Latest news with #musicrights
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
State supports and tax credits required to help struggling Irish musicians, says Imro
State supports, including tax incentives similar to those available to the film industry, should be considered to help the Irish music industry grow and navigate the challenges facing artists in the era of content streaming, the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro) has said. Research published by the body on Tuesday revealed that the music industry is worth €1 billion to the Republic's economy annually, supporting more than 13,400 jobs. Based on a nationally representative survey of 1,000 people and a survey of Imro members, the report found that Irish adults spent an average of €757 on music events last year, including festivals and individual concerts. Music fans spent an average of €298 on concerts in high-capacity venues last year and €194 on festivals, Imro said. READ MORE However, two-thirds of survey respondents said the high and growing price of concert tickets is a barrier to gig-going, while almost half cited the accommodation costs as an issue. 'At the heart of this report is a clear truth: Irish people don't just enjoy music – they live it. From packed festival fields to quiet moments with a favourite playlist, music is embedded in our daily lives,' said Imro chairwoman Eleanor McEvoy. 'This heartfelt connection is at the core of our vibrant music culture, but people working in the sector need more than passion to thrive. According to the research, more than 13,400 people are employed in the music industry here, yet just 43 per cent of Imro members surveyed said they had full-time jobs in the sector. Almost 70 per cent said they are reliant on employment in other sectors of the economy to sustain their careers, 'reflecting a widespread dependency on external income sources', the report's authors said. Against this backdrop of financial precarity, Imro said the uneven distribution of streaming income, which means artists and songwriters receive a disproportionately lower share of the revenue relative to the streaming platforms, means mean musicians are struggling to earn sustainable incomes. The body said the Government should look to apply some of the financial strategies that have helped the Irish film industry grow and develop, such as the Section 481 tax credit, to alleviate the financial burden on musicians. The Republic's music industry could also benefit from State intervention at the level of marketing, Imro said, citing the example of the popularity of K-pop and the South Korean government's efforts to export it to a global audience. Imro also wants the Government to put the Basic Income for the Arts, a pilot version of which was unveiled in 2022 and runs until the end of this year, on a permanent footing. Ms McEvoy said musicians must be fairly compensated in the streaming economy and protected from 'emerging risks' like artificial intelligence. 'The recommendations outlined here are not just aspirational, they are essential steps toward a sustainable and equitable future for Irish music, and we look forward to working closely with the Government and the Oireachtas committees to further these recommendations,' she said.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GEM dismisses old label's legal threats over rerecorded songs
20 Jun - GEM has recently dismissed her former label's statement that she has no right to release a rerecorded versions of her old songs for her album, "I AM GLORIA". On 18 June, Hummingbird Music issued a statement saying that the company has the recording producer's rights and the copyright of the lyrics and music, meaning that GEM has violated their rights and should remove the song within 48 hours or face legal consequences. In response to the legal threats, GEM posted an official statement from her own company, which stated that the singer had entrusted the dissemination rights to CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd) even before she was signed with Hummingbird. Further clarifying the issue in the caption section of her Instagram, she wrote, "After talking to my team of lawyers, we all laughed helplessly. Actually, I don't know what else I have to respond to because the legal basis for my re-recording is very sufficient." "This re-recording is strictly in accordance with the legal permission of our country, and I also paid the necessary remuneration according to the law. What's more, the broadcast rights to all of my works have been managed by the CASH Association since I was 14 years old (before I met Hummingbird), so these re-recorded versions are legally available worldwide. Therefore, I won't be taking down the songs." She then reminded Hummingbird that they have yet to settle all legitimate royalties owed to her from October 2018 to present day. "Also, can you settle the lawful service fees for the approximately six months before my contract termination in 2019, which also have not been paid to this day? Much appreciated, thank you," she added. (Photo Source: GEM IG)
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Judge orders managers for late Johnny Winter to pay $226,000 in damages in lawsuit alleging theft
A Connecticut judge has settled a bitter feud over the estate of the late legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter, ordering his managers to pay $226,000 in damages for improper payments they received after his 2014 death and rejecting their claim to the rights to his music. Relatives of Winter's late wife, Susan, sued Winter's manager, Paul Nelson, and his wife, Marion, in 2020, claiming the Nelsons swindled more than $1 million from Winter's music business. The Nelsons denied the allegations and countersued. They accused the relatives of improperly having Paul Nelson ousted as the beneficiary of Winter's estate, and they claimed ownership of his music rights. After a seven-day trial before a judge in January 2024, Judge Trial Referee Charles Lee ruled Friday that the Nelsons received improper payments and made improper withdrawals from Winter's accounts, but rejected claims they committed fraud, mismanagement and breach of contract. 'The court finds that the conduct for which it has awarded the damages set forth above was negligent or at least arguably legitimate,' Lee wrote in a 54-page decision that also rejected the claims in the Nelsons' countersuit. The judge said the Nelsons' most serious impropriety was withdrawing $112,000 from Winter's business account and depositing it into one of their own accounts in 2019, without listing Susan Winter as a signatory on their account. Susan Winter owned all of her husband's assets — valued at about $3 million at the time of his death. The judge said punitive damages may be imposed on the Nelsons because of that transfer. Paul Nelson, who managed Johnny Winter's business from 2005 to 2019 and played guitar in his band, died in March 2024 from a heart attack during a music tour. Marion Nelson, who did bookkeeping for the Winters and the music business, did not immediately return an email message Monday. The Nelsons' lawyers did not immediately return phone and email messages. It wasn't clear if they planned to appeal. Susan Winter died from lung cancer in October 2019. Months before her death, she removed Paul Nelson as her successor trustee to her family trust, which included all of her late husband's assets. She named her sister and brother, Bonnie and Christopher Warford, from Charlotte, North Carolina, as her new successor trustees, and they sued the Nelsons. The Warfords' lawyers did not immediately return phone and email messages Monday. Phone numbers for the Warfords listed in public records were no longer in service. The Nelsons claimed the Warfords took advantage of Susan Winter and had her sign legal documents while she was medicated near the end of her life. They also alleged the Warfords soured their relationship with Susan Winter with false embezzlement claims. The Warfords denied those allegations. The judge ruled that the Warfords were entitled to damages because of improper payments the Nelsons received, including $68,000 in royalty payments from a 2016 auction of Winter's assets, $69,000 in cash withdrawals, $18,000 in expense reimbursements and $15,000 in other royalty payments. The Warfords also were awarded $56,000 that remains in one of the Nelsons' accounts, the same account used in the $112,000 transfer criticized by the judge. In 2020, the Nelsons transferred about $151,000 out of that account to the Warfords' lawyers. Lee also rejected claims by the Warfords that Paul Nelson should not have received $300,000 in auction proceeds from the sale of three of Johnny Winter's guitars, because Winter promised those guitars to Paul Nelson. John Dawson Winter III was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He burst onto the world blues scene in the 1960s, dazzling crowds with his fast licks while his trademark long, white hair flew about from under his cowboy hat. He and his brother Edgar — both born with albinism — were both renowned musicians. Johnny Winter, who played at Woodstock in 1969, was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the No. 63 best guitar player of all time in 2015. He released more than two dozen albums and was nominated for several Grammy Awards, winning his first one posthumously in 2015 for Best Blues Album for 'Step Back.' Nelson produced the album and also took home a Grammy for it. Johnny Winter, who spent two decades living in Easton, Connecticut, before his death, battled heroin addiction for years and credited Nelson, whom he met in 1999, with helping him get off the opioid methadone and revive his career, according to the 2014 documentary, 'Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty.'
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Judge orders managers for late Johnny Winter to pay $226,000 in damages in lawsuit alleging theft
A Connecticut judge has settled a bitter feud over the estate of the late legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter, ordering his managers to pay $226,000 in damages for improper payments they received after his 2014 death and rejecting their claim to the rights to his music. Relatives of Winter's late wife, Susan, sued Winter's manager, Paul Nelson, and his wife, Marion, in 2020, claiming the Nelsons swindled more than $1 million from Winter's music business. The Nelsons denied the allegations and countersued. They accused the relatives of improperly having Paul Nelson ousted as the beneficiary of Winter's estate, and they claimed ownership of his music rights. After a seven-day trial before a judge in January 2024, Judge Trial Referee Charles Lee ruled Friday that the Nelsons received improper payments and made improper withdrawals from Winter's accounts, but rejected claims they committed fraud, mismanagement and breach of contract. 'The court finds that the conduct for which it has awarded the damages set forth above was negligent or at least arguably legitimate,' Lee wrote in a 54-page decision that also rejected the claims in the Nelsons' countersuit. The judge said the Nelsons' most serious impropriety was withdrawing $112,000 from Winter's business account and depositing it into one of their own accounts in 2019, without listing Susan Winter as a signatory on their account. Susan Winter owned all of her husband's assets — valued at about $3 million at the time of his death. The judge said punitive damages may be imposed on the Nelsons because of that transfer. Paul Nelson, who managed Johnny Winter's business from 2005 to 2019 and played guitar in his band, died in March 2024 from a heart attack during a music tour. Marion Nelson, who did bookkeeping for the Winters and the music business, did not immediately return an email message Monday. The Nelsons' lawyers did not immediately return phone and email messages. It wasn't clear if they planned to appeal. Susan Winter died from lung cancer in October 2019. Months before her death, she removed Paul Nelson as her successor trustee to her family trust, which included all of her late husband's assets. She named her sister and brother, Bonnie and Christopher Warford, from Charlotte, North Carolina, as her new successor trustees, and they sued the Nelsons. The Warfords' lawyers did not immediately return phone and email messages Monday. Phone numbers for the Warfords listed in public records were no longer in service. The Nelsons claimed the Warfords took advantage of Susan Winter and had her sign legal documents while she was medicated near the end of her life. They also alleged the Warfords soured their relationship with Susan Winter with false embezzlement claims. The Warfords denied those allegations. The judge ruled that the Warfords were entitled to damages because of improper payments the Nelsons received, including $68,000 in royalty payments from a 2016 auction of Winter's assets, $69,000 in cash withdrawals, $18,000 in expense reimbursements and $15,000 in other royalty payments. The Warfords also were awarded $56,000 that remains in one of the Nelsons' accounts, the same account used in the $112,000 transfer criticized by the judge. In 2020, the Nelsons transferred about $151,000 out of that account to the Warfords' lawyers. Lee also rejected claims by the Warfords that Paul Nelson should not have received $300,000 in auction proceeds from the sale of three of Johnny Winter's guitars, because Winter promised those guitars to Paul Nelson. John Dawson Winter III was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He burst onto the world blues scene in the 1960s, dazzling crowds with his fast licks while his trademark long, white hair flew about from under his cowboy hat. He and his brother Edgar — both born with albinism — were both renowned musicians. Johnny Winter, who played at Woodstock in 1969, was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the No. 63 best guitar player of all time in 2015. He released more than two dozen albums and was nominated for several Grammy Awards, winning his first one posthumously in 2015 for Best Blues Album for 'Step Back.' Nelson produced the album and also took home a Grammy for it. Johnny Winter, who spent two decades living in Easton, Connecticut, before his death, battled heroin addiction for years and credited Nelson, whom he met in 1999, with helping him get off the opioid methadone and revive his career, according to the 2014 documentary, 'Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty.'
Grazia USA
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
Travis Kelce Reacts To Taylor Swift Buying Back Her Music
Travis Kelce celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by) Taylor Swift was recently able to buy back the rights to all her music after a long and highly publicised ordeal. A few days later, her boyfriend, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, finally weighed in on the milestone move. Swift was seen out just this weekend celebrating the news with her long-time bestie, Selena Gomez. While Kelce missed out on celebrations as he was in Missouri for a charity event, he showed his support by liking the singer's Instagram post about the achievement. She made the announcement on her socials, with a heartfelt letter to fans shared on Instagram. 'I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening,' she wrote. 'I really get to say these words: All of the music I've ever made… now belongs… to me.' On the latest episode of his podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis made his excitement and support crystal clear. In the closing moments of the episode, guest Shaquile O'Neal took a moment to play the brothers his 'favourite song in the world,' proceeding to play Swift's track 'I Knew You Were Trouble'. Kelce took no time to start singing and dancing along. 'Shout-out to Tay Tay,' he smiled brightly. 'Just got that song back, too, just bought all her music back, so it's finally hers, too. Man, I appreciate that.' The clip is a must-see, with the supportive boyfriend's joy radiating off the screen. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift embrace after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Of course, this reaction comes as no surprise, as Kelce has been ever vocal about his admiration for Swift. In his first big interview after the two were confirmed to be dating, he gushed about his 'genius' partner. 'I've never been a man of words,' he admitted. 'Being around her, seeing how smart Taylor is, has been fucking mind-blowing. I'm learning every day.' Watch the adorable moment below. topics: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, shaquile o'neal, i knew you were trouble, taylor and travis, celebrity, celebrity news, music, Music News, celebrity couples
