www.billnelson.com

Understood, Its one thing to make reasonable demands & another to get them, but I can't believe that selling on the rights to your performance without even consulting you first, is in any way acceptable business practice, It says "we don't expect to work with this artist again so lets milk it now for all its worth",

They appear to have ripped up the contract you signed, I bet there was nothing in it to say this could be an eventuality,

I think I speak for the majority on this site when I say we are all absolutely appalled at the way you have been treated so far,

Hi

I've bought ac couple of Salvo releases and have been really impressed with packaging, notes etc. If you check out their website I very much doubt it is a "front" company. They've probably just been offered a good deal from Metropolis, shame Bill wasn't.

H

What an evil exploiting world we live in!
By the look of things Bill, what you've experienced is little better than being scammed. If this type of practice continues unchecked, there will be no musicians left to produce anything.
The only good thing to come out of it from a fan's point of view is the superb DVD that many now own. How about making another one seeing as you have a vast back catologue to delve into? I thought the mixture of your songs on the last one was just right. If you do make another one though Bill, make sure you are fully financially rewarded for your work.

I and I suspect many others would love to see a DVD of you performing some of your more recent material.

For those of us in remote parts of the world (Tasmania) who can't get to Nelsonica.

It need not be an expensive production....... but good sound quality (easier if you were in charge of that Bill)

If nothing else get some friends to film your Nelsonica performances and make them available to those who due to the tyranny of distance didn't get to York....... I for one would pay money for that!

I think Bill should investigate the feasaBillity of producing his own performance DVD
with additional Band tracks and a full solo performance and gazump the feckers.

I'm sure he has, if I remember the costs would be very prohibitive to potential sales levels. Would love to see one of course

Well I'm no lawyer and am certainly not cognisant of and of the details/intricacies of Bill's agreement with Metropolis..none of my business either, but since it appears to be being discussed here, I'll add my bit..for what it's worth.....No disrespect intended with my comments, in fact they're probably just a load of old cobblers.

If I were to try and put myself in Bill's shoes in this, or a similar situation, pre-contract...Well if I was willing (albeit grudgingly) to contractually sign away the rights of this particular live performance and the things that went with it, DVD sales etc, as a 'trade off' for this particular performance being broadcast (one-off presumably) on mainstream British national tv, I would expect/demand that this broadcast be guaranteed within any contract as a binding clause.

If Metropolis were assuring me verbally (gentleman's agreement style), that this performance would be 100% guaranteed to be shown on national tv, how could they have any problem including such a guarantee in a contract?...indeed with a waiver attached along the line of, any failure of the said broadcast to appear within a sensible and agreed time frame and any rights to the intellectual property would be relinquished and signed over to Mr. Nelson..in other words, a safety clause for Bill. A fair exchange and one which would cause no problems to Metropolis , if their intentions were honourable.

Any refusal on their behalf to accept such a clause in the contract, would set alarm bells ringing!...surely?......Under such a refusal, probably the appropriate cause of action would have been to give them a wide birth....Easy for me to say I know, and once again no disrespect intended..and always easy in hindsight...but one has to look after one's own interests as well.

It's such a shame that this has happened to a genuinely nice person like Bill..a man that gives so much..This sort of unfortunate circumstance always leaves a sour taste, one that can linger for quite a while...but hopefully not, hopefully onwards and upwards!...I know all your fans and followers here are always behind you Bill and will wish you their very best as always...

Hopefully Bill, in any similar future ventures, you (and your legal team) will have a strong 'safety net' in place.

All the best

Nick.

The music business...Judas, by any other name?

There's no business like show business.


I see the fact that this happened and we were informed of it before the initial DVD release was a gift from BN to us fans. Particularly those of us that can't be in the UK to see him live or at Nelsonica.

For that I am very grateful but, if I had known that these other DVD/CD shenanigans were going to transpire, I may not have bought the original DVD release even though BN told us about the structure of the agreement for it in advance.

Looking at the track listings, my educated guess is that the original DVD has been artificially & uselessly split into two video disks -- full ensemble (+ interview) & solo set -- & the full soundtrack cloned to an audio CD. My further guess is that this was purposefully done to claim that it is "a new release."

Despite bearing three disks, the price is lower than other "Classic Rock Legends" releases, which I suspect indicates that the "licensing arrangement" is bogus, trimming overhead costs such as the artist.

I had my trepidations about purchasing the original DVD release, given the manner in which the producers had played fast-&-loose with some rather simple assurances made to Mr Nelson to get him onstage.

Though nothing like an attorney (that ship sailed MANY years ago), I'd recommend going directly after control of the audio. Better still, Bill Nelson is certainly owed royalties as the songwriter -- this is generally much easier to demonstrate than for recorded material. Unless there is some weird contractual clause that indemnifies the producers from responsibility, then full accounting for sale of the recordings is due the songwriter.

And the first time a single copy of the DVD set appears in the United States, it's possible that suit may be filed on this side of the wet. There are actually Bill Nelson titles that are embargoed from sale to the U.S. -- this may be a misunderstanding on the part of the seller or the intermediary site (in this case Amazon UK) but I have personally encountered it.

Further, in the context of recorded music, "Bill Nelson" may be considered a tacit trade-mark under U.S. law, so pasting it on new product without the direct consent of the Bill Nelson involved in the recording may constitute an intellectual-property theft under United States law. Both Billy Joel & Harlan Ellison have fully trademarked their names, to cloud claims that these are "common words."

With an attorney's consent, I'd suggest looking into the possibility of releasing the audio soundtrack through a Nelson-owned imprint. Given the out-of-pocket work that Mr Nelson purchased to fine-up the audio, he has a fairly strong claim. This might force Salvo or ITV or the producers to bring suit, during which the whole mess could be brought to light. I will at this point offer $1,000 toward financing the release of such a CD, Mister N -- if your management green-lights such an approach, please drop me a note as to means of transfer.