On Saturday August 14th Take It To The Bridge staged a protest at the Knitting Factory Club in New York City. As a founding member of the Noise Action Coalition I support this action along with other former NAC members (Marc Ribot, Norman Yamada and Christine Bard). First some information about why this action is taking place:

"The Knitting Factory/Instinct Records treats its recording artists like trash! Last year, they threw out thousands of our CD’s without telling us, or giving us the chance to get our stock. For years, we have been given incomplete royalty statements - if any - thereby cheating us out of royalties. Now, they refuse to abide by our contracts and return our mastertapes to us, even when they aren’t promoting or selling our work anymore. (Hard to sell something that’s been tossed in a Dumpster!) Some artists have resorted to signing contracts waiving their rights in order to get their masters back.

As indie artists, we already work without health or other benefits... But we do expect our contracts to be honored.

 Join us in demanding that the Knitting Factory/Instinct Records treat its recording artists as more than just trash! Saturday, August 14 outside the Knitting Factory 74 Leonard Street, bet. Broadway and Church 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. and check out Take It To The Bridge for our full story, and petition."

First of all, to throw away CD's of an artist, without telling the artist, is a moral crime. These are artists that spend a lifetime writing music that is not mainstream. They are not looking to make millions of $$$ but they do need to survive and if instinct is not going to distribute the CD's why wouldn't they give them to the artist, with the masters, so that the CD can be re-issued and the artist could possibly make a little money and share their music. Please support this action. Go to the sight and sign the petition.

11:35:47 AM    comment []