmotorfinger and Superunknown (which debuted at number 1 and went 5 times platinum). Singer CORNELL has had the highest profile since the split, forming AUDIOSLAVE with members of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and releasing a solo album. But as SOUNDGARDEN tunes began to appear in his sets, rumors and reports began to spread about new communication between the members throughout 2009. Fans can register at www.soundgardenworld.com for further announcements of reunion activity.

Page 1/...Page 2

Printable Version Email to a Friend Share

Voice Your Opinion Letter to the Editor