It was my dentist whose wife drove around those execs, though I wasn't the first
to start talking about this rumor here. I never thought Hollywood would be
buying Acid Jazz outright, mainly because I knew you probably wouldn't sell it
and Hollywood would definitely not want to buy it. As one somewhat familiar with
the industry, a licensing deal was what I (and many here) had figured on.
But what I'm curious about, Mr. Piller, is what your expectations and their
expectations are in this deal. How much stake do either of you have in it?
Because, though you may say 'fuck the major labels', Hollywood may be the most
major of them all with their Disney ties. They are interested in what they see
as that bottom dollar. And, sad to say, Hollywood has a sort of reputation in
the US industry for being a bit out of touch and misguided.
I'm curious: sure they will license Mother Earth and Courdoroy in the US... but
will we see the Emperor's New Clothes record (my favorite release of yours in
the past year)? I'll be surprised if it is.
I can understand how lack of US distribution can get on your nerves, but I am
still wary of this Hollywood thing. I feel you may have jumped the gun.
Hopefully there is not a whole lot of contractual commitment between the two of
you for, even though a licensing deal, it has a huge possiblility of going sour.
Real sour. Just ask Alan McGee about his US licensing deal for Creation with SBK
Records. Or the folks at On-U about their deal with Restless.
Of course, there are just as many success stories, and I wish you that most
certainly. But I feel that Hollywood is just trying to catch on to 'this acid
jazz thing' and thus, once the fascination ends, may drop promotion and support,
hurting you in the end.
Again, best of luck. You know more about this deal than I do, and have much more
business experience. I just don't want to see this 'acid jazz thing' get wrongly
exploited, especially by a label like Hollywood.
And by the way, Cargo and Smash distribution do a fine job distributing Acid
Jazz product in the US, and sell them cheap enough that they are at the same
price as US CDs. Sure, all the stores (including the Wal-Marts and Targets)
won't have the music, but will it appeal to all those markets anyway?
Mother Earth may. And so might Courdoroy. And I understand you want to give them
that chance. But Emperor's New Clothes won't.
Again, I wish you much luck, and I will support you in your efforts.
PEACE
Michael Donaldson
EIGHTH DIMENSION RECORDS
PS- One positive note on Hollywood... remember that Hollywood Basic Zimbawe
Legit single gave us our first taste of DJ Shadow... remember?