Record Company Bosses to are to appear in court to learn if they will be the subject of anti-social behaviour orders, whilst Council leader urges a consumer boycott of Sony and Warner music:
Music Industry bosses could face large fines and the possibility of jail terms under the new anti-social behaviour order rules (ASBOs) in the UK. ASBOs are usually reserved for tearaway youths, but Camden Council in North London have applied for such orders to be made against Sony Music executives Catherine Davies and Jo Headland, and BMG’s Lucy Hansford.
The three record execs will appear before Justices of the Peace on June 14th to learn if the orders will be made. Punishment for breach of an ASBO order can be up to five years inprisonment.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are being sought to combat illegal bill posting by record companies – an illegal practice which allegedly saves them up to Ł8million every year, by avoiding payment of advertising revenue – while taxpayers, the music-buying public, foot the Ł250′000 cleaning bill for removal of the posters. The record companies concerned have already been the subject of complaints and prosecutions over the issue, but continue the money-saving practice by flouting the law. A practice which up to now, seems to pay. Although companies can be charged and fined up to Ł1′000 per poster, the cost of bringing such a prosecution is high, and so far most local councils have been reluctant to prosecute. The Keep Britain Tidy group are constantly lobbying for action against the practice and back the new legal action. Alan Woods, for the Keep Britain Tidy group claimed that
“there is a common myth that struggling artists, political campaigns and local promoters do the most flyposting. They don’t. It is large multi-national record companies.”
The Tidy Britain group also released a press statement claiming that:
“Environmental campaigners branded major record labels “hypocrites” for prosecuting people* for downloading music from the Internet while at the same time breaking the law themselves – by plastering posters to statues, walls and buildings.”.
The full press release is available here
The problem is not just confined to London either. Sony and Warner have currently ignored requests by ENCAMS, the charity running the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, to cease illegal flyposting in Manchester. The deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Kath Robinson, urged a boycott of the companies’ products
“Council tax payers shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for shifting illegally placed posters on Manchester’s walls, buildings, junction and telephone boxes. I name and shame Sony and Warner for defacing Manchester. I urge people not to buy goods from these companies until they mend their ways.”
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