Shocker: Warner and Youtube talks break down

PunkNews is reporting:

 

While it seemed likely that all the major labels would be providing their music videos to Google’s YouTube, talks with Warner have apparently broken down.

The two companies failed to come to an agreement and Warner will be pulling their music from the site. According to A Wall Street Journal report, Warner executives are unhappy with the amount of money they receive from YouTube, saying the site’s payment levels are below those of competitors like AOL or MySpace.

The result is that popular videos from acts like Green Day , Against Me! , Dropkick Murphys, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Mastodon, Flaming Lips, Avenged Sevenfold and others will soon be pulled from YouTube.

Yahoo! also has a report on the story, but there’s a whole bunch of words on that page so… you can click here if you’re into self-abuse, or just read this quote from some Warner executive (who is no doubt speaking from years of experience touring and being in bands) which I found to be particularly hilarious:

“We simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide,” Warner said in a statement.

So let me get this straight: you’re not getting enough money from the fans and potential fans watching videos of your artists, videos they can’t actually download or own, so you’re not going to let them watch these videos anymore. And you’re doing this because… you love your artists, songwriters and publishers so much?

Is that because of this gracious gesture back in 2003? Or this back-stab from back in 2004?

Look, let’s skip the formalities.
1) New bands are now required to sign 360º deals in the hopes that you will fulfill your promises of promotion for your bands and “everybody wins” - including you, who now get a cut of t-shirts, shows, and pretty much everything else. 
(You don’t live on a square gameboard and drive a shoe do you?)

2) YouTube would pay Warner Brothers to provide streaming video in a format the entire world is comfortable and familiar with, in effect being paid by someone to advertise for you, instead of the traditional way you used to complain cost so much.
3) You shut the deal down because you weren’t going to make enough money… off of advertising you were not only not paying for, but you were already going to money from? What the…?

And how much of what you were being paid would end up in the pockets of your artists again? Yeah.

It’s so difficult to understand why the demographic you’ve forsaken all others to capture now feels a sense of entitlement whilst RIPPING YOU OFF.

Congratulations, Idiots of the World. As long as there is a music business, you have job security.

Murder City Devils Touring February ‘09!

World collapsing? Foreclosure? Lifelong favorite pro football team being steered into the bottom of San Francisco Bay by Al Davis? All those stocks you didn’t own gone down the toilet and now your boss is pissed! (Don’t worry, I’m sure you reading this while you’re at work is just what the doctor ordered)

Well… we’ve actually got some good news. You remember that, right?

The Murder City Devils are… back together kind of? Or just touring?

Ummm. Don’t care.
You give me a free switchblade knife, I’m not gonna complain that it’s not buried in the heart of my enemy. It’s a switchblade - you just accept it and get to stabbin’ fools in street fights. (What?)

Anyway, they’re at least back together for some shows, and I’d say that’s cause for much rejoicing!

Greg Graffin and Anarchy Evolution

Greg Graffin, professor and Bad Religion frontman, recently participated in an interview discussing his forthcoming book, Anarchy Evolution. The Cornell Ph.D will be discussing naturalism, science, faith and art in the book which is due out in 2009.

Obviously, I have my views and beliefs - personally I tend to agree with C.S. Lewis on the whole mess - but I’d like to hear a calm, intelligent and uninterrupted conversation between Graffin and Ben Stein on the issue. Just… a conversation. Now there’s a class worth $26 bucks a unit.
Did you hear that, fat and bald with-a-single-diamond-earring-and-endless-Hawaiian-shirt-collection Political Science teacher from Fresno City College??? Turns out, making me watch movies every day like Mandingo, taking notes them, and then turning those notes in with a completely purposeless JOURNAL isn’t really teaching me anything except that being a Political Science teacher is a great job FOR LOSERS.

What were we talking about?

Imagine that: Someone actually DID something

 

Sub Pop forwarded an actual letter to all of us very exclusive, media hotshots recently. (RSS actually stands for “Really Super Special” -  I wear it like a badge) It appears some crazy person, some nut job actually sat down somewhere and took the time to write a letter expressing gratitude for what the label does:

To Whom it May Concern,
I’m writing to say how much I appreciate including a digital download with your packaged vinyl. LP records have long been my preferred format for a multitude of reasons. On the other hand, I lack the components to transcribe my analog collection to a compressed digital format. So, for all recently purchased music, this meant making sacrifices when buying on my preferred medium. Sub Pop vinyl means no compromises. Now, I always check the vinyl section of the store (Amoeba Hollywood) when I’m about to purchase new music. In the last few weeks I’ve purchased at least two albums (Wolf Parade & Blitzen Trapper) from sub pop because of the included digital download. Keep it up, and thanks again.

T. Buns

Now, if you weren’t moved to tears by this letter, try not to be too discouraged. I actually almost forgot about this letter after reading it because it was so… nice. Who does nice anymore?? So passe. 

Then I realized that there was a theme here that I was missing. This person took some time, wrote a letter and expressed appreciation - we’ve gone over this weakness. This person also stupidly admitted to having purchased music, which everyone knows nobody does anymore.

Sacrifices? What? What’s the angle here?

Then this “T. Buns” character actually propped a reputable record shop, admitting the purchase of two releases that were put out from an established label. Probably heard about them from some crazy, half-cocked idea like “promotion” and the whole process culminated with an exchange of goods and services. Just what the hell is going on here??? Sub Pop has the audacity to flaunt a plan in the face of all that has transpired in the record business?

So let me get this straight: If a label takes the time to promote the music created by the artists they’ve signed to people who actually spend money, then that label gives a quality product in exchange for that actual money, records are sold, the customer is actually grateful and the business of music is successful? 

Imagine that.

The Flaming Lips booked for All Tomorrow’s Parties

All Tomorrow’s Parties has announced the latest addition to their already stellar line up.   The Flaming Lips will curate Sunday’s festivities, rounding out a weekend of good music and comedy.

Story source: Filter Mag

I’ll be honest… I only posted this gig news because I love the poster. How is it that one group of festival promoters can have so much great artwork?

Hey, Other Promoters! Get it together!

What the World Needs Now is Edge - Straight Edge

John “Porcell” Porcelly of Youth of Today, Judge, Bold, Shelter and more, has launched a new straight edge clothing line appropriately titled True Till Death. The company explains it’s manifesto:

Straight edge. It’s a choice. A conscious decision not to let chemicals or popular opinion be your ruler. In a world where being “cool” means intoxication and excess, it’s a stance against.
Let them call it a trend. We know it’s more. It’s a common sense lifestyle that frees the body from toxic control and releases the mind from clouded thoughts and dependency.
The X. It’s more than fashion, It’s a statement. Wear it proudly.

You can check out some of the company’s gear here.

Source: Punk News

Hope no one told the investors about the whole, “free from popular opinion” stuff - whatever. Also, I hope for their own sakes that Dischord is cool with the intro…

This is the thing: Minor Threat was probably my first favorite Punk band. As a Christian kid the model was perfect for me and gave me a little pride in the fact that I wasn’t a screwball or a whore. But then… I grew up.

I didn’t grow out of my convictions - I grew into self-control. And… I moved to Huntington Beach. This is a town where you could literally watch a guy get beat up for coming out of a bar because 50 little Straight Edge dudes with skateboards would wait around on Main Street for just that purpose! I’m trying to picture any of those little fascists wearing this stuff - not sure I like the picture.

Last I heard, one of their icons ran a bar down on Main Street. I say we get Dan O’Mahony and Porcell in a room to discuss fashion - Gavin can be the mediator because I think he’d make it funny. Jus’ sayin’.