Someone just sent me this press release and it looks really cool. see
also the website at http://www.artistempowerment.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2002
"In too many instances, artists have been creatively and financially abused
due to contracts of unfair and long-term servitude. It is time for a
business model in the music industry that places a fiduciary duty on record
labels as well as reasonable limits to long-term recording contracts,"
Attorney - L. Londell McMillan.
FOLLOWING HISTORIC CONCERT
ARTIST EMPOWERMENT COALITION ("AEC")
JOINS FORCES WITH THE AFL-CIO, AFTRA, AND AFM
NEW YORK, NY - In an unprecedented movement, the Artist Empowerment
Coalition ("AEC") and prominent entertainment attorney L. Londell
McMillan (Prince, DMX) have joined forces with three of today's
leading labor unions-- the American Federation of Labor-Congress of
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Musicians
(AFM) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
(AFTRA). Together, the AEC and these labor unions are leading the
charge, to bring about change in the treatment of artists in the
business of entertainment.
"In too many instances, artists have been creatively and financially
abused due to contracts of unfair and long-term servitude. It is time
for a business model in the music industry that places a fiduciary
duty on record labels as well as reasonable limits to long-term
recording contracts," said AEC General Counsel, L. Londell McMillan.
The overall mission of the AEC and labor unions is to work together
to "bring about economic justice to the workplace and social justice
to our nation." The AEC aims to utilize the gift and creation of
music, art and culture to make the world a better place and promote
changes and reform in the relationships between artists and the
companies that exploit, market and distribute their creative work.
Earlier this week, recording artists and L. Londell McMillan, joined
forces with New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and
Assemblyman Roger Green, to unveil a proposed legislation that would
limit the length of recording contracts in New York State. The
proposed law, known as the "Artistic Freedom Act," would provide
recording artists with an "escape hatch" from the long-term contracts
that unfairly bind them to entities that dominate the entertainment
industry.
The introduction of the Artistic Freedom Act to legislature is an
inspiring follow-up to the AEC-sponsored "Artist Power" concert held
Monday night at the Beacon Theater in New York City. The historic
concert featured a wonderful, musically diverse number of
performances by the legendary Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, DMX,
Faith Evans, Scarface, Montell Jordan, Hezekiah Walker, Naughty By
Nature, Public Enemy, Doug E. Fresh and Najee, among others. During
the concert, the legendary Stevie Wonder declared his commitment to
the AEC, "Let it be clear, I fully support the Artist Empowerment
Coalition and work to improve artist and human rights."
In its efforts to effect positive change in the entertainment
industry, the AEC has adopted a formal structure and agenda that
focuses on artist empowerment and accountability by the entertainment
industry. Some of the key priorities the AEC will address include:
ownership of masters and music publishing, limitations on long-term
recording contracts, pension and health benefits, piracy,
entertainment industry responsibility and accountability, diversity
and equal opportunity and artistic integrity. Aligning itself with
other organizations, like The Future of Music Coalition and the
Recording Artist Coalition (RAC), the AEC is unique in its push for
the equitable treatment of artists of color.
The AEC is a not-for-profit coalition which was formed (i) to provide
a supportive environment in which the gift and creation of music, art
and culture can flourish, and help to make the world a better place
and (ii) to promote changes and reform in the relationships between
artists and the companies that exploit, market and distribute their
creative work. The AEC is an advocate for the arts, organizing
common efforts to increase awareness and funding by involving
industry, community, educational and cultural institutions and
policymakers in the quest for an improved entertainment
model and creative offering.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE AEC, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tracey Walker
The Artist Empowerment Coalition (AEC)
202-517-9168 (office)
infoATartistempowermentcoalition.org (email)
-- Carrie McLaren Editor, Stay Free! 718.398.9324 www.stayfreemagazine.org www.illegal-art.org ---------------------------------------------------- Rumori, the Detritus.net Discussion List to unsubscribe, send mail to majordomoATdetritus.net with "unsubscribe rumori" in the message body. ---------------------------------------------------- Rumori list archives & other information are at http://detritus.net/contact/rumori ----------------------------------------------------
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