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Artistic licence

thankyougrandmathankyougrandma Posts: 1,182
edited February 2006 in Other Music
February 23rd, 2006
New Montreal music company lets musicians score profits

Artistic licence
Brendan Murphy

While hearing about a new merger in the music business is usually just another sign that it's shifting farther away from the artists and closer to the ham-fisted hands of the suits, there's a development in the Montreal music scene that promises to do the exact opposite.
Third Side Music is the amalgam of Plateau Music, a music placement company, and Ninja Tune, the internationally acclaimed indie, hip-hop and electronic label. Ninja's Jeff Waye explains the reasons for shacking up together.

"We got to wondering if it was at all possible for a music merger to happen that wasn't about global financial domination, artistic lockdown, or being an overly capitalist scumbag."

Plateau's Mary Catherine Harris, the head of publishing administration and marketing for the new venture, explains what it is, exactly, that they'll be doing.

"Essentially, [music placement companies] seek out opportunities to place songs, and are in touch with music supervisors for any other businesses that have music needs. They also negotiate the terms of use and the fees." Plateau, which has had great success in publishing, licensing and placing music in advertising (HBC, Old Navy) and television (MTV, The L Word), has the ability to think bigger. "There's also internal corporate use [i.e., training videos], web content and foreign opportunities, which would include finding a label or distribution, accessing compilations, remixes and digital uses."

Ninja Tune, for its part, has been around for 16 years
and has put out music by Coldcut and The Herbaliser among many others (not to mention Montrealers Kid Koala and Sixtoo). On top of providing companies with access to their huge catalogue, their international connections and U.S. licensing contacts will be of invaluable aid.

With lagging record sales being reported across the board, this aspect of the music machine has become all the more important. However, Waye contends that what will differentiate Third Side Music is its commitment to artists.

"What we've done is build a far more punk rock version of a publishing/licensing company, all the while respecting that each individual artist has a standard of moral and creative ideals that we will value and respect within our practices."

The Third Side Music launch will be held at Sala Rossa on Feb. 28 featuring DJ sets from Champion, A Zoobone Sound, a rare performance by The Snitches, and a surprise guest. Doors at 9 p.m.

http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8482
"L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers"
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