Damn those Pigs!
So it turns out the pigs at Youtube and/or various music labels have decided to remove the audio from my videos, or ban them altogether in some countries. This does not please me…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p6APl1Z1aI&w=480&h=390]
I work hard on those videos, but I understand they are intrinsically quite tedious. I mean, it’s just me training… So I use music to make them more enjoyable to watch. By removing the audio, the pigs have essentially ruined the videos.
I would understand the situation if it was a case of musical integrity; if artists owned their own music and had their own policies controlling its distribution, I would be totally fine with it. After all, I wouldn’t want people using Gay Bum’s music to advertise a fashion show, or something else that conflicts with the band’s entire ethos. However, this has nothing to do with it!
The following conversation would be acceptable:
Axl Rose: “I don’t want you using Welcome to the Jungle in your video, because it was written about about embracing self-destruction, which this video doesn’t represent. It is important to the concept of Guns n’ Roses that our music isn’t used in contexts that contrast with what we stand for.”
Ed: “That’s cool man, I understand. How about you give me £14 million to record my own album and I’ll use my own songs next time. No? Fair enough. Free t-shirt? No? Dammit Axl.”
But this isn’t how it works. Decades ago, Guns n’ Roses sold the rights to their music in return for vast, vast wealth. To this extent, you hear it whenever you go and they have no say in the matter. Instead, UMG control the distribution of their music and keep it by the balls, not because they want to ensure the legacy of Guns n’ Roses (which is already ruined), but to make sure they make every single penny they possibly can, because a revenue of $7 billion simply isn’t enough.
So, I can’t use Welcome to the Jungle to make my video enjoyable and hopefully gain more interest to raise money for charity, but UMG can use it, however they want, to benefit their vast corporation. Axl would love that, I’m sure. This isn’t about musical integrity; it’s about selfish, grasping, money-grabbing bollocks.