20081221
Talent Shows
Big music excitement in the UK this week, as the nation tries to decide which version of "Hallelujah" is best: Jeff Buckley's soaring version, or a cash in copy from a talent show contestant. The result will be known later today, though it's pretty much a done deal thanks to the popularity of the talent show in question. "Presenting" the Top 40, alleged personality Fearne Cotton rather spoiled the tension by announcing "We'll be talking to the number one artist, whoever that might be." Er, right.
3 comments:
I learned today that Simon Cowell now owns the publishing rights to the song full stop, so he wins whatever happens.
I can't work out in my head how much I think that actually matters. The alternative I've seen suggested was to get Rick Astley to number 1, but I'm so fed up of that now, and presumably that's just putting cash in someone's pocket too.
From what I can gather, the report that Cowell himself owns all three versions is incorrect. I think the confusion has come from the fact that Cohen and Buckley were signed to Columbia, who are owned by Sony, and Cowell's company Syco is also owned by Sony. So Sony really does win all ways.
As far as I'm aware, if I record my own version I own the recording and publishing rights to it; I just have to pay royalties to Cohen as songwriter.
I'm not at all surprised that record companies and executives make money when records are sold.
With respect to this, I think it's all good because Cohen must be having a most lucrative Christmas. His version (my own favourite of those three) also charted (mid-30s I think), and I'm sure his album sales will be stimulated.
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