www.billnelson.com

Would recommend that the first step is look at whatever contract you or your management signed, and see what it says about rights to issue the material.

I would assume that's what ' I've informed my management and they are looking into it' means..

Good point.

No doubt, but if I had management then I would expect them do that before any contract was signed

Oh I don't know I've got a few pairs that are well-heeled. Ooops wrong forum

Would it help the situation if a few of us not-so-well-heeled fans contacted whatever company is producing this and either 1) implore them not to do it, or 2) make sure BN gets a top cut on all the earnings?

I'd certainly be willing to write a polite but firm letter... 'Pod

Is it me, or is this "the world has gone completely mad, part 12345?"

We spend all our time bemoaning the fact that Bill hasn't had any decent exposure for years and doesn't sell many CDs. Yet the moment something comes along and a mass-market release is in the pipeline, we're suggesting writing to the production company asking them NOT to release it??

I appreciate that Bill didn't know anything about it. And that it's not clear if he will make any money from it. But I would guess that both these points should be covered by the contract for the original recording.

So rather than complain about the release, why not RECOMMEND it as much as possible? Even if Bill gets nothing from it, there's surely a possibility that people will move on to buy some of his self-published work?

I can see where you are coming from Mr MH but rather than it being a case of "the world gone mad part 12345", I think it is more of an acknowledgement of the injustice of the situation........

Bill is promised national TV exposure, so at his ultimate cost he agrees to the venture to find that not only is he getting nothing in return (and ZERO TV exposure!), but that the company involved are going to milk every single penny out of the performance and blatantly ignore the moral issue of artist's royalties

I'm with Mr. MH on this one. Once Bill has heard from his management, we'll know more, but I would also guess that any future releases of the performance would be covered in the original contract. The only thing I would be concerned about is the issue of whether or not they'd use a sub-standard mix for the CD

It may well be that the company involved do intend to pay Bill a royalty and if that is the case, fair enough. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.