Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest

Subject: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 06:44 AM

The Full text of what I received is in the Green Linnett Screws Artists thread.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         

September 22, 2003        
        
DALY COMMUNICATIONS
333 WEST 39TH STREET
SUITE 603
NEW YORK, NY 10018

212-465-2444 // [e-mail]

IRISH MUSICIANS TO PROTEST AT OFFICES OF GREEN LINNET MUSIC
IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT OCTOBER 13, 2003

Claim years of non-payment of royalties and inappropriately applied deductions

WHEN:        OCTOBER 13, 2003

WHERE:         81 BEAVER BROOK ROAD, DANBURY CONNECTICUT
TIME:        5:00 P.M

Major Irish and Irish American recording artists have combined to take legal action against Green Linnet Music in a law suit unprecedented in the history of Irish music. They plan to lead a musical protest at the company's offices in hopes of galvanizing this grass roots cause. There will be renditions of old labor movement tunes and appearances by guest artists joining them in the protest -- the likes of which has not been seen since the mid 1960's. They ask that fellow musicians, their fans and others who believe in their cause come out to support them.

The famed Irish groups Altan and Cherish the Ladies, nine time All-Ireland fiddle champion and musical star of Riverdance, Eileen Ivers, National Heritage Award winner Mick Moloney and All Ireland Champion multi-instrumentalist Joanie Madden have come together because they share a common outrage at the way they have been treated by one of the major recording companies in world music.

Green Linnet Records has been a leading force in recording and distributing Celtic music for over 25 years. The company has over 300 masters licensed and features a star Irish music roster. Owner Wendy Newton has been quoted to say, "We certainly have the best profile of any Celtic label, because we not only release the records, we actively sell and promote them."   

"It would probably shock most Irish music fans to know that the artists who recorded their favorite Green Linnet albums have not been paid," said famed fiddle player Eileen Ivers. The law suit recently filed by the artists (who irreverently refer to themselves as "The Green Linnet Five") highlights the fact that Green Linnet has consistently failed and refused to provide timely accountings or royalty statements to their artists; that the company underpays and fails to report income regarding the commercial exploitation of the artist's master recordings; that they improperly reduced the rate of royalties due and inappropriately applied deductions without a contractual basis to do so and to everyone's amazement has the unfettered gall to continue to commercially exploit master recordings for years after the licensing agreements for these albums expired. Additionally the company fails to list income and pay royalties on a number of compilation albums that contain recordings from the artists. World-class musician Joanie Madden pointed out that "we tried to negotiate with them for a year. Ultimately we realized that they had no intention of bargaining in good faith or paying us."

According to their attorney, Bob Donnelly, "'The Green Linnet Five' are simply demanding that Green Linnet's numerous and continued breaches of contract warrant full payment of royalties owed, a return of their master recordings and an immediate cessation of exploiting the artists' work."

The protest will hopefully aid in bringing to light the cause of the Green Linnet 5 and a lead to a fair and just result.

If you love Irish music and want to support these artists PLEASE JOIN US!

Directions: Take I-684 North towards Brewster. Merge onto I-84 East - exit 9E towards Danbury. Take Exit 8 US-6 E / Newtown Road Exit. Turn Right onto Newtown Road go down 3/4's of a mile (you'll pass Holiday Inn, Taco Bell and McDonalds). Make a right at light onto Old Newtown Road. Go 3/10ths of a mile and the road comes to a Y. Bear Right before the stop sign onto Beaver Brook Road. After 2/10th's of a mile you'll see West End Power Equipment on your left. Go slow and turn left into next driveway. You'll see a big red Brick Building with Pilgrim Electronics written on the side - address is 60 Beaver Brook Road. Park in rear of the building.
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Robin

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: InOBU
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 08:46 AM

Knowing all the parties concerned for many years, Joanie Madden, Mick Mullony, and Wendy Newton, this causes me a lot of personal pain. I hope all can come to some accord soon.
ALl the best
Larry Otway

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: Peg
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:29 AM

wow! who knew? I always assumed Green Linnet was a great company. Maybe these folks should go to Shanachie records? But I heard there were problems with them as well...

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: InOBU
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:37 AM

Hi Peg:
There is a bigger story here, and one should not draw early conclutions. As I said, I know and love both folks and believe that there are external complicating factors. Green Linnet IS a great company which promoted their artists and spent a lot to do so, Joanie Madden is one of the great tallents and organised great bands and into this mix you place lawyers and big record companies who buy out artists who don't make them as much as Jennifer Lopez, and they get abandoned, and in stead of attacking the big companies look to Green Linnet for justice. Well, I hope all reserve judgement and I hope with the closing of the Bottom Line, we all realize that we HAVE TO GET ALONG to preserve folk culture, we all take a step back, big breath, remember how Seanachie and Green Linnet mainstreamed a marginalized culture to the point the big guys wanted a piece, and in the spirit of big companies they screwed up what the little guys built. I urge EVERYONE in the folk community to urge all the parties to reject the adversarialism of these times - folkloric communities offer the world a better modle, seek cooperation. Tell the lawyers to take a lunch break while the folk people talk... Larry

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:54 AM

The Bottom Line closed????   Last information I heard was that they were saved. Do you have new information Larry?

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 12:00 PM

so what makes them think their any different from all the other artists that have been screwed in the last century?

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: InOBU
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 12:59 PM

No new info Ron, I guess I am behind the times on the Bottom Line, great news! Thanks for the needed lift Ron. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Concert - The Green Linnet 5 Protest
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 01:05 PM

The Bottom Line is not completely out of the woods. Sirius Satellite radio agreed to pay off the debt in return for additional broadcast usage from the facility. The Bottom Line was given 30 additional days, but this is a very positive step.