If this is just a PR stunt by Axl Rose’s handlers I have a feeling that the public image of the RIAA will once again be badly damaged. The story here doesn’t even make sense. It appears that a takedown notice was sent to Cogill in June and the songs were removed. Cogill was streaming the songs not offering them for download, surely Axl would have been pleased to get the free promotion? It’s not like he’s going to get the kind of radio airplay he enjoyed in the past. And if Cogill is guilty of anything it is of having bad taste.
Can you wait 10 years?
Man arrested for Guns N’ Roses leak
Nine ‘Democracy’ songs appeared on blog
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities say they have arrested a blogger suspected of streaming songs from Guns N’ Roses unreleased album, “Chinese Democracy,” on his Web site. FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Kevin Cogill on Wednesday on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. Federal authorities say Cogill posted nine unreleased Guns N’ Roses songs on his Web site in June. The songs were later removed.
According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site. “Chinese Democracy” is a much anticipated — and repeatedly delayed — new album by Guns N’ Roses that is more than 10 years in the making.
RIAA director of investigations for the western region Kathy Loedler said, “When we tell somebody to just take it down and there’s no penalty, there’s no arrest, there’s no fine, it’s very easy for them to continue to do it.”
Now G-n-R may sue:
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/guns-n-roses-may-sue-the-pants-off-emchinese-democ/21097/
This is what happens when you screw around with your fans for 10+ years. The damage is that fans got to preview an album that probably wasn’t worth the wait.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:03 pmActually, he did have the tracks available for download, albeit not on his own site – it was one of those mediashare / megaupload things. My, uh, friend downloaded them. He/she says they are surprisingly good. Point being, yeah it was more real infringement than just streaming.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pmThey allegedly spent over 10 million dollars for creating this album. Don’t you think there would then be a “small” budget to bribe some FBI official(s) and newspaper people to come up with this story? That cool fashion style full length portrait photo of Kevin Cogill on the front page of the business section of the L.A. Times (not just a head shot), those sudden 10,000 dollars to bail him out (who paid that?), this harsh talk about “jail” — all this just sounds too unreal to me, too scripted and too “wow”, like in a movie. Real life would not be like that.
It’s a clever PR stunt. Brilliant! I’m starting to get interested in their music again. Best marketing idea since Blair Witch. Wonderful job.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:32 pmIf that’s the best they can do for PR than all I can say is “pathetic.” Doesn’t bode well for the album…
August 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pm