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Re: record shows




>If... the record companies (and artists) were smart (they're not), they would
>recognize the fact that "bootlegs" are a way of life and instead of spending
>money enforcing laws, they should take the philosophy, "if you can't beat
>'em, join them." Just think what would happen if a company like MCA put out
>their OWN Who "bootleg" series. For $25/30, you get a "limited" release in
>the convenience of your own record store. Both artist and record company can
>profit and everyone gets a fair chance to buy it...


wf:

I can answer that one: the record companies are afraid that the official
bootlegs would compete with their legitimate releases. Witness the lack of
the release of a LAL TOMMY (or otherwise).
However, they could release them as a series as Zappa did (the 12 CD set YOU
CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE). It would be easily done for The Who, say in
a large, career-covering live set (5 CDs should cover it) and a companion
studio set (which the new ODDS AND SODS is supposed to be...but we'll see. I
don't think they can fit all of the yet-unreleased songs on two CDs). If MCA
doesn't want to do it, they could easily (and make a profit by) licensing
them out to another company.
Instead, they appear to be willing to hold on to this desirable material
until there's absolutely no chance to find any interest in the work, and
then decide not to release it because they can't make a profit...good plan.



                   Cheers                   ML

"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."  L. Long