stand

[J sounds <digitosser@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Re: 

discuss with reason. Perhaps some good changes can
happen.

Of course FE will have paid most of the labels.  They
stay in business by doing business.  However, during
this debate several serious problems have surfaced
that could and should  be addressed.  There are
clearly labels who are slipping in the cracks, either
unintentionally due to distributor incompetence, or
purposely due to distributor maliciousness.  The
question that we should ask about FE  AND all the
distribs that "support" small labels is what are the
standards?

3 month waiting period for payment is standard for
most distributors.  This is a very long time to wait
in the first place, what other industry allows this
much time?   However, many larger distribs such as
Cargo,  or FE do not even respect this time limit
because they are too busy to cut a simple check, and
the silent waiting time can lapse into half a year or
more. If any inquiries are made the response varies
between silence to outright contempt for the label's
cheek that they would ask for their money.    The
label is thus unable to complain and risk upsetting an
already tense situation:  they just have to sit and
wait.  The problem becomes quite serious when the
label is struggling, and a check from FE means the new
release will be produced now or in 5 to 10 months or
more -- whenever the distrib gets around to paying. 

The situation is further compounded when we are
dealing with consignment, which, announced or not,
most distributors are working under.  If at any moment
the shops can return the merchandise, the distrib
likewise must return stock to the label at seemingly a
moments notice.  This instability to even be able to
count on CDs already delivered by post and invoices
written and received is unnecessary.  It simply means
that NO ONE has taken responsibility for their order:
the shops order a "handful" and thus the distribs
order "two handfuls" in a dangerous speculation game
that only the label has to pay for, because they have
fronted the money in the first place to the disc
manufacturer who asks for the money upfront in the
majority of circumstances. (They are not stupid)  Also
when we include GEMA and these organizations who
charge the label royalties based on the EDITION, and
not the SOLD EDITION, the risks are very high for the
average small label.

This does not have to be so:  Digital Narcis collects
orders from shops, he in turn orders exactly what he
knows will sell, the label sends the order and within
a week, Koji has sent an IMO which arrives as the
local currency, the whole process takes less than a
month!  If the shops later wish to have more stock,
they tell Koji exactly how many and Koji orders this
exact amount from the label. I am not sure what the
specific arrangement is between Digital Narcis and the
shops, but shouldnt the other distributors find out?? 
Because in this way, labels are clear about their
finances in an early stage, and can more accurately
calculate their earnings and loss to prepare for the
next CD with realistic expectations.

What apologies do distributors make when they have
contributed to a messy situation?  They are certainly
not obliged to make any apologies, either through law
or moral backlash. Because the labels are small, in
multiple countries, run by young people and always in
danger of failing (all of which make running a small
label so exciting yet so exhausting in the first
place), there is little hope to dispute a claim made
against a distributor.  Even public postings are met
with indifference, and even scorn.  (a case of blaming
the victim, such as the girl who wore the short skirt)

Which is what brings me to email today:

Perhaps some small labels could gather to form some
strength against the distributors.  Larger, more
successful labels already have their own strength:
easy sell releases (the distributor wet dream, even
the so called "independents"), but they are welcome
anyway.  Basically a defence system is needed. A
website built as a central meeting point. A chart
listing complaints such as what distributor owes what
and for how long with email addresses of all parties
involved. If the distributor builds too many checks
against its self, then none of the labels send their
new releases to X distributor.  

I can tell you who would be on this list already:

Kraak
Dutch East
Namskeio

Probably not FE or Cargo, because they are the devious
ones:  they know who they can and musnt mistreat.   

Also, since there are also dodgy labels (such as
Kraak), of course it is difficult to prove claims.
However, if certain standards could be adopted
(someone speak to Digital Narcis) the various abuses
would be weeded out. 

Since  at the bottom line, we are all dealing with
glorious lovely brilliant sounds that we love
(different pallettes of course), it would be nice to
weed our gardens.

best of luck to all involved

Jonah W.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com