Milsap / Bleve Records Strike Back
I’m happy to report that there is good news on the fight between Bleve Records, Ronnie Milsap, and Capitol Records Nashville. Capitol has been filing legal briefs to keep Bleve Records from releasing a Milsap single that also features Capitol artist Trace Adkins. Bleve, a label that was set up by a retired police officer to help replenish disaster relief funds, initially complied with a “cease and desist” order (to read the whole story click here). But now they have decided to ignore the court ruling, and continue to sell the Milsap/Adkins single. From Bleve:
“Amid calls and emails from angry firefighters, police officers and their families, BLEVE Records has decided to go forward with the release and promotion of “My First Ride.” . . .Independent American owned BLEVE Records stopped promotion of the single after German/UK owned conglomerate Capitol Records issued a cease and desist order claiming they had no knowledge of the song and ordering the immediate halt of further promotion or sales.”
“Mickey Milam, BLEVE President and CEO, states that this song was green lighted through Trace’s management company and Capitol Records had full knowledge of the project. “There didn’t seem to be a problem,” states Milam, “until this single started climbing the charts and garnering radio attention.” BLEVE has offered all along to pay standard royalty rate to Capitol Records for Trace’s performance. All artists/labels on the forthcoming compilation CD are being compensated for their performances.”
Also on Thursday, Milsap led a group of firefighters and police officers in a protest in front of Capitol Records Nashville:
Milsap and the protesters were asked to leave by Capitol Records security and complied without incident.
Capitol Records Nashville has STILL yet to comment on the situation.
There are many problems right now with the current music climate in Nashville, and for all the ugliness about this story, one good thing about it is that it is exposing all of this ungliness for all the world to see. That is why it warmed my cockles so to see Belve Records and Milsap take a stand.
This fight is not just about disaster relief funds, though that is obviously a big part of it. It is about artists being able to have the freedom to do what they want with their music. This is about not having lawyers decide the fate and direction of songs, but the artists and their fans.
And this is also a fight about the city of Nashville. I think it is important to note this fight isn’t against Capitol Records, but against Capitol Records NASHVILLE, a subsidiary of the bigger company. No offense to the Germans and British that own the company, but this is an excellent example of why the influence from foreign-owned corporations is bad for Nashville. They are sucking the life and the sense of community out of Music City. If Capitol Records Nashville had any sense of community citizenship, this issue would have never come up.
So What Can You Do to Help?
The biggest thing you can do is go to blevemusic.com and buy the single at the very top of the site.
You can also email Bleve Records to voice your support at blast@blevemusic.com .
And stay tuned. I hope to be in contact with Bleve to find out ways we can help Bleve to resolve this matter.
September 28, 2009 @ 9:42 am
I am a Milsap fan from WAY back and it thrills me to no end to see Ronnie support such a worthy cause. Ronnie, you have always been someone I look up to. Now, I have one more reason to keep on looking up. Trace, you are amazing and to see you two together and hear this song brings joy to my heart. As a former Paramedic and Firefighter, you have my total support and I will gladly walk a picket line for you and with you any day!!
September 28, 2009 @ 10:13 am
It’s nice to see them ignoring the order, but at the same time it could possibly screw them over in the end. They can easily win the battle of public opinion but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a courtroom. If Capitol decides to throw the full weight of their lawyers at this it could be a huge problem for Bleve.
September 28, 2009 @ 10:46 am
That’s a good point Burch. I can imagine courts don’t like their rulings being ignored. Bleve might have been put in a bad position, because they were feeling pressure from people to fight it, and they probably feel like fighting the fight might help spread the word about what is going on. Yet legally, the best thing would have been to sit tight till the legal stuff worked itself out.
It will be interesting to see what the next shoe will be to fall.
September 28, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Capitol quit being so greedy and let these legend artist help the firefighters and police raise some money for a good cause! I think you have made your share and then some. It’s a good thing we have people like Ronnie Milsap and Trace Adkins who have big hearts and care about other people besides themselves. Capitol I don’t see any stones in your crown!!!
September 28, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
I’ve known Ronnie for many years. He stands for God, truth and the American way. How can ANYONE refute the goodness that this recording can do for those who lay their lives on the line for us EVERYDAY ????? Shame on you Capitol Records…
September 28, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
Good stuff Maverick. Isn’t ironic that Ronnie Milsap is the one they are trying to make a bad guy here, a man that I’ve never heard an I’ll word spoken about. I truly hope that Capital’s actions blow up in their face, and their opposition only makes this single and this album more popular so even more funds can be raised.
October 1, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
I am a Firefighter a Country Music Lover and a Regular Guy so I fully support this cause from 3 fronts!
As a Firefighter, Neither myself nor my family has yet to need the assistance of this fund but we have a feeling of “family” and support just knowing it is there if I or any of my brothers or sisters need it. I find it unconsciousable that any human being (or group of human beings that own a record company) could even take issue with this cause? We (Firefighters and Police Officers) do our jobs every day and night for many reasons and never ask the communities we serve and protect for anything more than a smile or a wave as we pass by yet in the tragic event(s) of a disaster or line of duty death this fund is there “without having to ask for it” to help my family get by.
As a country music lover, I have heard the song and LOVE IT! I have also called and emailed my local radio station to inform them of this and they have been nothing but supportive. I’m buying the single and the CD and spreading the word throughout my family both at home and in the Fire Department to do the same.
As a Regular Guy, I don’t claim to understand the whole music industry or about many of the contract details the artists must abide by but I do understand that it appears all too often that many end up to have (evidentally) signed away their own civil rights as a human being and (in most cases) a citizen of this country. It’s sad to see that it’s almost OK or acceptable for some faceless conglomorate to have you sign on the dotted line and then “own” you? It’s a song. It’s music. It’s also apparent that Capitol Records is to collect their share of any royalties this CD and single make, so what’s the problem?
If the music is allowed to circulate we all win! The Firefighters and their families win! The Police Officers and their families win! The Country Music market wins! Even the artists themselves and the record companies win! Oh wait, I guess the (Capitol Records) lawyers don’t win… OH WELL!!!!!!
October 1, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
I agree Never Forget. It is funny that Capitol is trying to defend itself by citing a bunch of legal jargon that none of us understand. There is nothing that is more understandable and nothing that brings out more compassion in people than family, service, and loss of life, and this is what Bleve is fighting for.
I find it interesting that even at this late date, Capitol has STILL not come out with a public statement about it, and is only talking through their lawyers. I guess they think this is a way to keep the story buried, but I’m going to do what I can to make sure they fail in that endeavor.
Saving Country Music » Blog Archive » Milsap / Bleve Strike Back - Part 2
October 5, 2009 @ 11:13 am
[…] To read about the conflict between Ronnie Milsap and Capitol Records Nashville, click here, and to read about Milsap’s first protest click here. […]
October 5, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
What Capitol Records is doing is rather shameful trying to get Beleve Records not to play the hit single My First Ride. Country DJ’s should have more courage and kahones to just play the song knowing that the proceeds are all going to a worthy cause. What ever happened to the day when truth justice and the american actually meant something. Capitol Records doesn’t have the courage to face the families of those, firefighters and police officers, who gave their lives on that fateful day of 9-11-01 and explain why they’re currently being bullies. It seems Capitol Records has fallen so deep into the power of gold that it has forgotten what it should stand for. Country radio itself is also shameless as it’s forgotten the legends of country music, while substituting CD sales for artists with actual singing talent. It takes real courage to stand up for what you really believe in especially to a large cooperate giant like Capitol Records. It’s even more shameful when an upstart record like Beleve Records, trying to replenish funds for firefighters and police officers and their families, is thwarted by Capitol Records all in the name of greed. Should Capitol have any real kahones, why not step up to the plate and make a major contribution to fund that Beleve Records is trying to replenish. Many fans of all music genres should tell Capitol Records how they feel about what they’re currently doing. Without fans buying music from your company Capitol Records you won’t be in business very long as word continues to spread about how you’re preventing Beleve Records from raising money for a very worthy cause.
Saving Country Music » Blog Archive » Trace Adkins Leaves Capitol b/c of Bleve Brushup?
April 29, 2010 @ 9:09 am
[…] Ronnie Milsap struck back and struck back again. But as Ronnie was running around Nashville with a bullhorn, Trace, on tour […]