Colin Lester Hits Out At The Featured Artists Coalition, Writes Billboard.
September 25, 2009
Artist Divisions Ahead Of Urgent P2P Talks
September 24, 2009 – Global | Digital and Mobile
Published in Billboard
By Andre Paine, London
Artist manager Colin Lester has hit out at the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) over what he sees as the organization’s “misguided views” on file-sharing, ahead of a crunch meeting to be held by the FAC on the issue.
The government consultation on its proposals to combat illegal file-sharing concludes on Sept. 29. As the deadline looms, artists have been speaking out on the issue, with some challenging the FAC’s opposition to plans by Lord Mandelson, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, to oblige Internet Service Providers to suspend the accounts of copyright infringers.
A closed meeting has been urgently arranged at Air Studios in London tonight by the FAC “to hammer out a unified position on this issue.”
Lester, CEO of London-based CLM Entertainment, manages artists including Craig David and Remi Nicole. He said that, along with his artists, he has resigned from the FAC – although a spokesman for the organization pointed out that managers cannot be members of the FAC, although they may attend meetings.
“I and the artists I represent both agree that this issue is the key challenge facing our industry and that the longer we dither about the rights and wrongs of taking punitive action against those who steal our livelihoods the worse the situation will get,” he wrote to Lord Mandelson, advocating a “zero tolerance approach” to file-sharing “before we don’t have an industry left to defend.”
He added: “The recent argument put forward by the Featured Artists Coalition for example, in response to the government’s recent report on illegal file-sharing, that ‘the stick is now in danger of being way out of proportion to the carrot,’ fails to recognize the fact that ‘carrot’ approach has failed miserably!
“There has also been a point of view advanced that illegal file sharing is good for the marketing and promotion of music. There is some truth in that but the benefits of any positive promotion gained through illegal distribution are, in my opinion, far outweighed by the damage caused to the future income of the creators of and investors in that music.”
U.K. pop artist Lily Allen criticised FAC members Ed O’Brien of Radiohead and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd for their rejection of Mandelson’s proposals. The FAC clarified its position by stating that it is generally opposed to illegal file-sharing, but recognizes promotional benefits for some artists and is concerned at the government’s potential solution of suspending music fans’ Internet accounts.
O’Brien has since told the BBC World Service that he agrees with Lily Allen’s view that smaller artists suffer from file-sharing, though stressed his preference for education over technical sanctions.
Allen set up a blog to gather artists’ views, and she received supportive messages from Mark Ronson, Gary Barlow of Take That and James Blunt. However, via Twitter she has announced that the blog has shut because “the abuse was getting too much,” although she confidently announced that “my job [is] done” after the FAC organized its urgent meeting.
Lord Mandelson and culture secretary were attending the performing arts and technology BRIT School in south London today. “It’s vital for jobs and growth that Britain’s world-renowned creative industries are given a chance to flourish,” said Mandelson. “That’s why I welcome the current debate on digital piracy, including views put forward by the music and film industries, consumer groups, unions, ISPs and by recording artists themselves.
“Downloading somebody’s work without paying for it – whether it be music, film or computer games – is not a victimless act. It poses a genuine threat to our creative industries and to the livelihoods of talented, hard-working people striving to get a foothold in them.”
“It’s Not Sharing, It’s Stealing” Says Colin Lester
September 21, 2009
The Telegraph, Amanda Andrews, 12 September 2009
Sour note as agents and artists clash over music file sharing
A fight has broken out in the music industry as managers behind artists from Arctic Monkeys to Pink Floyd have attacked moves by a leading industry body to oppose a government crackdown on internet piracy.
The managers have branded comments from The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) – a group fronted by musicians from bands including Radiohead, Blur and singers such as Tom Jones, Annie Lennox and Kate Nash – as “outrageous” and “mad”.
FAC said last week that it “vehemently opposes” the government proposals to switch-off file-sharers’ internet connections. The FAC claimed that despite the damage that file sharing does to sales of their records, it can also encourage people to buy concert tickets and merchandise.
Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and Kings Of Leon to headline at Reading FestivalBut leading managers of new and established artists oppose the FAC views.
Paul Loasby, who manages David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Jools Holland and a host of new artists, said the FAC’s viewpoint will lead to a “complete destruction” of new artists’ careers. He will meet with the FAC tomorrow to highlight the need for the music industry to share a single viewpoint on illegal file-sharing.
“The government is doing something, which is good news after dilly-dallying over this issue for years. This is a suspension and is not as if [illicit] peer-to-peer [file-sharing] is being seen as a criminal activity,” he said.
“Illegal file-sharing is a complete destruction of some people’s livings. You name me something else other than music that lasts for life and costs only 79p,” said Mr Loasby.
Colin Lester, who has signed and managed the careers of artists such as the Arctic Monkeys, called the comments of the FAC and a number of its artists “outrageous”.
“It is very easy to be charitable when you are rich. Most of these [FAC] artists don’t earn their money from the recorded music business. They earn from the live business,” says Mr Lester.
“It is mad that we can’t agree as an industry where to go. I find it amazing that there is a clash within the industry. We need to stand together to make ISPs’ [internet service providers'] jobs harder.
“Young artists should be paid for their work. I don’t know why it is called filesharing. It is stealing music. If there is no money for R&D, how are labels going to sign new artists. Record labels are still the biggest spenders on new artists in the world,” he added.
Mr Lester said he plans to “talk to the FAC, managers and educate people. “I still sign new artists and I still want record labels to sign them.”
The original article is here
Watch Remi Nicole’s Brand New Video “Standing Tears Apart”
September 21, 2009
July 17, 2009
Check out the video for Remi Nicole’s forthcoming single ‘Standing Tears Apart’ due for release on August 24th. This is the first single to be taken from her stunning new album “Cupid Shoot Me” released on August 31st.
Craig David Manager Colin Lester accompanies Craig to Celebration
September 21, 2009
Music Week, 22 November 2008, Dooley’s Diary
…As we told you last week, Craig David was honoured earlier this month for
services to music by his local University, by being made a doctor of music at a
graduation ceremony attended by more than 1,000 people in Southhamptons
Guildhall. He’s pictured with long time manager Colin Lester…
Read more about Craig
David’s doctorate in the Telegraph
Music Weeks polls Colin Lester For Mercury Prize Predictions
September 21, 2009
July 22, 2009
Music Week, w/e 25.07.09
…Music Week polled a selection of tastemakers from across the industry in advance of the publication tomorrow(Tuesday) of the 12-strong shortlist for the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize…
Colin Lester, CLM Entertainment
1. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns(Parlophone)
2. Florence & The Machine – Lungs(Island)
3. Madness – The Liberty of Norton Folgate (Lucky Seven)
4. La Roux – La Roux
5.Whie Lies – To Lose My Life
Winner – La Roux – La Roux
Music Week: Craig David Honoured By Southampton University
September 21, 2009
Music Week, 22 November 2008, Dooley’s Diary
…As we told you last week, Craig David was honoured earlier this month for services to music by his local University, by being made a doctor of music at a graduation ceremony attended by more than 1,000 people in Southhamptons Guildhall. He’s pictured with long time manager Colin Lester…
Read more about Craig David’s doctorate in the Telegraph
Music Manager Colin Lester Quoted In Billboard
September 21, 2009
…Colin Lester, Music Manager for the UK R&B Star Craig David and founder/CEO of CLM Entertainment, says $250,000 is a more typical payday for a name artist, plus expenses- and the occasional tip. Lester notes that Craig recently performed a show in Kazakhstan for an entrepreneur who gave him a brand-new Ferrari. ” Despite the economic climate……continue reading