ARTIST SLAM MUSIC INDUSTRY

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Singers and entertainment attorneys criticized California's $41 billion recording industry Tuesday, testifying that it routinely underreports royalties and cheats artists of millions of dollars.

The speakers were testifying before the state Senate's Judiciary Committee and alleged financial irregularities by the five global corporations that dominate the music business.

Music attorney Don Engel estimated that record companies routinely "underpay 10 to 40 percent on every royalty" and dare artists to challenge it without killing their careers.

"I've heard of this hearing described as a fishing expedition," said entertainment attorney Fred Wilhelms. "There are big fish out there."


The record industry denied the characterizations and cast the allegations in a context of power negotiations between artists and their lawyers and the record labels.

"That's what's going on here. No more, no less," said Steven Marks, senior vice president of the Recording Industry Association of America.

The industry also released an economic analysis that showed fewer than 5 percent of signed artists produce a hit record. Likewise, for every hit, the industry loses $6.3 million on albums that fail.

Among those testifying, singer Sam Moore, formerly of Sam and Dave, recalled learning in his 50s that his retirement fund would be $67 a month because his record label never reported income to his pension fund.

Singer Montel Jordan, who had the 1995 hit, "This is How We Do It," said despite 2 million singles from that release and several albums since, he still owes money to his record label.

"I have sold many gold and platinum records. I've never had a moneymaking loss and yet ... I still haven't recouped," Jordan said.

Several speakers, calling for reforms, suggested the recording industry develop a standard set of accounting rules.

A bill introduced in the Senate would close a record industry exemption from state labor law and limit contracts to seven years.

Montell Jordan got dropped by Def Jam Soul&they Pulled the Plug on His Album as well.He had a R.Kelly Vibe in the Video&song.R.Kelly dissed that in Vibe a few Months abck.I Remember when Montell Jordan was Russell Simmons Hope Versus Death Row when Def Jam was on the Ropes.Montell Jordan&Warren G.now a few years later in the Picture both are Dropped from them unreal?Sam Moore has spoken out on it before.they are Right too Many GLASSY-EYED Busters Scared to Admit How Foul that Industry truly is.they tell you if you speak out You are White-Balled.

& damn right too. Prince gets a lot of hassel round here for his artists rights thing. As a fellow artists I agree totally with the destruction of corporate recording companies. Hate to break it to ya but this buisiness aint about money, its about music.

I know that many people are sick of hearing millionairs complaining but to me, my songs & my right to keep them close to me is worth more money than there is in the world.
[This message was edited Tue Jul 23 19:07:48 PDT 2002 by thecloud9mission]

Hey if that kind of money is involved, I too rather hit the skids instead of take care of a rich sucka's kids.

"Likewise, for every hit, the industry loses $6.3 million on albums that fail."

Aawww...THEN GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS!