After just returning from Amsterdam earlier this week, it’s interesting to find their music scene on the international spotlight. No, it’s not because of their music, but because Anti-piracy group BREIN is caught up in a huge copyright scandal.

A musician who composed a track for use at a local film festival later found it being used without permission in an anti-piracy campaign. He is now claiming at least a million euros for the unauthorized distribution…

….Earlier this year, however, a breakthrough seemed to loom on the horizon when Buma/Stemra board member Jochem Gerrits contacted the composer with an interesting proposal. Gerrits offered to help out the composer in his efforts to get paid for his hard work, but the music boss had a few demands of his own.

In order for the deal to work out the composer had to assign the track in question to the music publishing catalogue of the Gerrits, who owns High Fashion Music. In addition to this, the music boss demanded 33% of all the money set to be recouped as a result of his efforts.

Update: Dutch politicians, musicians and a Buma/Stemra board member are shocked by the revelations and describe Gerrits’ actions as “corrupt,” a “money grab” and “mafia-like.” Politicians want more transparency from the royalty collecting agency, and will debate the issue in parliament. (Via TorrentFreak)

Another reminder that sometimes the hand that feeds you holds you down. Let’s hope this sort of thing is an exception rather than the standard in the music business. #lols

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpuu_xODUpo

Music Consciousness
Voyno