An Open Letter To EMI – One Manager’s Plea

Last week EMI announced a major expansion of its catalog department. I was critical of the addition of another expensive Executive VP to the team and in response a manager wrote to share his frustrations with EMI calling the new moves "smoke and mirrors".  Are you listening Guy Hands? This is a guy trying to extend your long tale and make your partners money.

"Maybe now someone there will get on the stick at EMI and put out the back catalog for an 80’s band I work with – Fetchin’ Bones. But I’m not holding my breath. I have been round and round the revolving door with these guys for two years trying to either license the three records this band did with Capitol, or convince them to release it themselves.

Everytime I have gotten the response that there wasn’t
demand for the records and it wasn’t worth their time. I can’t believe
that even if putting the catalog out digital only earned a nickel it
wouldn’t be worth their time. But, having licensed Fetchin’ Bones one
independent label release two years ago, I can tell you it WOULD be
worth their time.

I have gotten all the way to to Barney Wragg with this and no solution,
I have taken the EMI digital fulfilment crew out for drinks in New York
(figuring maybe if I do cut middle management out – which Hands is
promising to so supposedly – I’d get somewhere) and then they when they
try to help, they tell me that Fetchin’ Bones isn’t even listed in the
available back catalog they’re working through.

On the other hand, I was talking with Muzak a few months ago and they
can bring up this band’s licensable back catalog from EMI with a snap
of their fingers. Like the left hand doesn’t know what the right is
doing. This is why labels need to go out of business. I’m trying to
give them money and they won’t take it!!!! I think your commentary was
spot on, this is just smoke and mirrors and nothing more."

Regards,
Robert Evans
Audible Attraction