Beach Boys bought

[juggler]

Technically, Linda R. does have some songwriting credits. Not sure if any of those songs were hits per se, but a few of them were on hit albums.

Obviously, though, Linda's main "cut" is as a recording artist, not as a songwriter/publisher.

As I understand it, the bulk of Linda's recorded catalog is owned by Universal Music (Capitol) and Warner Music (Asylum/Elektra).  Those labels pay her mechanical royalties (per CD/LP/whatever unit sold) & performance royalties (whenever her recordings are played on radio, etc.), plus synchro (for use of her recordings in commercials, etc.). Those royalties would be governed by contract between Linda R. and the labels.

I'm certainly not privy to the terms of Linda's deal with Iconic, but it's possible that she has assigned her interest in her deals with Universal and Warner to Iconic.  Why would she do that?  Well, there's likely cash up front.   Not sure if Linda's deal is like the BBs' wherein they didn't sell completely but rather are retaining a stake in the potential upside, but that could come into play as well.    The idea (hope) is that getting, say, 49% of what Azoff can generate is going to be more than the 100% of what they can generate without his help.

[guitarfool2002]

Paul Simon just closed the deal to sell his catalog to Sony: https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/paul-simon-catalog-sale-sony-music-publishing-1149800/

That catalog sale is a blockbuster...in recent years I've noticed an increased interest (and presence) in Paul's music, especially Simon & Garfunkel, among younger fans.

It seems like the new version of the old record label "bidding war" is these investment/management groups trying to woo songwriters into selling their catalog. There are even other players in the game besides the Azoff group and Sony who are the big ones making the headlines.

Of course I still don't understand what is being bought or sold in the Linda Rondstadt deal since she didn't write the majority of songs she had hits with, but anyway 

[HeyJude]

Paul Simon just closed the deal to sell his catalog to Sony: https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/paul-simon-catalog-sale-sony-music-publishing-1149800/

That catalog sale is a blockbuster...in recent years I've noticed an increased interest (and presence) in Paul's music, especially Simon & Garfunkel, among younger fans.

It seems like the new version of the old record label "bidding war" is these investment/management groups trying to woo songwriters into selling their catalog. There are even other players in the game besides the Azoff group and Sony who are the big ones making the headlines.

Of course I still don't understand what is being bought or sold in the Linda Rondstadt deal since she didn't write the majority of songs she had hits with, but anyway 

It seems like Rondstadt is essentially selling her own likeness rights/royalties, etc. The new rights holder essentially *becomes* Rondstadt for the purposes of signing off on things, collecting royalties, etc. I would guess in some of these deals the seller still retains some small percentage stake to ensure continued income, etc.

But I think the Rondstadt deal is the equivalent to what her estate would do if she were deceased; they're just doing it while she's still alive. In that way, it's similar to a portion of the BB deal.

[juggler]

It seems like Rondstadt is essentially selling her own likeness rights/royalties, etc. The new rights holder essentially *becomes* Rondstadt for the purposes of signing off on things, collecting royalties, etc. I would guess in some of these deals the seller still retains some small percentage stake to ensure continued income, etc.

But I think the Rondstadt deal is the equivalent to what her estate would do if she were deceased; they're just doing it while she's still alive. In that way, it's similar to a portion of the BB deal.

I think that you've nailed it.

[guitarfool2002]

Right, and asking again what I did on the previous page, how does one quantify such a thing as image/likeness or persona? That's where it gets kind of weird to be honest. With the other deals, BB's, Simon, Dylan, etc, you have a marketable commodity in the catalog of proven hit songs which can be bought and sold, and also projected as to earning potential in the future. But sh*t, how much is the *notion* of an artist actually worth and how can it be valued? And will that artist have veto power so he or she doesn't end up as a classic image of themself on a poster selling Whoppers for Burger King?

Of course there is a lot of inside baseball and reams of legal documents the public can never see with these deals, but if more artists are selling in the way Linda sold, I can't fathom how a valuation would be made on someone's likeness.

And in Linda's case, I believe her biggest hits were written by other writers, so is there a provision in the contract and deal where those writers have a say in how the song is used too?

Again, I'm envisioning a hypothetical where the chorus of Linda's hit "You're No Good" gets used in a political ad to bash an opponent - right? - and someone in the ownership chain of that song who isn't included in Linda's deal says they don't want their song used in that way. I'm sure there are provisions, but still worth considering.

[Shady]

Azoff and Co are very busy sending cease and desists to various Beach Boys fan communities across the Internet for copyright infringement

Careful what you post here folks.. they are watching

[Don Malcolm]

Except the one that ostensibly went out to the Beach Boys Discord board was, in fact, an April Fools' hoax...

The problem is that the BB's history of litigiousness and, well, "discord" is so well established that just about any rumor of this type is going to be accepted at face value.

[Shady]

Just found out that was a joke...

They did get my YouTube channel suspended today.. but brother records are bad for that too

[DonnyL]

Right, and asking again what I did on the previous page, how does one quantify such a thing as image/likeness or persona? That's where it gets kind of weird to be honest. With the other deals, BB's, Simon, Dylan, etc, you have a marketable commodity in the catalog of proven hit songs which can be bought and sold, and also projected as to earning potential in the future. But sh*t, how much is the *notion* of an artist actually worth and how can it be valued? And will that artist have veto power so he or she doesn't end up as a classic image of themself on a poster selling Whoppers for Burger King?

Of course there is a lot of inside baseball and reams of legal documents the public can never see with these deals, but if more artists are selling in the way Linda sold, I can't fathom how a valuation would be made on someone's likeness.

And in Linda's case, I believe her biggest hits were written by other writers, so is there a provision in the contract and deal where those writers have a say in how the song is used too?

Again, I'm envisioning a hypothetical where the chorus of Linda's hit "You're No Good" gets used in a political ad to bash an opponent - right? - and someone in the ownership chain of that song who isn't included in Linda's deal says they don't want their song used in that way. I'm sure there are provisions, but still worth considering.

I think the Burger King Whopper example is probably exactly it. I would tend to think of it as an artist being a “brand” at this point. Maybe we’ll see Linda Rondstadt headbands at Target ?

In this age where making money in music is not much about music anymore, these icons are probably projected to be the biggest moneymakers of all. The music industry is getting weird. Artists can’t tour, they haven’t been able to sell physical media in large numbers for awhile now. If you look at The Beatles or Lennon, their teams have been doing this stuff for a long time. Yellow Submarine toys, etc ...

[as1972]

If you look at The Beatles or Lennon, their teams have been doing this stuff for a long time. Yellow Submarine toys, etc ...

Already got some good ideas.

• A bean-bag chair themed around mid-70s Brian.
• Al Jardine circa 1972 novelty beard.
• Pet Sounds branded pianoguitar
• Given that it's legal now in a good few states, Mrs O'Leary's Cow branded Cannabis.
• A plain beige MIU branded floormat for practising TM

Frankly the fact that I haven't been hired yet astounds me

[Greg Parry]

• Given that it's legal now in a good few states, Mrs O'Leary's Cow branded Cannabis.

Given the state of some smokers I know, I think a better brand name would be Vegetables

[Pretty Funky]

• Given that it's legal now in a good few states, Mrs O'Leary's Cow branded Cannabis.

Given the state of some smokers I know, I think a better brand name would be Vegetables

👍   

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏. Bravo!