Posted on 09/07/2012 9:45:19 PM PDT by bronxville
On Friday, the musical act R.E.M. sent a letter to the Fox News Channel insisting that it stop using its song “Losing My Religion” in its news coverage — specifically this week’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
“We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there,” lead singer Michael Stipe said in a statement.
Late Friday afternoon, Fox News returned the volley by arguing they were within their legal requirements and suggested it was a publicity stunt by R.E.M.....
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
I saw them in College Station Texas in 1987. Stipe told the audience, “If you are drinking, please don’t drive. If you are in the military ... get out.” Being in NROTC, I was unimpressed, ignored his advice, and instead stopped listening to REM.
AGREE
Fair Use argument. Neat. Screw R.E.A.M.
Right...how about Rush playing The Pretenders song “My City Was Gone”.
Same gig.
For years, I couldn’t fathom how people thought it was okay to illegally download music. Over time however, I realized that it was just payback for all these liberal turds who find it appropriate to whine and spout their agenda at every opportunity. Also, is it just me, or is it only American bands that pull this? I’ve never heard Glass Tiger complaining when they play their stuff on The Five. I doubt we’ll hear Duran Duran whine about their use of “Girls On Film” yesterday. It’s moronic coke-heads like REM and RATM who feel the need to ram their agenda down people’s throats, even when they have no legitimate, legal right to their music once it is signed to the record company.
REM, another band I must remind myself never to send money to... a shame, seeing as how I enjoy “Orange Crush”, but this Stripe douchebag clearly doesn’t have a spine.
Hey R.E.M.
U.P. Y.O.U.R.S.
Wow! She is good! Thanks!
Hmm, they want their music to be out in the public forum so it can make them money, but they want to whine when someone uses it for something they don’t believe in.
How about we all just cease using your worthless excuse for “music” and then you can go to your graves broke and forgotten. Oh wait... They pretty much already are...
Hey Stipe, your “music” doesn’t belong in an elevator either, but that is the last place I heard an REM song.
Exactly right. I think the most obvious example of this is the Rush Limbaugh theme from the Pretenders My City was Gone. Chrissie Hynde loathes Rush but admits her mother loves him and can do nothing about his perfectly legal use of the song. The song is a whine about development destroying the Ohio she grew up in which is probably why you never hear lyrics when Rush uses it.
Everything Reminds Me of My Therapist
Cheers!
Your post is just about exactly what I learned about music licensing when I worked at a college radio station years ago.
Yes, Stipe and REM are just doing a little PR, because they should know that as long as a broadcaster pays the ASCAP/BMI fee...they can play the music.
I saw them in College Station Texas in 1987. Stipe told the audience, “If you are drinking, please don’t drive. If you are in the military ... get out.” Being in NROTC, I was unimpressed, ignored his advice, and instead stopped listening to REM.
What a douche comment from Stipe...especially with a large Texas A&M crowd.
Somebody said there is a fine line between genius and madness.
Leni
Coming from a “man” who wanted to name the band CatButt
He is exceptionally professional. I also saw Rod Stewart (another wife favorite) in July in Milwaukee, and even though like Elton John he's not a choice of mine, he's an excellent performer and professional. Did everything for the crowd. I was highly amused when at one point during the concert, Rod kicked what seemed like about 100 soccer balls into the audience.
Stevie Nicks, who is one of my favorites, performed before Stewart. Now here's what was really great about that concert. Both performers made short speeches to the audience where they begged the audience (to large applause) to support the troops. Nicks in particular said that since she has no children of her own, she's devoting much of her time to being a mother for service men and women. I do admit to getting choked up at that point.
“Right...how about Rush playing The Pretenders song “My City Was Gone”.
Same gig.”
Actually, Rush’s case was a lot more complicated and got really interesting from a legal wonkish point of view.
IIRC, Rush’s case went like this:
Chrissie originally threw a hissy fit on a public forum of some kind (during a radio interview or something similar).
Chrissie’s lawyers then went after Rush for using “City was Gone” as a “theme song” not just as a bumper due to his constant use of the tune. And since the regular BMI/ASCAP fees don’t cover that use they claimed Rush was violating the licensing.
Then Chrissie [the boneheaded moron] while getting grilled about the situation in another interview claims she didn’t really care if Rush used the song or not.
Ooops! Chrissie just put her lawyers in a really bad spot and people started asking questions about whether the lawyers were actually working on their client’s instructions or if they initiated the action against Rush on their own. This, obviously, is a very bad breach of ethics and is one of the few things that will actually get a lawyer disbarred. [I suspect that Rush got some good advice about ethics violations from his dear friend Mark Levin after Chrissie shot off her mouth.]
And surprise, surprise, soon after that the whole kerfuffle just melted away and Rush still uses “City was Gone” and Chrissie now claims that she never really cared.
I saw him when he played at the Joe in Detroit. Elton played a few songs, commented about Reagan allowing AIDS to spread, then played a few more songs, pointed at the crowed now and then, kept playing more songs.... He’s a good performer but to blame Reagan for the spread of disease is ridiculous.
Back in the 80’s, gays knew of sexually transmitted diseases but did nothing to protect themselves (some still don’t today)and bragged about not using condoms for their (multiple) one night stands.
I have a few gay friends and even today they have some sort of death wish when it comes to aids, like they are predestine to get it even when they know it’s totally preventable.
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