Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
I read today that the original VP singer is trying to sue Can't Stop Productions for $1.5 million & the rights to the hits he co-wrote (under US copyright provision which will be activated after 35 years). Can't Stop claim Willis is not entitled to the rights as he was 'not employed as a 'writer for hire' & therefore isn't entitled to any ownership of the songs'. Surely if someone has a writing credit they are part-owners of a song aren't they? Also, does this mean that all the songs that he co-wrote were written in 1976, as it's now 2011?
...ya gotta beat the street......
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Sandy, I'm guessing that V. Willis' actions are tied to the controversy cited in Needlefingers' recent post titled: "Record Industry Braces .....", and that post mentions that only 1978-forward recordings are affected by that particular 35-year rule. What do you think ?
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
IIRC, the legal provision in question takes effect for music made after 1978. That eliminates some of the VP's catalog, but I think "YMCA" would be included, and that song is still making money today.
It will be interesting to see how this will play out. From what I understand, Willis only wrote the lyrics, not the music. To further complicate things, Henri Belolo legally has writing credit on all of those songs, even though he had little, if anything, to do with the actual music. He was given credit as part of the business arrangement, and today retains ownership and control of just about everything done by Can't Stop Productions.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
well, it would seem that Willis definitely deserves some credit for his efforts, both writing and singing (though it's hard to believe he hasn't already been at least partially compensated after all this time) but I'd be interested to see what kind of contract he agreed to in the beginning. If I were him I sure would have pursued this matter closer to the time the VP were still at their peak and before he drugged himself out of the group. 8/19/2011
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Yes good doctor, it seems to be the same issue. Apologies to needles as I didn't read the article - I now see why he's taking action 2 years before the 35 years comes about. I wish Victor the best of luck 'cos I know that if I wrote the lyrics to one of the best known songs of all-time I'd be quite bitter about not receiving what I deserved.Originally Written by drlove
...ya gotta beat the street......
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I would guess he would need the money nowadays, if the gun/drugs stories are true...
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Acetate [Level 1]
Here is a NY Times article which goes into more detail about the situation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/ar...pagewanted=all
Some paragraphs from the article:
“This is totally different, and outside the scope of these termination rights issues,” said Stewart L. Levy, of the New York firm Eisenberg Tanchum & Levy, who is representing the publishing companies. “The Village People were a concept group, created by my clients, who picked the people and the costumes. It was probably no different than the Monkees when they started. We hired this guy. He was an employee, we gave them the material and a studio to record in and controlled what was recorded, where, what hours and what they did.”
Linda Smythe, a spokeswoman for Mr. Willis, said that royalties from Village People recordings currently earned him from $30,000 to $40,000 a year, a figure that she said would “triple or quadruple” if he succeeded in gaining rights to recordings made when he was a member of the group.
On the other hand, the song “Y.M.C.A.” alone, she said, earns “upwards of $1 million a year” because of its widespread use, making authorship rights a much more important issue.
My own take:
I wish Jacques Morali was still around to provide his side of the story. Even though Henri owns virtually all the rights to everything "Village People", Jacques' input would be interesting. In addition, I'd love to have Horace Ott's opinion on all this. Even though he didn't receive any writing credit for the Village People songs, his string and horn arrangements were essential to the "Village People Orchestra Wall of Sound" (Yeah, I made that term up.But somehow it seems appropriate.)
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Well it seems this item is getting some mileage as its now made the BBC Entertainment News website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-s...wales-14611832
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Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
I never knew 'til now that Victor lives here in the UK!
...ya gotta beat the street......
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
???
article says :
Since leaving the Village People for good in 1983, Mr. Willis, who now lives in the San Diego area.......
- NYT
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Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
On the BBC article it says he lives in Newport, Wales.
...ya gotta beat the street......
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
****
oh !
{smiley}
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Baby, take me
high upon a hillside
high up where the stallion
meets the sun
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