EMI champions pirate downloads! January 22, 2008
Posted by Paul Birch in : EMI, Napster, Terra Firma , add a commentHands challenges music industry to find new ways to sell
By Margareta Pagano, Business Editor . Independent on SundayPublished: 20 January 2008
Guy Hands, the boss of Terra Firma, the private equity group that has just taken over EMI, has accused the music industry of ignoring its customers.
Mr Hands said: “It’s got away with hiring artists and putting out boring CDs that very few people want to buy any more. It even tried to stop Napster, and stop youngsters from downloading. Why on earth would you want to stop people getting free music? What you have to do – and what we will do – is find ways for them to want to buy the music.”
Mr Hands was responding to criticism from within the industry since taking over EMI and planning 2,000 job cuts. He even agreed with Radiohead, the band that put its latest album on the Internet rather than launching a CD, asking its fans to pay what they wanted for the music.
“I completely understand why Radiohead did this,” he said. “The challenge now for us at EMI is to find new ways to finance and nurture young artists, and to please our customers, who come in all age groups and all want different things. CDs just don’t compare with records for their excitement. We want to find new products of the future.”
Hiring Artists? Of course the closest Hands got to the music Industry before - disliking the company so much - he bought it, was to “hire” a band to play at the bowling alley. Hands of course is a first rate ten-pin-bowler, he just hasn’t quite adopted the game in the same way as his peers, insisting on bowling “over-arm”. It’s fun to watch, but he destroys a lot of lanes before he makes a strike!
Of course things like “detail” and “business” are outside Guy Hands’ grasp, as, single-handed, he takes on the Industries’ united front against piracy. He embarrasses all of his senior management team, who have worked their entire lives to see EMI take their place shoulder to shoulder with the other majors and Indies in our combined effort against thoughtless governments, organised crime and a patent Office asleep on the job.
Hands has been scratching and saving all these years, putting away premium bonds and under-tipping at the restaurant next door to the Ivy, in order to save enough money to buy EMI. The next quote is so priceless even master card wouldn’t touch it; “It even tried to stop Napster, and stop youngsters from downloading“. Please penny for the Guy - our man at EMI takes the (half man half..) biscuit. Even the last idiot that ran EMI (from United biscuits) knew a bloody good chocolate digestive from an R&B band! Well, we think he did…
We all know he didn’t agree for Radiohead to make the release, he is wearing their clothes (bit tight, nice flairs, lose the spandex). In fact XL made the release not EMI; not that Hands would have noticed they weren’t on his label anymore. Muppet!
Tune in next week, when Guy Hands joins the remaining bands he has left on the label, playing Bass! OK, the Bass is easily picked up and practically anyone can play it providing they have a sense of rhythm and they can get the band a few gigs and drive the van… But Guy, its not a flaming double bass you moron, and don’t wear spandex over your suit - you flaming idiot.
EMI sponsorship January 17, 2008
Posted by Paul Birch in : EMI, sponsorship , add a commentFeed taken from MIDEM -
EMI chief suggests corporate sponsorship for underperforming artists
17:04 Tuesday, 15th Jan 2008
Article by StrategyEye
EMI may introduce corporate sponsorship to open up new revenue sources for its artists, as part of a series of new measures unveiled by Terra Firma CEO, Guy Hands. Sponsorship would work in a similar way to how it does with football teams, Hands told the Financial Times. The musicians would provide a direct promotional tool for advertising clients either in live performance or as part of album sales and marketing. Artists failing to achieve international coverage could also be placed in touch with local business sponsors, providing them with access to smaller niche markets such as university performances. According to Hands, the vast majority of revenue generated by the label’s artists comes from just 200 of its 14,000 signed acts.
The suggestion is part of a wider strategy put together by Terra Firma to cut around USD391m in costs from the label in the near future. The CEO warned that artists unable or unwilling to bring in substantial revenue would face being axed, to allow focus to be placed on major revenue generators. Up to 2,000 jobs, or 30% of EMI staff, are expected to be cut, and the label’s marketing budget will shift from around 20% of total company spend to between 12% and 15%, with a greatly increased focus on digital marketing and promotion.
As if the whole music world isn’t working on this one. As Guy turns every corner, what he sees is new to him for the first time and he announce it as a revelation. Tune in tomorrow when Guy Hands discovers Cornflakes. Bloody hell these cornflakes are good, have you tried them with milk? Here is a secret Guy, just a spoonful of sugar on top, just don’t pour the milk in the flaming box you bloody moron, its all going over your suit!!
EMI, the end is nigh! January 17, 2008
Posted by Paul Birch in : BPI, EMI, IFPI, New Music, Paul Birch , add a commentHow many hands do you need to run
He has already explained to the press he doesn’t want EMI to be about signing new music any more. And we all thought he was some savvy suit from the city who was going to streamline (cut and paste) operations and raise share values. If EMI doesn’t stand for new music any more, then what exactly does it stand for? And can EMI share prices sustain such profoundly moronic behavior.
You couldn’t make it up (Hide the Gin), Guy Hands is on the loose, cheque book in one hand and a hatchet in the other. Pity all the cheques have a face value of less than $1.00
If you dropped him in the jungle with a machete and a satellite phone, he wouldn’t last 5 minutes before he succumbed to the blade. With only his own head left, he simply couldn’t resist the temptation! Even though he was only a quarter of a mile from the closest City Bank.
With one in three EMI employees now officially INDEPENDENT, Guy hands proves the rule, you can parachute in experts from other industries and immediately they cease to be experts in our industry. Roll on the merger with the brothers at Warner. Meanwhile EMI have given IFPI (and defacto BPI) notice to quit, as Guy Hands seeks to save his subscription to the cost of running the industry. Is this the end of the IFPI, the BPI and the other trade associations if not the end of EMI? Watch this space.
Peter Harris January 15, 2008
Posted by Paul Birch in : Uncategorized , add a commentKickin Records founder dies
12:27 | Wednesday January 9, 2008
Kickin Records founder and independent champion Peter Harris has died.Kickin Records founder dies 12:27 | Wednesday January 9, 2008 By Ben Cardew MUSIC WEEK
Kickin Records founder and independent champion Peter Harris has died. Harris passed away on Sunday January 6 after a long struggle with cancer. Harris founded the Kickin Records label, which pioneered early rave music, in 1988. It went on to release music from artists including The Scientist, Shut Up And Dance, and Messiah, as well as pioneering the careers of Grant Nelson, DJ Hype, Phil Asher, Matthew “Bushwhacka” B, Dominic B (Stanton Warriors) and Rennie Pilgrem. Kickin later became an umbrella company housing the Kickin Records, Slip ‘n’ Slide, Hardleaders, Stoned Asia and Slip ‘n’ Slide Blue labels, and also had a publishing arm in the form of Haripa Music Publishing in 1990.
Revolver Records owner Paul Birch, who worked with Harris on the BPI international committee, says that Harris had “a big brain but a bigger heart”. “He was big for independent cause and totally selfless, a strong advocate of moral issues,” he says. “He always fought the corner, not only for black music but for black executives. And he always had a very strong argument for more women in the industry.”
a7 Music managing director Seven Webster adds, “No music conference would be complete without the lifeblood of the industry, the happy independents like Peter. “I met Pete because as well as running my management company I once reviewed records for Teletext many years ago and as a result reviewed the first releases on Kickin Records. “From then on Peter would call me every Friday night and we would chew the fat about each other’s week and became the best of friends. While we both worked in our own separate space within the industry we really just maintained and shared a great and happy friendship and exchanged ideas, jokes and advice on a regular basis.” Harris is survived by his partner Cleon Roberts and three daughters, Jada, Yasheen and Neomi. The funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Clydesdale Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 1JE at 1030am on Saturday January 19. All friends are welcome. A bereavment gathering will also be held in Ladbroke Grove after the funeral service, with more details to follow.
Welcome January 14, 2008
Posted by Paul Birch in : Paul Birch , add a commentHello and thanks for looking up my blog.
This is really a test post and my blog will begin shortly so please subscribe and you’ll get my posts delivered straight to you.
Paul Birch - Revolver Music Limited
