Check out this book about the music industry.

Hit Men: Power Brokers & Fast Money Inside the Music Business.
by Fredric Dannen

Book gives a lot of insight into corruption in the music indusry.

I Have had that Book for Months&the Irony of me getting that Book was it was right before Michael Jackson&Tommy Mottola had there War of Events.both are heavily featured in that Book.I saw the Payola section.some cat got Busted for getting Prince,Hall&Oats&someone else a Radio extra spin&then some.I got other Books that focus in this matter.Nelson George's "the Death of R&B",Jackie Wilson Books that talk about the Label He was with Brunswick Records&the Mob ties.Michael Jackson"The Magic&the Maddness"&Diana Ross's "Call Her Miss ROss" also Marvin gaye Books go into Details on this Matter&a Little Richard Autobio that I have talk about ROyality Rates&things.but "HitMen" is a Must.

mistermaxxx said:

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I have the Jackie Wilson book and that really opened my eyes to what a sleazeball industry the music industry is.
I wish more people on this site would read about this stuff and understand that some of the things that Prince has to say about Warner Brothers is valid.

laurarichardson said:

have you ever seen the Movie"the Five Heartbeats"? the one Robert Townsend Directed? well th scene where the Singer is held over the Balcony is about Jackie Wilson.Sam Cooke's Book talks about the Mob running the Copa where He performed.no one disputes what Prince says but for me He kept Signing again&again with Warners when he knew they were Pimping Him.so finally after "Arista" I think he might be through going that route? Michael Jackson thus far has stated he has had enough.

laurarichardson said:

Unfortunately I think some folks here will think Prince is always at fault no matter what they find out to the contrary.

The music industry is way beyond the level of everyday office politics.

Supernova said:

the music industry may be very corrupt. but Prince always wants his cake and to eat it too. he wants the big machine behind him to sell his albums, but he doesn't want to give up one iota to get it done.

is it fair for him to have been paid the massive amount of money that Warner Bros. did and then just expect to own his masters without giving anything up? like U2 did with their royalty rate? or Bowie did by buying them back himself?

AaronUnlimited said:

I don't know all the details of that situation, and unless you were there neither do you. If you've ever seen recording contracts you know they're rarely ever fair, on the surface, or otherwise.

Supernova said:

so then, they shouldn't be signed. or they should be negotiated. of course, when you fire your management before going in for contract negotiations, you're not doing yourself any favors...

AaronUnlimited said:

That I agree with. At least replace them with some competent people instead of trying to do everything yourself. Because most musicians aren't good businessmen/women anyway.

Supernova said:

we agree on something?

AaronUnlimited said:

Actually, I think we agree more than you realize. It's just that I usually only respond when I don't agree, and if I do agree many times I don't acknowledge it. But it has nothing to do with you personally, I got no beef with you, but I've seen many posts I agree with but don't say anything about.

Supernova said:

I Believe Prince.after all the Crap Michael Jackson went through with Contracts as a Kid through His Adult Career you gotta believe how Corrupt that Industry is.I Mention MJ because the J-5 lost there Stage Name in order too leave Motown&they were the first Act I grew Up on that truly opened my eyes about the Biz.Berry Gordy&Motown were a strong wake up for me.

NY Post
Friday December 6, 2002

http://www.nypost.com/bus.../63801.htm

By TIM ARANGO


December 6, 2002 -- Independent music retailers are fabricating numbers reported to Nielsen Soundscan, inflating the number of albums sold by music labels such as white-hot Island Def Jam, The Post has learned.

It's not clear who is behind the scheme, which involves shipping boxes of albums for free to some independent retailers, according to well-placed sources.

The retailers reap all the profits from the sale of the extra albums, and in exchange report bogus figures to Nielsen Soundscan, the standard reporting agency for the record industry, the sources say.

The record labels do not receive any income from the sale of the albums shipped free, nor do they profit directly from the bogus figures reported to Soundscan.

Labels could benefit from the bogus numbers, however, if they served to propel a record up the charts, boosting radio play and sales. Industry sources say Nielsen Soundscan numbers are typically factored into bonuses. But a spokesperson for Universal, the parent of Island Def Jam, said its executive compensation is not linked to the numbers and never has been.

In one example of the sales inflation, an indie retailer in the Southeast recently reported to Nielsen Soundscan that it had sold roughly 3,000 percent more copies of Jay-Z's new album, "Blueprint 2" - an Island Def Jam release - than it actually did, according to sources both at the retail level and close to Universal.

The scheme was verified by another indie retailer in the Southeast, which typically reports to Nielsen Soundscan triple the amount actually sold. For example, this store sold roughly 50 copies of Jay-Z's album recently, but scanned 150 for Nielsen Soundscan.

This source says the practice has been ongoing for about three years, and is not limited to Island Def Jam releases.

The Jay-Z album has lately been one of the nation's hottest. When it debuted in November, it knocked Eminem's "8 Mile" soundtrack out of the No. 1 spot.

News that Island Def Jam's Soundscan figures may have been inflated could dent the prestige of the label and its parent Universal Music, the largest and most successful record company.

In a statement, Island Def Jam said: "We do not respond to such unfounded speculation and innuendo . . . Claims of this type degrade the hard work and accomplishments of our artists and we will protect them from such erroneous claims."

Rumors have run rampant in the music industry that Nielsen Soundscan's numbers could be manipulated. The Los Angeles Times reported in July 2001 on speculation that the major music companies were distorting the numbers.

The music industry is in the midst of both a sales downturn and a fight against piracy, and record companies are aggressively trying to keep their numbers afloat.

Executives at Nielsen Soundscan were unavailable for comment, but a company spokesperson insisted that its reporting methods are secure.

"Soundscan has an extensive and secure checks and balances system that catches any reporting irregularities that you're suggesting," said Larry Solters, a spokesman for the company.

While the music industry has been in the doldrums, Universal and Def Jam have thrived. BMG's Arista Records has done well too.

According to the most recent figures, Universal has carved out more than 28 percent of the market, compared with its nearest competitors - Warner Music, with a 15.8 percent share, and Sony, with a 15.6 percent share.

Island Def Jam itself, meanwhile, has seen its market share grow from about 5.4 percent in 1999 to more than 8 percent today, and sales are expected to rise about 25 percent this year.

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Comment on article from velvetrope.com:

I've got to explain this to you. Sony planted that story--Mottola. He was embarrassed this week by stories that Universal Group had surpassed him and that he may be on the way out. He controls the Post. You notice there's no mention of Sony. If this story had been reported properly, then Amerie's debut at number 9, and subsequent fall to like 50, would have been mentioned.
Also, SoundScan counts what was sold, not what was shipped. So indie retailers could have been shipped boxes but they can't "report" fake numbers to SoundScan. That was the old days. SoundScan counts the sales by computer.
Granted, Universal is booming and rap album sales look high. But understand that even if there is truth there, the nugget of that story is generated from one little man who is being questioned this week by the Japanese about his loss of sales, in particular two mega artists who he essentially fired.

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The industry is so corrupt you've got label bosses planting stories to show how corrupt other companies are just to cover their own asses!

AaronUnlimited said:[quote]

Supernova said:

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None of us were around when the contracts were being negotiated. We could go back to 1977 and wonder why Owen Hunsey did not arrange for Prince to get this masters back.
When Steve Fargonli came along why did'nt he negotiate for the masters. You cannot blame all the business problems on the artist. After all they hire what they beliveve to be competant people to handle their business and it just does not seem to happen. The only manager I have read about that was really sharp was the Led Zepplin manager. If you have ever read anything about him he really knew how to stick it to the music companies and hook Led Zepplin up.

Please check out this book and look up some articles about the pension lawsuit that some artist have filled against the major labels. The labels never paid into the artist pension funds and a lot of older artist are not receiving their checks or receiving small sums. It really is a heartless industry. 0
:

Ellie said:

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I hope they wake-up in Japan and fire this asshole.

laurarichardson said:[quote]

AaronUnlimited said:

Hunsey though got Him a Full COntrol Clause over His work.Full Creative Control making Prince one of the few Cats at that time or almost any other time with that kind of deal.Fragnoli Hustled for that Dollar.Managers are tricky:some will hustle&Bust there Ass for there Artist but many are like Puppet COurt Appointed Attorneys for the Labels.they Play both sides of the wall.Frank Dileo who managed Michael Jackson during the "Bad" Era&also had some Pull during the "Thriller" Era opened my eyes at what Pull can do.He also Represented Prince&Cher after MJ dropped Him.But Frank was also down with the Company&when MJ spoke out on Sony&Tommy Mottola Frank Dileo didn't back MJ.MJ was the Reason Frank was living Large&you see the Double Cross these Cats do?Fragnoli got dropped by Prince&prsented Sinead O'Connor with "Nothing Compares 2 U".Prince in song Pimp Slaps Fragnoli on the Song"Jughead" at the end.if you want too to own your stuff you gotta make that a Point early on like Ray charles did with Atlantic.He asked point blank.Michael Jackson has His Masters&I Learned More from MJ about how shady that Business really is.Curtis Mayfield had a Joint deal with Warners&He got His Masters.just got through reading a Interview in the Source with Baby of Cash Money Records:they are getting all there Masters&Full Rights with there deal with Universal.the Rap/Hip-Hop Cats Learned the Hustle.People Might Hate Suge Knight but you gotta give Him props for knowing how too Roll in the Game.Quincy Jones,Paul Mccartney,Michael Jackson,etc.. got into the Publishing Game&Labels can't stand Smart Artists.

Ellie said:

I'm not trying too Bring Michael Jackson up with everything but MJ hit the tail on the Donkey about Tommy Mottola.Tommy has been Planting Stories about MJ all since MJ split.but anyway SoundScan is like the Damn Nelson Box ain't nobody seen that Shit.for all we Know Thriller may have sold a 100 Million here&Purple Rain right next too it,etc.. Prince Brought up this Point back in 94 I Believe talking about either Snoop or Biggie when he said that SoundScan ain't in the Hood that a Rapper may have sold 20 Million Copies but who knows for sure??NWA got acknowledged for 2 Million Copies for "Straight outta Compton" but come on those Guys Sold more than that.everybody in the Know knows the Market is Soft as tissue overall.

mistermaxxx said:[quote]

laurarichardson said:

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Well perhaps the control clause and the big advances are the reasons that Prince did not obtain his masters. In business you do have to give up something sometime to get something.

I am just glad he appears to have learned his lesson and is cool enough to try a warn others.

laurarichardson said:[quote]

AaronUnlimited said:

Yeah, that's basically what I said, in essence.


That's not even close to what I did.


As far as I'm concerned the late Peter Grant was the best manager a group could EVER need and EVER want to have.



You're preaching to the choir. I'm always in the recording artists corner. But I also know that Prince seems to need representation when at times, especially during the last several years, it seems that he has no managing representation at all.
[This message was edited Sun Dec 8 13:04:35 PST 2002 by Supernova]

laurarichardson said:

quite true. but people were there and they talk.