An idea of sorts

[vickyp]

I'd be interested, if they're a do-able price y'know.
In fact, if they're a do-able price I could take out a loan and buy them all for myself! MWAH HA HA HA HA!!! Mine, all mine.

Er, sorry, yeah. Collective action and all that. Count me in.

[Radish]

Definitely an interesting idea, and I really don't want to be the one to do what I really don't want to do to these lovely fireworks, but one word is screaming to break out of my head when thinking about this - lawyers. Inevitably several of these legal types would be involved at some point, and that's where the cost would presumably come in - negotiating even a £1 sale via lawyers would probably cost squllions (well, maybe thousands or very optimistically hundreds).
There could also possibly be the issue of exactly what we'd be trying to get. I think it unlikely EW would relinquish rights to just a certain number of tracks, more likely they'd want a deal to take care of all of it; albums, singles, b-sides, videos, demos, unreleased stuff (if it exists).
I think I do remember somewhere seeing (or hearing?) that Ginger or another Wildie said something about leaving the past where it is, but having said that I'm sure the guys wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own the rights to their material.
Still, if rugby fans can rebuild stadiums and football fans can fund their clubs, why can't a bunch of music lovers unite to support their chosen ones? I'd love to see it happen and hopefully I'm just being pessimistic above. I'm certainly interested in seeing what response EW make...

[vanrad]

me 2 also!

if anybody has any luck in contacting Ginger on this one... let us know!

[Sarc]

Well he's read his myspace message but hasn't replied so I'm not holding my breath.

[andyh]

This could be a workable idea. I'm a theatre and music producer, and I've got a fair bit of experience dealing with big music organisations to license tunes for shows etc.

First thing is to find out who to actually speak to about this. Not sure if East West Records UK still exists (although the imprint has recently started up again in the US), so the East West UK back catalogue would probably fall somewhere under the Independent Label Group (ironic title I know) within the Warner Music Group. Rhino is part of WMG, so they would not need to have licensed anything for the recent The Works compilation.

It seems to be a little ambitious to try and buy the copyright to the sound recordings outright. A more practical plan might be to try and license the tracks in question (Wildhearts b-sides up until 1997) for use on a fan compilation. We would do this as a not for profit venture. We would master a CD (or probably two to get them all on) from master recordings supplied by Warner Music Group, do the artwork and then sell them by direct mail order. From the price of each copy sold we would pay an agreed royalty fee to WMG, who own the copyright to the sound recording, Ginger via Warner Chappell publishing, who own the rights to the compositions, and members of The Wildhearts who played on these recordings, who own the rights to the performance. We then cover our costs and anything left over is given to all parties who own the copyright so that they are the only ones making any money from the venture. I assume these tracks from long since deleted singles are not flying off the shelves for them, so we would need to make them see this as an opportunity to make money from a piece of their property which is currently not making them any money, and make it clear that they and the authors of the work will be the only ones profiting from it.

I'm happy to make a few enquiries and see if they're open to something like this if people are definitely interested - please let me know.

[Sarc]

He's very good isn't he, sir you may have just given youself a job but i think we should see if Ginger has anything to say about it first, I originally put the feelers out to see how people would react to it and when i saw a good response i figured fuck it i'll email him but sadly have had no reply yet but i think give it a week or two and then if we've not heard anything back then we'll see if there are any other avenues to go down

[zachary_storm]

i cant see him not replying to something like this... with all the trouble hes had in the past wi eastwest you'd think he'd jump at the chance!

[andyh]

He's very good isn't he, sir you may have just given youself a job but i think we should see if Ginger has anything to say about it first, I originally put the feelers out to see how people would react to it and when i saw a good response i figured fuck it i'll email him but sadly have had no reply yet but i think give it a week or two and then if we've not heard anything back then we'll see if there are any other avenues to go down

No problem - if Ginger's up for it and the idea seems like a winner then happy to help out in any way I can.

[Assmask]

First thought - you nutter shut up

Second thought - actually why not..?

Third thought - how much COULD it be, what would EW do with the B sides anyway?

Fourth thought - I'm in

[skychaserhigh]

Superb idea,

Cant see why Ginger would object

[Andy]

He's very good isn't he, sir you may have just given youself a job but i think we should see if Ginger has anything to say about it first, I originally put the feelers out to see how people would react to it and when i saw a good response i figured fuck it i'll email him but sadly have had no reply yet but i think give it a week or two and then if we've not heard anything back then we'll see if there are any other avenues to go down

Could you post the actual email you sent Ginger on here please? Or was it just the same as the start of the thread?

[Sarc]

It was more or less a reworded email that I put up bere but I changed the words Ginger to you and a few others, I've deleted the bloody thing although I'm thinking maybe I should have kept it a while longer

[Monica_ICE]

Keep your quids in your pockets for t-shirts and concert tickets. I know something I can't post. Good idea, but not necessary. And Bronfman is a dick.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

Keep your quids in your pockets for t-shirts and concert tickets. I know something I can't post. Good idea, but not necessary. And Bronfman is a dick.

these industry insiders and their codespeak eh?

[Sarc]

Keep your quids in your pockets for t-shirts and concert tickets. I know something I can't post. Good idea, but not necessary. And Bronfman is a dick.

Just out of curiostiy how do you know so much about whats going on with the Wildhearts business dealings when in November you'd never even heard of or knew who they where?

And as for Bronfman being a dick. most record lable heads are thees very few that arent from my experience.