News : Burning Spear Beats Down Babylon, Takes Back Copyrights

[Roots Archives]

Reggae artist **Burning Spear** (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) says his musical career started to take off when he ran into a young Bob Marley in a field in Jamaica. Marley told him to head over to the Studio One recording studio, and the rest is history.

"Bob was traveling with a donkey and all these various plants," explained Burning Spear in a statement. "Bob was young, dreadlocks just start to spring. I was asking Bob how I could get started and where could I go to get that start. He asked me if I know Studio One."

However, after experiencing firsthand the brutality of some recording contracts there, Burning Spear and his wife/manager Sonia Rodney learned the importance of hanging onto his copyrights. Now, the couple either owns or has acquired the entire Burning Spear back catalog with the exception of a few songs, for which EMI says it cannot find the contracts, according to a spokeswoman. They plan on getting those back as well.

"You cannot remain silent while people trample on your rights," wrote the the 63 year old musician on his MySpace page. " For year reggae artist have been going through hell. None 'as any respect for us. Records label continue to collect our publishing, and royalty without paying us, even when agreements are up. Then when I-man manufacture my own CDs and watch as this illegal distribution label start to control all what mines. I decided I would no longer be silent's."

Burning Spear's own label, Burning Music, released his latest album, Jah Is Real, on August 17 (Marcus Garvey's birthday).

*source : [blog.wired.com](http://blog.wired.com)*

[stepping razor]

Copyrights are in a real mess in what means what, its not about the copyright laws, its about how much money you got to pay to best legal team to play silly court room games at £400 GBP an hour.
What right does any one have to not pay the artist, and they go well sue me then. Its better to be sued then sue someone, cos its legal aid, no win no pay.
The music business men are not interested in music, cos they think the artist is thick and stupid and dont know about business. They also will change a contract without telling you. Yet again its sue me then.
Try hustling a hustler, but are the record company paying their in-come tax? I doubt it. So they rip you off then try and rip off the taxman. If I want to prove it that I made that record I would then be paying the record companies income tax as well.
If it were not for the artist there would be no music, and if it were not for the business man their would still be music, the state of the music bizz is they are really scraping the barrel to keep their corporate jobs.

Big up The Spear righteousness prevails everytime.

peace

[Triple8]

Any thoughts on what 'reggaerevive45.com' are doing?

[stepping razor]

EMI says it cant find the rest of The Spears copyright contract for some songs, then they dont own that song, the song writer does, cos hes credited on the record as composser/writer, and we all know The Spear made the tune.
Its for the record company (EMI) to find the contract to prove it. Until then it belongs to The Spear. who will copyright it their way.
Common sense, not £400 GBP an hour with the legal copyright law team.
EMI is getting so foggy foggy, I can hardly see, Jah Jah is my eyesight and the contract is getting so foggy foggy, I can hardly, now not at all see, for the road is getting foggy and the lawers are getting so groggy groggy with all the foggy memories of any contract.
EMI wasn`t it bad enough with the Sex Pistols.
Come on hand them over EMI.

peace

[stepping razor]

Copyrighteousness.

peace

[ACEtone]

"Bob was young, dreadlocks just start to spring. I was asking Bob how I could get started and where could I go to get that start. He asked me if I know Studio One."

I think the bit about the dreadlocks can't be right, can it?
Bob was only getting his hair knotted up around '73 or something?

Maybe I'm wrong - but the locks grew awfully fast, that's for sure.

Just thinking about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBP8iw9ooPU
Spear was at Studio One before '73 surely?
But what is time compared to mythology?

[Greg]

that is very good news, good for burning spear. im hoping he re releases his first live album. what a treat that would be.
too much stealing in the music industry. everybody should go independent in my opinion.

[stepping razor]

The record companies are already out of business, thats why they are all signing up for iTunes.
EMI is on the brink of failure to be bailed out by computer companies, and all the other majors. CBS/Columbia is helped to stay afloat cos of the Hollywood films they make.
The computer downloading thing which the record companies embraced to start off with backfired. Major record labels your fired!!
What a world when the richman moan about not having a job any more, who gives a * * * * *. on getting five stars review on some good reggae record thats just come out. The record company boss who`s lost his job don`t give a * * * * * five star review cos hes a jobless nobody.
Its turned full circle in the record business, the record businessman had always thought the music artist is stupid and thick. "What do music artists now all they want is for us to make them money and famous" ah thats what you think mac, thats what you think doc, thats what you think EMI.
One more thing is not only owning your copyright but having/owning the master tapes in your hand.
I have many Utopia test pressing dubplates (not reggae) that do not belong to CBS. Shall I put them out!! I was down the studio when they were recorded dont you know.
Many rehershal tapes that dont belong to CBS.
LL COOL J`s contract he signed with Def Jam in the mid eighties was for a 10 LP deal. He was young and took it and the big advance and has only completed the 10 LP`s for Def Jam in 2004. If you dont like what they put in the contract they want you to sign, asked them to change it to suit you, even better draw up what you want out of the contract, dont be scared its common sense and you dont need a lawyer.

peace