Gord and Warners

BILLW · 07-25-2003, 09:49 PM

Ok, does anyone have the skinny on the status of Gord and Warner/Reprise? Has there been a press release from either Warner's or Gord's office saying that he is no longer an employee of Warner/Reprise? If not, do the rights to Gord's recordings since 1970 stay with Warner's or revert to Gord? Has Columbia or Universal/Vivendi or any other label expressed interest in signing Gord?
Valerie, do you have any light to shed on this rather important topic?

Rob1956 · 07-25-2003, 09:49 PM

Ok, does anyone have the skinny on the status of Gord and Warner/Reprise? Has there been a press release from either Warner's or Gord's office saying that he is no longer an employee of Warner/Reprise? If not, do the rights to Gord's recordings since 1970 stay with Warner's or revert to Gord? Has Columbia or Universal/Vivendi or any other label expressed interest in signing Gord?
Valerie, do you have any light to shed on this rather important topic?

vlmagee · 07-26-2003, 06:00 AM

Gord has frequently said that he "wrote through his contract". A Painter Passing Through was the final album of the number agreed in the contract (I think five, but I'm not sure). As far as I know, he has not signed with anyone else. Normally, recordings remain the property of the record label.

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Valerie Magee

Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's site at cathycowette.com

BILLW · 07-26-2003, 07:03 AM

Thanks for your response Valerie.

Rob1956 · 07-26-2003, 07:03 AM

Thanks for your response Valerie.

Auburn Annie · 07-26-2003, 08:03 AM

quote:Originally posted by vlmagee:
Gord has frequently said that he "wrote through his contract". A Painter Passing Through was the final album of the number agreed in the contract (I think five, but I'm not sure). As far as I know, he has not signed with anyone else. Normally, recordings remain the property of the record label.

Yeah, what she said <insert big grin here>.
It's like Gord's work for UA. The SUNDAY CONCERT album was put together to satisfy his contractual obligations to them (and they've been milking those songs in umpty million variations ever since.)

I think he had a somewhat better relationship with Warners/Reprise, at least early on. However, given the sh**ty way artists are treated by all the major labels these days, I wonder if he wouldn't be better off putting out the music under his own label, as long as he can arrange the necessary distribution sources, including direct to buyers via website ordering (hello, EMP??)

Auburn Annie · 07-26-2003, 08:03 AM

quote:Originally posted by vlmagee:
Gord has frequently said that he "wrote through his contract". A Painter Passing Through was the final album of the number agreed in the contract (I think five, but I'm not sure). As far as I know, he has not signed with anyone else. Normally, recordings remain the property of the record label.

Yeah, what she said <insert big grin here>.
It's like Gord's work for UA. The SUNDAY CONCERT album was put together to satisfy his contractual obligations to them (and they've been milking those songs in umpty million variations ever since.)

I think he had a somewhat better relationship with Warners/Reprise, at least early on. However, given the sh**ty way artists are treated by all the major labels these days, I wonder if he wouldn't be better off putting out the music under his own label, as long as he can arrange the necessary distribution sources, including direct to buyers via website ordering (hello, EMP??)

SomewhereupinMichigan · 07-26-2003, 08:41 AM

I'm sure they are working out the details of these options now and that we'll learn more - and see- Gord's next studio CD soon. There are many options available these days, including self-distribution. Gord can pretty much call his own shots on the deal.

Borderstone · 07-26-2003, 12:21 PM

Sometimes I think the Warner Co. is actually run by the Warner Brothers Wakko and Yakko from the Animaniacs cartoon. Not to mention Dot the sister! It would certainly explain how they have not tried to keep him,unless Gord just wants a change./// Yeah,UA has milked those 4 studio LPs so much,they're having a cow!

How "dairy" they do that? (Ooh,that's bad!

: ) Later!

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Borderstone (An,"Avid Listner" of G.L.)

Next Saturday · 07-29-2003, 10:34 AM

It would be hard to believe that GL would actually leave the AOL Time Warner universe, but if he did, it would be great if he made an album for John Prine's Ob Boy label like Kris Kristofferson just did http://www.ohboy.com/kris.html

Auburn Annie · 07-29-2003, 11:50 AM

He'd be in good company with Steve Goodman and John Prine, as well as Kris.

Auburn Annie · 07-29-2003, 11:50 AM

He'd be in good company with Steve Goodman and John Prine, as well as Kris.

Borderstone · 07-30-2003, 06:57 PM

I think I may have said this before,but I think Gord should sign to the same label Johnny Cash is on now. I feel they understand the importance of respecting the veteran artists nstead of just casting them aside as "has-been's". What's the name that label,I can't think of it off-hand? I hope that's where he goes. I think major labels are too busy promoting the youth market to want to bother with an older artist anyway. Just my opinion. Later!

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Borderstone (An,"Avid Listner" of G.L.)

TheWatchman · 07-30-2003, 07:47 PM

The name of JC's label is "American" with Rick Ruben.

I mentioned before that American would be a good choice but it probably wouldn't work too well. Rubin likes the "bad boy" image, which GL is not. Danzig, Nine Inch Nails etc. I think that Rubin picked up Cash because Cash likes to sing about darker subjects at times and that gave Rubin something to work with. Not to mention, Cash is known throughout the world and probably more of a legand than Elvis.

The Oh Boy label would be a great match though. I was thinking that the other day while I was listening to Prine.

BILLW · 07-30-2003, 08:01 PM

Plenty of good ideas folks, let's hope that whatever label it is we get blessed with another CD or two in the near future. C'mon Gord you can do it man!!

Bill

TheWatchman · 08-01-2003, 06:19 PM

I believe that Lightfoot owns the rights to all of his songs since 1970 or 1971. Not sure what happened once "Waiting For You" came out though. I know that he started his own cover around the time "Sit Down Young Stranger" was released. All the songs in the '70's and '80's belong to Lightfoot. I may be making some assumptions here, but I'm pretty sure this is the case.

I am 99.9% certain that he does not have rights to anything prior to '70 or '71.

Everything is negotiable as far as rights go in regards to the artist and the label. What is not negotiable is the amount that must be repaid to the label to cover costs. Being that Lightfoot has been so successful for so long, he really brings a lot to the bargaining table, in my opinion.

I don't think that Lightfoot made the decision to leave Warner and be without a label. It sounds like once "Painter" was finished, the decision rested with Warner with what they wanted to do with him.

It costs a certain amount to make the CD. Typically, the artist will see no money until all monies are recouped from the production. This is where I think Lightfoot may have some say, because of who he is. Not with how soon he gets paid, but how much. The key is how many copies are sold within a certain time frame.

At any rate, when Lighfoot confirms that he can tour again, his new CD will be much more attractive to a label. I really hope he goes with Oh Boy. Moreover, I really hope his health keeps improving so he can enjoy the rest of his life, whatever he chooses to do with it. I just hope that touring is at least a small portion of it.

TheWatchman · 08-01-2003, 07:14 PM

quote:Originally posted by Next Saturday:
It would be hard to believe that GL would actually leave the AOL Time Warner universe, but if he did, it would be great if he made an album for John Prine's Ob Boy label like Kris Kristofferson just did http://www.ohboy.com/kris.html

Does John Prine own this label?

BILLW · 08-03-2003, 09:00 PM

What I find odd is this: between May of '98
when APPT came out, and Sept of '02 when he got ill, Gord knew that he was without a record company...a situation he hadn't been in for what, 37 years? Don't you think that in that time, Gord or his management would have shopped around for an outlet for his next album, which he knew would come out eventually? Why go 4 1/2 years in limbo like that?

Rob1956 · 08-03-2003, 09:00 PM

What I find odd is this: between May of '98
when APPT came out, and Sept of '02 when he got ill, Gord knew that he was without a record company...a situation he hadn't been in for what, 37 years? Don't you think that in that time, Gord or his management would have shopped around for an outlet for his next album, which he knew would come out eventually? Why go 4 1/2 years in limbo like that?

Borderstone · 08-04-2003, 04:02 PM

I would guess his reason for not label shopping is that,while it is important,it's not as if he was told to get lost,his contract simply ran out. Also,if Gord were as popular in the 80s & 90s as he was in the 60s & 70s,there would be an immediate need to sign hunt for a new home. As for being in limbo...maybe he just needed the rest,which he unfortunately got the hard way.

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Borderstone (An,"Avid Listner" of G.L.)


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