[Dixielandjazz] ASV Living Era down the gurgler!

[Jerry Brown]

Hi Bill,

The plot behind the closing of ASV Living Era and part
of the continuing efforts of the Universal Music Group
to take over the music world. Recently they purchased
the  British 'Sanctuary Music Group' which owns the
ASV labels, both classical music and jazz. Universal
decided to close down the Living Era label because as
you will be aware it issues 'out of copyright' public
domain recordings which in Europe means anything
issued more than 50 years ago. The fact that the
moguls of Universal actually consider that they own
much of the catalogue has not made any difference.
Also it is a small label and of course companies like
Universal, Sony-BMG etc. are not interested in any
minority music form and simply are not interested in
issuing any album which does not sell at least 20,000
copies.

Universal have also pulled all issues on the Castle
Pulse and associated labels which feature 'public
domain' recordings. Not too much jazz here but lots of
British pop music nostalgia and British Dance band
material. 

In the UK the money-grabbing bastards at Universal
have managed to delete the entire back catalogue of
the Concord group which includes everything on Good
Time Jazz, Riverside, Original Jazz Classics, Fantasy
etc. although they are still available to US customers
through the website which blocks overseas customers.

Universal also treat their retailers and customers
badly and have a great trick of issuing an album at
full price to both dealer and customer encouraging the
small dealers to stock up. Then about three months
later they reduce the dealer price considerably
meaning that a retailer, particularly small
independents without a lot of commercial clout, are
lumbered with stock which cannot be sold at the
original price for obvious reasons.

For several years I did hold an account with Universal
but now I will not handle their product. This has not
affected my business in the slightest, although the
demise of Living Era will, because the number of real
jazz issues on the labels under the control of
Universal can be counted on the fingers of one hand!

I have heard that there is a slight hope that someone
will take over from Ray Crick and the other jazz
lovers at Living Era and get the label going again but
it is only a slight ray!

Hopefully one of the Spanish companies such as
Lonehill, Gambit or JazzBeat with move in and do for
the earlier forms of jazz what they are doing for the
best mainstream and modern jazz of the 1950s and get
it out onto the market place at reasonable prices and
well packaged.

Cheers,

Jerry,
Norwich,
UK

--- Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au> wrote:

> Dear friends,
> More sad news for record collectors.
> World's Records have just advised that:
>    "The ASV label will not be issuing new titles as
> the label was shut 
> down in September.
> Worlds Records has just acquired a huge supply of
> ASV inventory. These 
> have come to us at a discounted price and we are
> passing along a 15% 
> Discount."
> There are 579 titles on offer which can be accessed
> on the Worlds' 
> website.
> With LP, then CD, the British label ASV certainly
> provided some great 
> compilations, including rare items not reissued by
> others.
> As I've said before, I have no connection with
> Worlds Records, just a 
> long-time satisfied customer from well before the
> days of CDs.
> Lurking listmate Jazz Jerry (our UK mail-order
> jazzer) may also have 
> some ASV bargains fin stock.
> Kind regards,
> Bill.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for
> the Dixieland Jazz Mailing list, or to find the
> online archives, please visit:
> 
>
http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> 
> 
> 
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>