EMI Sticking With IFPI, But Cutting Its Allowance To Sue Music Fans

from the change-from-within? dept

Over the last few months, there have been some indications that major label EMI was sick of the RIAA and IFPI's war on music fans -- and even had threatened to leave the groups. While a huge step, it wasn't a huge surprise, given the new management in charge at EMI, who did not come from a music industry background. It became clear quite quickly that the firm wasn't going to rest on its laurels, but wanted to learn to adapt and to adopt the new business models that involved treating fans right, not suing them. It appears that EMI has now worked out a deal with the IFPI, where it will stay a member of the organization but will contribute significantly less money towards IFPI's "anti-piracy" activities. At the very least, this makes it quite clear that EMI recognizes those activities are counterproductive. For years, the record labels have been insisting that they need to step up such activities, even as every time they did so, things got worse. Of course, the IFPI is still suing and trying to take down sites, so it's not as if the industry has fully realized how counterproductive these activities are. Eventually, though, perhaps they'll realize.
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Filed Under: copyright, ifpi, lawsuits, music
Companies: emi, ifpi


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  1. identicon
    Iron Chef, 10 Mar 2008 @ 7:00pm

    Thumbs up!

    I love EMI. Have you seen Sigur Ros's 90 Minute autobiographical video on Youtube? It's 1hr 30 long!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr4s7KeCbV8

    Pretty Awesome! Apparently many bands quit touring in Iceland, so Sigur Ros went and threw free concerts and made a documentary about it in the process. The music is a little different, but the concepts work!

    Yeah EMI! Keep finding great talent like this.

    http://www.nme.com/news/sigur-ros/34945

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Michael, 10 Mar 2008 @ 8:58pm

    The power of private equity

    Although EMI lost a lot of its best talent after a private equity firm (Radiohead, etc), the new influx of proper business people running the show appears to have made some positive change. They also changed a lot of how the record label is run: less "rock star" budgets (e.g. rent out floor of hotel for artist) and huge recording session budgets.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. icon
    GeneralEmergency (profile), 11 Mar 2008 @ 3:43am

    Somebody please wake the Sex Pistols.

    I think its time for a new set of lyrics to "EMI".

    Ya think maybe?

    On second thought, even after asking nicely, we might just get called a "piss stain" and get told to "sod off".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Justin Mason, 11 Mar 2008 @ 4:32am

    Somebody please tell EMI Ireland

    At the same time, EMI Ireland have just launched a court case against Ireland's biggest ISP demanding that they install p2p filters: http://taint.org/2008/03/11/113449a.html

    Definitely not singing from the same hymn-sheet, it seems.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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