The music industry
Knock-knock-knockin on Jodys door
Selling your songs makes sound commercial sense. But it may not always t the brand
Dec 12th 2020 | words 612
THIS WEEK Bob Dylan sold his song catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group. Mr Dylan, like other musicians, has not been able to tour during the pandemic. Cashing in now will spare him the bureaucracy of future tax payments. Universals chief executive, Jody Gerson, has not disclosed how much the group paid. Mr Dylan has put his thoughts about the deal into ballad-form. It came into our hands thanks to a Mr Tambourine Man.
Hey! Ms Universal, Maam, play my songs for me
In the clouded covid mourning Ill sell em all to you
My weariness amazes me, Im branded on my feet
I have no one to sing to
And the ancient empty streets dead set for streaming
We live in a commercial world
Love dont have any place
Life is in mirrors, death disappears
Up the steps into the nearest bank
Papas bank book wasnt big enough
And I was standin on the side of the road
Lord knows Ive paid some dues gettin through
Tangled up in red tape
I never said nothing, there was nothing I wrote
I went with the woman
In the long black stretch-limo
Oh, Bob said to Jody G, Name me a sum
Jody says, Man, you must be puttin me on
Bob say, No. Jody say, What?
Bob say, You must pay what I want Jody
But next time they play my songs youre in the mon
Ey. Jody says, When you want this payin done?
Bob says, In structured payments in the next three tax years.
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a financier?
Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows
That the live-performance industry is in severe recession?
Yes, n how many years can some people exist
Before they capitalise their ongoing revenues?
The answer, my friend, is contained on p96 of the offer document
I aint gonna work on no ones farm no more
No, I aint gonna work on no ones farm no more
Well, I tried my best
To find the highest price
And Universal wants me
To sell it to them
So I aint gonna work on no ones farm no more
Ring them opening bells at the NYSE
So the people will know
Oh its rush hour now
Ring them closing bells for the chosen few
who will judge when the dividend is due
Bring them Nobels for the child that cries
When innocence dies
You say youre lookin for someone
Whos never venal but always strong
To protect you and defend you
From the greed you think is wrong
Someone to turn their back on Mammons law
But it aint me, babe
No, no, no, it aint me, babe
It aint me youre lookin for, babe
How does it feel
How does it feel
Like a complete tycoon
Like a rolling stone?
Hey! Ms Universal, Maam, play my songs for me
In the clouded covid mourning Ill sell em all to you
Universal Music Publishing Group
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