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BPI to hold second EGM in reversal of fortunes over EMI & SONY BMG February 12, 2008

Posted by Paul Birch in : BPI, EMI, Paul Birch, SONY BMG, Terra Firma , add a comment

BPI to amend amendment aimed at retaining EMI, now aimed at retaining Sony BMG

Well, you couldn’t make it up. BPI who on the 12th February held an EGM to change its constitution aimed at retaining EMI as members, couldn’t convince more than 15% of its members to write in to change the fourth amendment to its Memo and Arts in as many years. Having written out to member asking for their support, BPI now find themselves in the embarrassing position of writing out to members again some time soon, this time asking them to reverse the decision.

Management gone mad?

BPI went to great pains to convince members to alter the constitution following EMI’s notice to quit BPI sister organisation IFPI. BPI’s vice chairman even wrote out asking for support, but only 1 in 6 companies responded. The rule which until the 12th Feb. required members of BPI to also be members of IFPI was altered to uncouple from IFPI, in the hope that the lifeboats wouldn’t be dragged under with the ship.

EMI are on a collision path with its peers over ditching support for IFPI, which lobbies on piracy and political issues. EMI have handed in a notice to quit the IFPI International trade group. Under the circumstances this also means that BPI will have to come to terms with the fact that EMI will also have to leave the BPI National Group.

Realising all this put EMI on a path where defacto they had to resign from BPI, BPI bosses ordered their lawyers to draft changes to the constitution in order that they could hang on to EMI when the inevitable becomes a reality at the end of February.

However, our Industry friends, reliable sources and Industry insiders tell us totally on the QT, hush hush and on the low, that the nice people at SONY BMG were more than a little irritated over the shenanigans. Who can blame them? I have a SONY TV so I am on their side.

A lot of members thought the whole shooting-match farcical. That BPI would hold an EGM to change the rules to hang on to just one member! Now, within a month they are in the embarrassing position of having to hold another EGM on March 12th to reverse the earlier decision, in order to hold on to an even more important member; SONY BMG.

One insider said; “it’s like Alien versus Predator in here”. There’s a lot of gnashing of teeth, saliva and tongue biting going on, and that’s just from the lawyers!

EMI about to join AIM and declare Independence? February 5, 2008

Posted by Paul Birch in : AIM, BPI, EMI, IMPALA, Paul Birch , add a comment

As the BPI changes its constitution to try to hang on to EMI, are EMI intending to join AIM / IMPALA / WIN and abandon IFPI and BPI all together?

BPI sceptic Roger Ames alleged arch evil over lord and chief scheme plotter behind Guy Hands is plotting in his shed

The EMI digital away-day, two years ago at Wright Lane, should have been the writing on the wall. Ted Cohen ran new media and was the main speaker at an event meant to open up New media to music minors and give them a major perspective on how EMI were taking on the difficult issues. EMI flew people in from Asia and all over the world it was a very impressive event laid on just for the independents. But not just any independents, as EMI’s fellow BPI and IFPI members were not invited. At least one BPI council member resigned in outrage. But these were the days when Alain Levy was in charge and he made sure no IFPI or BPI members were present. Madness. Why invite half the Indies and bar the other half, especially the ones that are meant to be part of your own trade association?

EMI have been cosying up to AIM for the longest time. We are about to see what it all means. Industry insiders reckon Guy Hands will be planning to sit down some time soon with Martin Mills to work this all out. It would look like a major PR advantage that would take the music world by storm and might even do something for share prices for a change.

Putting £1 or 2M into AIM/IMPALA/ WIN would buy them a lot more influence, that kind of money doesn’t go very far with IFPI, after all BPI costs alone amount to nearly £8M a year to run the place. Then there is the opportunity to be closer to the Indie community. For instance they could meet new friends, then buy them!