Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday April 6 2003 — California resets stage for possime music snowaown SACRAMENTO Calif (AP) — Record plagued by steadily declin- companiw already ing sales now face the return of a barrage ofy aggressive bills in California and New York' that will attack die industry’s contract and accounting practices Last year California legislators Convened a fluny of bearings that pined disgruntled recoding artists who claimed their record companies had cheated them against record executives who complained abojil spoiled superstars Stan including Carole King Montel Jordan Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and the Back-stre-et Boys’ Kevin Richardson complained of short earnings and long contracts Country singer Clint Black said he owes his label mooey despite selling millions of records Country star Merle Haggard has made similar charges of underreported royalties No laws were passed in California and two major music firms pledged to reform their dealings with artists But state Sen Kevin Murray a former music agent who led last year’s attack is introducing four bills this year that would change how the industry signs and pays its recoding artists “I still think a lot of this is ripe for discussions with the companies and the artists!’ Mur ray said of the industry that employs 28000 : Californians Murray’s bills aim generally to toughen penalties for companies that underpay record- ing artists and the bills also provide greater access to labels’ internal accounting Murray ' would also modernize and simplify royalty accounting methods that date back to vinyl albums spun at 33 rpm The new bills come as falling sales shake the Nielsen SoundScan industry New York-base- d reports the music business sold 104 million fewer CDs and cassettes in 2002 than in 2000 Cary Sherman president of the Recording Industry Association of America said Murray’s bills hurt an industry that has seen artists and their labels fighting piracy and illegal Internet downloading together “Collectively industry artists and labels alike are seeing layoffs retail stores closing double-dig- it sales declines and that impacts the economics of everybody” Sherman said Stung by last year’s criticism from stars such as Hole's Courtney Love and the Eagles’ Don Henley and unsettled by attacks on the industry’s financial integrity two of the music indusUniversal try’s biggest players French-owne- d Bertelsmann Music Group and Goman-owne- d Music Group have floated some reforms similar to those proposed by Murray Both firms are considering ideas to simplify the industry’s accounting methods become more receptive to outside audits and for the first time tell artists the number of their CDs they’ve manufactured For years musicians have never been given the numbers leading many to suspect that some CDs earn them no money “There does seem to be a change in the wind in terms of attitude” acknowledged Donald Passman a Beverly Hills music attorney and author of the book “All You Need to blow about the Music Business’’ But Passman like others who interact with a recording industry dominated by five global giants said it’s still too early to tell if anything is really happening Sherman Oaks auditor Fred Wolinsky said he has yet to see any CD manufacturing records for his artist clients “I’ll believe it when I see The Next Stage : them” A fourth Murray bill would impose seven- year limits on the contracts record labels sign with their artists making the record business more like California’s movie business Musical acts from the Dixie Chicks to LeAnn Rimes and Sheryl Crow complained last year that the record industry ’s standard contract can bind artists to the same company for much of their careers In New York where the record industry is also a major employer Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expects to reintroduce his “Artistic Freedom Act” limiting contracts to seven years Meanwhile staffers for US Rep John Cohyers who has discussed national legislation to limitcontracts say they are “waiting to see what happens in Califomulti-albu- m D-Mi-ch rnia” Record industry representatives who won a 1987 exemption to California labor law for the contracts for practice say they need long-tersuccessful artists to cover the losses of the limmajority of their acts that fail Seven-yeits said the RIAA's Sherman would simply “let artists walk away from their contractual m You ar when you bought your home commitments” Artists Sherman said have bigger issues issue is of no “The fact is the seven-yerelevance to an artist who can’t make a living because everybody is downloading for free” he said 15 stock The issue has many farmers and ranchers asking for a change in the law while oth- ers want the law to stay as it is In January Jensen and another farmer brought the issue to the Box Elder County Commission Supporters of the two views filled the room Jensen and other farmers say it’s time to look at the law and consider a change to make the owners of stray livestock responsible “(The fencing law) is an unenforceable ordinance the way that it’s written” Jensen said The law requires a fence to be 3 feet high with at least five strands of wire not more than 12 inches apart Posts are to be set every 10 feet or less -- 66 and its value grows as a financial “Everybody with livestock is worried where every mouthful of feed’s going to come from this year" taking responsibility and working things out with your neighbors Munns said “You've got some irresponsible cattle owners and you’ve got farmers who don’t want to share the cost of a - Lane Jensen resource while you build up equity Wells Fargo EquityLine with FlexAbilitf protects ranchers from liability if someone were to leave a gate open or if an animal were hit by a car said Tim Munns president of the Utah Cattleman’s Association and a Box Elder County rancher “Mostrof the time everybody takes care of their cat- - tie” he said the type ht monthly payments - and the interest depending on Responding to a barrage low is usually using the EquityLine Platinum Card through of livestock” lie said The problem comes down to the ATM or by telephone transfer The fence” he said all fixed-rat- e t loan Now is the time to take control fixed-ter- m i i of your finances and give yourself freedom Stop by your nearest Wells Fargo location or t call ' OPEN today v- The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for lines of credit varies based on the value of index plus a margin (or spreadlThe index is the highest Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal Money Rates Table Margins $59650 ar with FlexAbility or a portion of your balance to a He said most do “Out in this country we don't have many problems” he said “If you own livestock you should be responsible for them” Jensen said He is waiting for the county fencing committee to meet and discuss the issue Hansen who is in charge of the committee plans to con: vene a meeting in the next few weeks five-ye- innovative EquityLine account gives you the option of converting The iand historically has been open range Munns said Newcomers especially in the more remote parts of the county need to respect that annually down from $795000 Last month Mullin and other top Delta executives had their yearly salaries reduced by lOpercent ting his pay another 13 percent and said he He also will skip an estimated $1 million won't accept incentive payments this year as the airline industry seeks billions in governperformance bonus assuming Delta had met its financial targets for 2003 He also will rescind ment financial aid Delta was criticized harshly by lawmakers a $24 million retention agreement and stock and employees after the company revealed that options agreement that were part of his contract Delta estimated the value of the it gave chairman and chief executive Leo F Mullin neatly $13 million in compensation last options as at least $35 million “Let me say that while the specifics of year In a memo to employees Thursday Mullin noted that "the reality of the airline required careful thought and considerbecame clear as I worked through what is that the ation context industry changes rapidly “Concerns we are now facing were not part the process was that there was no absolutely correct approach or set of actions” he wrote’ of the environment when those earlier decisions were made or their importance has been “But in the current circumstances the steps I he wrote 'am taking feel right to me I hope you will magnified” Under the new structure Mullin will earn agree” ATLANTA (AP) points You can access funds online by tax-deducti- Delta CEO cuts salary after criticism — of criticism the head of Delta Air Linek is cut- You benefit from no Tpwfees flexible terms competitive rates : That violates US Forest Service policy according to Box Elder County Commis- - ' sioner Scott Hansen He said fences need to be low enough fix' deer to jump A fence that would meet the ordinance would cost about $8000 per mile Jensen said ' He has found it cheaper to hire Neal Knutson to patrol his property and drive off neighbors’ animals Knutson lives on a ridge overlooking Interstate 84 In the winter he sleeps in a sheepherder’s wagon During warmer weather he stays in a teepee Others say there is notiiing wrong with requiring people to fence animals out It account is a smart way to make that asset work for you Nevertheless Munns agrees the ordinance needs work “The definition Ought to be livestock-tig- It's probably your largest single asset ar Drought raises ranchers’ worries about others’ strays BRIGHAM CITY Utah (AP) — Most years sheep rancher Lane Jensen’s land can absorb feeding forays by errant cattle! But with the extended drought he’s been keeping his animals off the 1800 acres to give it time to recover and he doesn’t want visits from cattle growers’ strays “Everybody with livestock is worried where every mouthful of feed’s going to come from this year” the Tre monton rancher said Keeping others’ cattle off the land can be more difficult Since Jensen lives west of Interstate 13 Box Elder County law makes it his responsibility to fence out other animals Ranchers who live east of must fence in their live- made a wise investment may vary and are determined based on Bank evaluation of your credit history the amount of your credit line and the availability of equity in your home Margins vary from 0254b to 750S resulting in rates from 4499b to 11759b A 449' APR applies to lines of credit ranging from 510000 to $500000 and a Wo maximum combined loan to value and is based on an index of 425Qo (as of February 21 2003) and a margin of 0J49b quoted rate requires automatic payment from a Wells Fargo Personal checking account as pail of a Welts Fargo pack relationship which requires four qualifying products The APR shall not beJess than 1 4499b and shal not exceed 189b Hazard and Rood insurance (if required) nuistbe in effect on the property securing the account $75 annual Fee waived the first year the account is opened Homi Equity lines of credit underwritten' by Weds Fargo Bank NA are subject to a $500 origination fee however Wells Fargo shall defer collection of the fee until the 3rd anniversary date after you obtain your line of credit on the account and shall waive the fee if the account remains open on that date Quoted rate not available through wetlsfargoxom Consult tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest C 2003 Weds Fargo Banks All rights reserved Members FDIC All |