Gentleman Rocketeers Double CD & DVD set

Bill Nelson · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:40 pm **Posts:** 8467

It's an old trick...sell the rights on to another company, (which is often just the original people under a new name,) and the old company is no longer accountable for their non-accounting or non-payment or whatever.

felixt1 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:47 pm

Bill Nelson wrote:

It's an old trick...sell the rights on to another company, (which is often just the original people under a new name,) and the old company is no longer accountable for their non-accounting or non-payment or whatever.

I suspected as much, what a bunch of crooks.

tommaso · **Joined:** Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 350

This whole story sounds unbelievable, but it's probably just what the industry has always been doing in the last 50 years. Is there anything in the contract that guaranteed a TV transmission? If not, I have the feeling that Bill, goodnatured as he is, has fallen into the traps of liars that cannot be made legally accountable for their tricks. I hope that Bill will at least get some royalties for the songwriting via PPL or whatever copyright collective he's involved with.

The only lesson to be learned from all this: never, NEVER, trust any record or dvd company again; continue releasing your music on your own label as you did in the past years, and indeed - as someone else suggested already - counter these people with fine live recordings or dvds that you put out yourself. In retrospect I'm almost angry that I bought the original dvd release of that 'Legends' concert.

sauropod · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:15 pm

Bill Nelson wrote:

It's an old trick...sell the rights on to another company, (which is often just the original people under a new name,) and the old company is no longer accountable for their non-accounting or non-payment or whatever.

Is there a way to determine who are the owners/principals at Salvo to determine if they are the same people that made the original deal?

If so, I would think that would be actionable. :evil:

'Pod.

Andre · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:10 am

Pod - In Panama the crooks would be protected by the "Corporate Veil". I suspect they would probably weasle around to something like that in the UK, I guess.

MG · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:13 am

Mr. Mercury wrote:

Mr Magnetism Himself wrote:

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

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?? :shock:

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.

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

How about people showing some genuine outrage and boycotting it entirely; at least until Opium Arts has clarified what BN's position is?

There is a tension in this thread between people feeling like they are seeing BN exploited and still champing at the bit to get a copy.

Since (I assume) all the serious hardcore BN fans are here at Dreamsville anyway just boycott the bloody thing.

If and when Opium Arts (I, again, assume) can secure a more equitable position for BN with regard to this release then perhaps it may be worth forking over some dough for.

Also (and again I make an assumption), the other musicians that appeared in the performance probably signed away their rights to mechanicals for a flat fee? So no-one of note (sorry about that pun) is seeing squat from this.

Who's music is it anyway?

As for me I plan to remain on the path of cynical neon and joyous amplification (wholly electrified or otherwise) for 2012.

Have a nice day...........

Bill Nelson wrote:

It's an old trick...sell the rights on to another company, (which is often just the original people under a new name,) and the old company is no longer accountable for their non-accounting or non-payment or whatever.

The old rock and roll sleight of hand strikes again. How do you palm that coin and make it disappear?

Legal magic!

market · **Posted:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:44 am

I would have been tempted to buy the new version, just to get it in cd form as I did buy the DVD version when it first appeared...... (not being a whizz on the old computing box of tricks I haven't figured out how to extract the audio track from the DVD)

But after reading the whole sorry saga of the way You (Bill) have been treated........ I won't buy it.

I ALSO RECCOMMEND THAT NO FANS OF BILL DO.
if the artist doesn't get paid then no one should buy it....... keep your hard earned out of the pockets of these Shysters.......

I will continue to buy Bill's new music as it is released by Him.......

(we are ready for the new now Bill.....)

Mr Magnetism Himself · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 8:56 pm **Posts:** 2506

market wrote:

... (not being a whizz on the old computing box of tricks I haven't figured out how to extract the audio track from the DVD)

http://www.dvdae.com/

BobK · **Joined:** Wed May 04, 2005 6:42 pm **Posts:** 1374

I sit next to our company solicitor. He regularly chuckles at the contracts our clients ask us to sign. You basically have three choices. Sign it and accept the consequences, refuse to sign it, or negotiate.

These companies know what they are doing and initial contracts will always be weighted in their favour. We always go into negotiations positively, with a smile and then ask for changes.....

Bill Nelson · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:40 pm **Posts:** 8467

BobK wrote:

These companies know what they are doing and initial contracts will always be weighted in their favour. We always go into negotiations positively, with a smile and then ask for changes.....

We actually tried that, (as I believe, did some of the other artists.) We asked for the right to audit accounting regarding sales and royalties. Unfortunately, they wouldn't allow that to be put into the contract. I do know that one of the other bands attempted to get a financial contribution from the company towards the cost of remixing their audio for their DVD, but, unsurprisingly, that wasn't forthcoming either. :roll:

www.billnelson.com

Gentleman Rocketeers Double CD & DVD set

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