Knitting Factory/Instinct screwing over their artists? 


I heard from a friend that since Instinct took over Knitting Factory that a lot of the artists were pissed. I searched the web for more info and couldn't find anything except this from Mark Ribot's site. I excerpted the text since his site only works with IE. 

From Mark Ribot's Website

Stand Up for Artists' Rights - THIS WED DEC 15
Mark your calendars, everyone. Our next big demo is set:
Time: Wednesday, December 15th, 12 NOON
Place: outside the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street between Broadway and Church Street)

We hope that musicians everywhere will attend this historic demonstration!

This action began when The Knitting Factory, once a home both literally and figuratively for alternative, challenging forms of music, was taken over (label and club) by Instinct Records in 2002. No official announcement was ever made to the artists on the label. Confusion ensued over the coming weeks and months, word spread about the change of ownership and suddenly many artists found themselves out in the cold: unable to get satisfactory answers about the status of their work from the new label owners, unable to get their masters back even though it was in their contracts that they could, and unable to get satisfactory accountings of their work. When Instinct moved their offices in 2003, artists were shocked to hear eyewitness accounts the following week of their CDs being thrown out by the case.

This demo is not just about our community of musicians and one indie record label: we want to help make industry-wide changes and increase awareness on behalf of indie recording artists everywhere, who have often not had access to legal help or the ability to challenge a label when they felt their contracts had not been honored. The Musicians Union, Local 802, has stepped in, offering free legal help and an unprecedented level of support for this historic action.

We?ve scheduled the demo at noon to get maximum press exposure. Therefore, we?ve got to make this demo HUGE. Come out and support all Knitting Factory/Instinct artists past and present in their fight to get their contracts honored and their work treated with respect! If you couldn?t make the last demo, then it is really important that you make it to this one--we really need your presence! And please forward this message to every musician that you know.

We are also announcing a BOYCOTT to begin on FEBRUARY 14. The two month gap between then and now is to avoid inconveniencing other artists and to give Instinct another opportunity to end its stubborn refusal to negotiate. But unless that occurs we urge all artists: DON?T BOOK ANY NEW DATES AT THE KNTTING FACTORY without first consulting the TITTB website. Gigs booked after that date may have artists and audience crossing ?Don?t Go In? picket lines. We urge all fans: the best Valentine?s Day present you can give the indie label recording artists whose work you enjoy is your solidarity. If the club continues to stonewall the artists through FEBRUARY 14th: DON?T GO IN. BOYCOTT FOR ARTISTS RIGHTS!!!

Let?s repeat and make this clear: despite the filing of our lawsuit, despite the announcement of this boycott, we remain open and willing to talk to KF/Instinct Records, should they at any point acquiesce to a sit-down meeting with us.

Performing Opportunity: we want lots of musicians to play short sets (since it will be chilly) at the demo, so there is a constant flow of music and noise and lots of photo opps. Having Kenny Wolleson and musicians playing at the last demo really made the difference. The President of Local 802, David Lennon, will be speaking at this event, and 802 is mobilizing their PR department on our behalf to make sure this demo gets coverage. Are you interested in performing (KF/Instinct artist, or anyone?) Acoustic acts are best though there might be a simple PA system of some kind there. If interested--contact us at: kf_action@takeittothebridge.com

We are going to tell KF/Instinct records, loud and clear:
We want our masters back, as we are contractually entitled!

We want the royalties (mechanical or otherwise) we are due, and clear, accurate accountings!

We want our CDs offered to us, or Downtown Music Gallery--not thrown in the trash!!!

We want all indie artists to have their contracts honored when their label changes hands!!

See you at the demo --
the takeittothebridge crew 

Posted: Wed - December 15, 2004 at 11:06 AM          

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