Boycott Sony / BMG Resources: summary  |  Jaguar  |  interviews  |  affiliates  action  |  contact  |  media  |  mailing list |  links Official Correspondence & Press Releases: Mad Mike  |  Sony  |  UR  |  BMG  |  Backstage  |  430 West Other Correspondence & Opinion: TP  |  Agent Drew  |  Simon  |  Bliss Jaguar Headlines UR Has Been Ripped Off - 12-08-99 Sony Informs UR of Their Intentions - 12-10-99 UR Contacts the Underground - 12-11-99 Terrence Parker's Two Cents - 12-11-99 Sony Recalls the Fake Jaguar - 12-17-99 UR Expresses Their Disgust With Sony - 12-18-99 Sony's Deception - 12-20-99 The Thieves Have Moved to BMG - 01-10-00 BMG Releases Fake Jaguar - 01-15-00 Agent Drew on BMG and the BPI - 01-16-00 BMG Response: "You Don't Understand!" - 01-20-00 DJ Bliss Demands a BMG Recall - 01-21-00 UR's Official Response to BMG - 01-23-00 430 West Records Press Release - 01-24-00 BMG Expresses No Concern for Consumers - 01-25-00 BMG's Zelnick Responds to DJ Bliss - 01-26-00 BMG Maps Out a Response - 01-26-00 Wirestation Reporter Discovers BMG Coverup - 01-27-00 Harris Contacted by BMG's Clive Rich - 01-27-00 Harris & BMG's Clemon Williams Converse - 01-30-00 BackPage Revels in Fake Jaguar - 02-07-00 DJ Bliss Responds to BMG - 02-07-00     Sony Creates & Sells a "Tone by Tone" Copy of Jaguar The Dance Division of Sony Records Germany first notified Underground Resistance of their plans for a January release date via a series of emails and faxes sent in December 1999. Sony wrote that it intended to release a "tone by tone" cover version of the underground hit smash. A Sony executive said that he assumed Underground Resistance would not license the track, so instead, the decision was made to distribute the track without a license (steal it!). Sony acknowledged plans to eventually pay Rolando royalties, but the issue of intellectual property and copyright still remains unresolved and unanswered by Sony. Sony Germany actually released both remixes and a cover version of "Jaguar" in retail stores internationally in late December, containing no reference to the original recording. Sony Germany claimed to have pulled the record after a barrage of emails and phone calls protesting the release added to controversy and negative publicity for Sony. Underground Resistance supporters may have succeeded in alerting the corporation to the sensitive nature of such a crime, but the offense and the personal damage to Rolando's name did not cease. Sony opted to pass the buck to BMG executives, who have signed the producers of the cover track, "Jaguar" to their label, and the infraction against Rolando grows in scope with the compact disc and vinyl release on BMG. DJ Rolando may have a fight on his hands, but this action by a major label has prompted a showing of strength in the underground community. It is assured that given a voice, this community will not be silent. For over a decade, Direct Beat, 430 West and Underground Resistance Records have teamed up to be major players, proponents, and innovators in the development of Detroit Techno. The response is indicative of how these separate entities come together to defend their music -- even when violated by soul-stealing majors.   How to Read This Article The meat of this section is in the official correspondence. The reader will begin to grasp the nature of the corporate coverup and how badly these major corporations want the issue to fade away. The best way to understand how this issue has evolved would be to read the headlines in order. The resources section is good for people who are all ready informed on this issue and who are looking for more information or are looking to take some action. Please take advantage of the email link at the bottom of each page; this link will make it easy for you to contact BMG and Sony via email.   Updates August 26, 2000 - Posted a picture of the real Jaguar courtesy of Submerge Records. August 19, 2000 - The contact, media, and links pages have been recompiled. August 8, 2000 - This entire section has been completely restructured. This section used to be seven pages that was a running log of some of the dialogue that ran between the Underground and the majors. This section has been reorganized into 19 pages and a menu system to make it easier to access any information regarding the parties that are involved and have intelligently expressed their opinion. Links were also created for to make it easier to contact the parties that are involved.

Please do not purchase this record from any large commercial chain store. These stores have never supported this type of music and only do so now so in order to appear cool and current. If you decide to buy this record please only purchase it from a knowleageble speciality shop or a local Mom & Pop store or smaller business that have supported the music from its inception. Super chain stores have never had the time or focus to search out cutting edge underground music! They can only react once the speciality shops and underground labels have created a market for the music, then all of a sudden they and the major music labels start wanting the music because they know they can overpower the small labels and work their nework of retailers that made this music possible with their massive advertising campaigns and prefab artists, that do weak imitations of what the music realy is. And worst, it's 10 or 12 years late. We have two questions for you: Would you watch or read news that was 12 years old? How long you gonna let them do this to you? Support your local retailers and speciality shops. Out - UR" Renegade Rhythms is not affiliated with UR, Submerge, or 430 West. We are concerned consumers, djs & producers who are attempting to further information about this issue.

Please feel free to email Sony & BMG to voice your opinion.

Please sign the petition at http://mycal.net/ifj/.

 

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