Frankly, the Natalie Merchant removal has become kind of embarrassing. In reality, we should have received permission or not recorded at all.
From this point forward, we will attempt to get permission in advance from artists (unless those artists already have a pre-existing “taper-friendly” policy or have previously communicated agreement to us) and will not record without permission. We had been more strict in this policy earlier in the existence of this site, but we’ve become a bit brazen lately.
The result will probably be less of a variety of music on this site, but we feel it will assist in the continued viability of the site. For the immediate future, we have contacted the NY Guitar Festival, Magnetic Fields, and Meredith Monk with requests for permission. Decisions on those recordings are pending. We will not record Springsteen. All of the other artists listed in upcoming events will be recorded.
Magnetic Fields management sent an extremely nice and courteous (almost apologetic) reply respectfully asking that I not record. So that concert will not be recorded.
your reputation, as well as your recordings, is impeccable. thank you for recording and sharing this fine music.
Can I just add my thanks for your efforts here?
I’ve downloaded some fine music from your pages over the last few months, and almost always this has resulted in a subsequent lightening of my wallet, as I investigate the corresponding back catalogue on Amazon or in my local high street music shops.
I was dismayed by the Natalie Merchant fiasco, as I would have liked to have heard that concert too. As a result, I must say that that I am rather LESS inclined to buy any more of her CDs in the future.
Keep up the good work anyway!
Hearing about this situation after the fact, I’m left a bit disappointed and confused. It was always fairly plain to see that this site is not a profitable venture by any stretch of the imagination, and that the taper extended a healthy respectful attitude towards the artists featured here. If Ms. Merchant – or perhaps, her management? – somehow failed to discern this, then they were simply not paying attention.
And, quite frankly, I’m more than a little tired of the archaic attitudes held by artists and their management regarding the realm of live recording and sharing, but that’s another can of worms that I’ll probably never see change in my lifetime, I suppose.
Best of luck to you.
Thanks for the support.
I have not received a reply from the NY Guitar Festival people “Royal Albert Hall Project”, despite two messages sent through the site. Since I did not hear negatively prior to the show, I did record. However, I’m not going to upload the material unless someone returns my email and gives me an approval.
There are several artists who performed who do have open taping policies, so I may just review the show and post those artists. I’ll give the Festival a few more days to return my email.
I went to the RAH thing just for Oakley Hall, and split as soon as they played. The band had arranged permission, however nobody seemed to know anything, or particularly mind when I got my camera out. I kind of screwed up by missing the beginning of the song. I wonder if you got better audio on them than 1251I did.
There’s a number of songs up on YouTube, many linked here.
Personally I’d like to hear the Lenny Kaye.
NY Guitar Festival denied the request to post our recording.