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LEEMail
Kill kill kill kill
kill the poor.
Kill kill kill kill
kill the poor.
S O A P B O X
So, if you were
waiting to get a cd burner... Universal Music Distribution (UMD)
- now the biggest music conglomerate in the universe [hence the
name] sent out a price increase memo this week. Effective Aug.
31, 1998, all frontline (i.e. "regular price") cds &
cassettes are to be increased to $17.98 for the cd and $11.98 for
the cassette. Even better, records like Abba's
"Gold", Clapton's "Cream Of Clapton" and U2's
"Best Of" will be increased to $18.89/cd and (get this)
$12.98/cassette. Even Jimmy Buffett's "Songs You
Know By Heart" and Guns 'N Roses "Appetite for
Destruction" increase from $11.98/$7.98 to $17.98/$11.98.
The Developing Artist series (which I've stated my opinion about)
disappears, and all titles move up to $17.98. That means
records I've lauded (Phantom Planet & Bigsexy Robbie Fulks to
name a few) move WAY up in price. Does this mean more
royalties for our heroes (probably not), or even less development
(probably yes). Screw the majors, people. We didn't ask
them to buy each other out. We didn't ask them to fire their
staffs and destroy the concept of smaller (more efficient and more
artist friendly) labels living under a larger umbrella. We
didn't ask them to move warehouses from one end of the country to
the other, creating much greater overhead than they expected.
What we did do was not balk when a cd that costs under $2.00 to
produce hit with a $17.98 list price. We buy their overpriced
feck, and watch them make flash in the pan singers and washed
up music fogies administrators. Fuck them. It
is truly the time for consumers to take a stand. There's so
much great music out there that's either distributed through indie
channels (see: Pavement, Robbie Fulks) or by the artist via the
internet (see: Bruce Lash) Go to www.mp3.com
and find something new. Rediscover old records in your
collection. DO NOT give those bastards any more money.
Universal's motto is "We stand for artists and artist
development." I propose "We stand for greed and
are greedy." The soundtrack to "The Big Chill"
is moving from $11.98/$5.98 to $18.98/$12.98. Ain't Too Proud
To Beg, indeed!
Favorite Album Of All
Time This Week©: 'We're Only In It For The Money' - Mothers
Of Invention
Favorite Song Of All
Time This Week©: "For The Love Of Money" - O'Jays
or Utopia. I don't care. I'm just for goddamn hot.
Speaking of hot, saw
my girlfriend Heather Graham's new movie 'Bowfinger'. It's
truly hilarious. Eddie Murphy is a funny, funny guy.
HighLEE recommended.
Happy Birthday To
Thee From LEE This Week©
08/20/42
Isaac Hayes
08/21/39
James Burton
08/21/44
Jackie DeShannon
08/23/12
Gene Kelly
08/23/47
Keith Moon
08/25/49
Gene Simmons
08/25/54
Elvis Costello
Speaking of Mr.
Klein, saw "Detroit Rock City" this weekend, too. I
laughed. Don't know if you will.
HistoricalLEE
Speaking This Week©
08/26/70
Jimi Hendrix's last performance, at the Isle Of Wight Pop Festival.
Guess who saw Ron
Dante sing "Tracy" live at the Rhino Retrofest last
weekend. Guess who wrote him an e-mail. Guess who got a
response. Guess who's cooler than you.
In
Garthbrooksaschrisgaines news: No word on the record.
Although I had heard September - and I just did EMD's Sept. 21
release book - it wasn't in there. hmmmmm...
Question Of The Week©:
What's the most you
ever paid for a record? Was it worth it?
©1999 Lee M. Lodyga
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