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Still Fresh 50 Years On


Pat Halling, performing legend played live in the Houses of Parliament to help bring about Copyright Term Extension.

Pat Halling, performing legend played live in the Houses of Parliament to help bring about Copyright Term Extension.

Hearing the violin part brought the whole track to life once more. I was in a beautiful panelled room in the Houses of Parliament listening to a living legend. Pat Halling was playing Eleanor Rigby, nearly fifty years after he recorded it in Abbey Road Studios.

The moment was made all the more poignant when he pointed out that his royalties would soon stop, even though that recording is still played all over the world.

Pat also blew the myth that musicians are all rich and famous. In fact, most earn surprisingly little for their work so the royalties that flow from a successful track are even more important.

That was the message to Minister, David Lammy, from Pat and the other musicians at the event. Some had travelled up to 100 miles, through the worst snow in twenty years, just to urge the government to give performers their whole-hearted support on copyright term. Musicians want a fair copyright term - fair relative to other creators - fair relative to our fellow performers in the USA who get 95 years from release.

Pat Halling plays Eleanor Rigby at the Houses of Parliament

Pat Halling plays Eleanor Rigby at the Houses of Parliament

It’s not much to ask for a few thousand talented individuals who have helped put Britain at the top of the tree in music and the creative industries.

 

      

Also posted on dominicseuroblog.wordpress.com

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  1. 1. At 4 Feb 2009 11:25, Dave Birch wrote:

    Seems like a nice guy, but why should he be getting paid, I don't get it. What is the case for paying people indefinitely for doing their job? His deal with EMI or The Beatles should be a matter of private contract shouldn't it?

    Shouldn't INTELLECT be campaigning against copyright extension of all kinds?

  2. 2. At 4 Feb 2009 23:07, 15Mb: yet another blog from Dave Birch » Blog Archive » I feel bad about this, but… linked here:

    ...[FromStill Fresh 50 Years On - Convergence Conversation]...

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Dominic McGonigal
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Posted 3 Feb 2009
Last edited 3 Feb 2009
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