jump to navigation

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!

EMI champions pirate downloads! January 22, 2008

Posted by Paul Birch in : EMI, Napster, Terra Firma , add a comment

Hands challenges music industry to find new ways to sell

By Margareta Pagano, Business Editor. Independent on Sunday

Published: 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 comment

Feed 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 comment

How many hands do you need to run Britain’s longest running Record Company? Obviously only one: Guy Hands. Soon he might be the only one left as he dis-members arguably the worlds finest Recording company. Since Hands has fired 2000 of EMI’s 5000 employees centering operations in London, everyone is waiting to see what he does next (hide the matches).

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.