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09.12  II...  11.17 As part of its plan to make the future of the music industry profitable for all, UMG is in active mode to take over EMI. This has concerned many others in the industry who do not equate UMG with the ideal future of anything. Among those concerned parties is the European Union Directorate-General for Competition. That’s a level above what a top London litigation lawyer, hired by UMG to block enquiries, can stonewall. Another interested party: Declan Panegyric. To Mr. Grainge, UMG Power Possessor Numero Uno in NYC… Declan Colgan To Lucian Grainge Sent: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:32 Subject: King Crimson - UMG - EC Divestment package Dear Mr. Grainge, UMG has listed King Crimson masters for sale as part of its "divestment package". UMG controls no King Crimson masters, so cannot offer such for sale. Urgent attention and action is required re the enclosed letter and spreadsheet. Please confirm receipt and appropriate action by return. Kind regards, Declan Colgan 11.48 Sometimes the artist has to call it as they see it. And if our artists don't, our society is close to dying. RF to Mr. Grainge… Sent: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:47 Subject: Re: King Crimson - UMG - EC Divestment package dear mr. grainge, http://www.dgmlive.com/news.htm?entry=3917 UMG is prepared to divest itself of a number of its properties in order to acquire EMI. one of these properties is... King Crimson. yet UMG has no rights nor entitlements to King Crimson. this is one small example of what happens when a large, dopey company acquires smaller companies, or whatever levels of dopiness; and indicative of six years of grief, obfuscation, evasion, opacity and copyright violation that has characterised our dealings with UMG. better, for example, that UMG employ a top London lawyer to refuse to give us information ("i am not prepared to litigate by e-mail"), than to give us information (eg non-payment of Summers & Fripp royalties for 19 years, accounting on unlicensed downloads of KC material)? if we trust what someone does, rather than what they say they do, UMG's answer is: "yes - better to pay a top London lawyer than pay you". when law ceases to serve justice, it ceases to be law. once this is widely felt to be so, the implications are alarming: the music ceases to be harmonious, and moves increasingly towards Rough Music. your tim smith in UK Business Affairs spent three years telling us that UMG did not acquire Sanctuary. yet, if you believe yourself to be able to divest itself of King Crimson, presumably you believe that UMG did acquire Sanctuary. if so, why did your Business Affairs lawyer tell us this was not the case?, and over an extended period of time? The Four Pillars of The Ethical Company Honesty Responsibility Equity Goodwill transparency + straightforwardness = honesty accountability + owning-up = responsibility distributive justice + fairness = equity common decency = goodwill time to own up, dude. sincerely, rf (King Crimson copyright owner / controller) 12.49 A fury of dissension and e-ness I…  II...  17.12 Off to Wilson World HQ. 20.48 This evening’s work: the new stereo mix of Beat (1982) I…  II...  Beat is about the only Crimson album where I had nothing to do with the mix at all. I wasn’t present the first time around, having been thrown out of the studio. Cf Billy B’s excellent read: Crimson Tales – And That’s Only Part Of What I’ve Done With My Life! We have honoured the first mix, by Rhett Davies, but with significant small moves, touches and fairy dusting. It is now ace, and recommended. Returning to Motel Modesto for computing. 23.49 Done. Search Robert Fripp's diary archive. |
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