Hi all just a few comments here on the topics of CDRs, royalties, Nic Jones and the MCPS

I believe that Celtic Music have been sending royalty cheques for these 2 re-issues. However Julia isn't cashing them as she is trying to negotiate with Dave Bulmer over increased royalty payments or the buying back of Nic's back catalogue. To cash the cheques would weaken her legal case I believe.

To answer someones questions earlier in the thread. Yes Celtic Music / Dave Bulmer do own most of Nic's back catalogue. It's not just Nics work, but ALL the Trailer / Leader titles. (Also all labels Black Crow, Making Waves, Mulligan, Greenwich Village, Broadside and many many more)

I dont know about anyone else, but If I decided not to own any titles owned by or distributed by Celtic Music, I would have a very slim CD collection! As much as many will not like to hear it, we should maybe stand back and think sometimes before we let fly with criticism. There are a lot of albums that I would never have been able to purchase on CD without CM making them available again.

MCPS logos mean nothing when it comes to proving royalties have been paid. I have just checked some albums in my collection by artists such as Kate Rusby, Shirley Collins, Incredible String Band, Bert Jansch, Maddy Prior. (None of these are owned by CM) but none contain the MCPS logo. however as tracks have been broadcast on BBC radio they will all be registered with PRS and MCPS. On the opposite side of things, I recently picked up a definite bootleg of some Sandy Denny material and the CD did contain an MCPS logo!!

Regarding CDRs. Unless you get a particularly shoddy one, I doubt most listeners could tell CD from CDR. The days of blue / green backed "home" CDRs has gone. Most commercial CDRs are near identical to "true" CDs. Providing care is taken with the recording and manufacture they seem to be just as good. I've had some music CDRs in my collection for nearly 10 years and they sound just as good today as they did then.

Just a few thoughts