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Led Zeppelin Loses First Round in "Stairway to Heaven" Lawsuit

 

 

 

Led Zeppelin is stuck in Pennsylvania at the moment, forced to confront claims the band stole its biggest hit "Stairway to Heaven" from Randy Craig Wolfe, founding member of the band Spirit.

Wolfe's heirs sued Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and their music companies in June, asserting that the story Page has told over the years about holing himself up in a remote cottage in Wales in 1970 and creating the iconic song is false. The plaintiff alleges that the music really came from Spirit, which once toured with Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s.

In reaction to the lawsuit, the defendants challenged jurisdiction.

"The individual defendants are British citizens residing in England, own no property in Pennsylvania and have no contacts with Pennsylvania, let alone ties sufficient to render them essentially at home here," stated a memorandum to dismiss.

 

 

In response, the plaintiff amended the lawsuit with some emphasis on why a Pennsylvania judge should oversee the case: "Defendants are subject to specific jurisdiction in this district because they make millions of dollars from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by directly targeting this district for the exploitation of 'Stairway to Heaven' through CD sales, digital downloading, radio and television play, advertising, marketing, concert performances, other performances, licensing, and otherwise targeting resident individuals and businesses to profit off the exploitation of 'Stairway to Heaven.'”

U.S. District Court Judge Juan Sánchez has now denied the motion to dismiss or transfer without prejudice, meaning that the Zeppelin parties can still try again.

The judge didn't offer any reasoning in his written order, but those looking for the standards by which judges determine jurisdiction can read about another judge's recent decision to throw out a trademark lawsuit filed by John Wayne's heirs against Duke University.
 

This article originally appeared in THR.com.
source: billboard.com


 

SXSW Probably Isn't Going Anywhere – But Big Changes Loom

SXSW Probably Isn't Going Anywhere – But Big Changes Loom

  
A new report, commissioned by SXSW from international design and event firm Populous, is causing ripples this week because of a recurring theme: the suggestion that the massive Austin-based festival could, if certain suggestions aren’t implemented, solicit bids from other cities to host the event. The suggestions that the organizers want to see taken into consideration by the City of Austin? A variety of safety recommendations that could mitigate some serious concerns about the difficult-to-manage weeklong party in Austin and -- more controversially -- the creation of a “clean zone” over an undefined-section of central Austin during the duration of SXSW, which runs ten days in the middle of March. 

After Re-Shaping Fashion, MADE Looks to Disrupt Music (With Lyor Cohen in Tow) 

   
Since its launch in 2009, MADE Fashion has been disrupting Mercedes Benz Fashion Week by drawing some of the industry’s biggest names, like Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler, away from the New York institution. Now, with the launch of MADE Music, the company's partners are aiming to pull off the same feat in the music business.

SiriusXM Will Appeal Last Week's Major Copyright Ruling 

  
SiriusXM has confirmed it will appeal the decision from a U.S. District Court judge in California that determined the service must pay royalties for airing music by "Happy Together" group The Turtles made prior to 1972, when federal copyright law was expanded to include master recordings.

source:Billboard

 

 

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For Your Consideration: Three Days Grace's New Single - "I Am Machine"

                            

                           
                              

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Deadline for the 2014 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has been extended until November 4, 2014

Attention BACKLINE MAGAZINE  Subscribers

14 Record Label Presidents and CEOs Join Recording Artists To Judge the 2014 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) 

Sarah McLachlan, Tom Waits, American Authors, Pat Metheny, Sara Evans, Bastille, Avicii, Wayne Shorter, Casting Crowns, John Hiatt, and Many More To Select ISC Winners

Click here to enter!

October 1, 2014 --- The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) today announced a deadline extension until November 2014 for this year's competition, allowing more time for artists to enter. This year, ISC has expanded on the participation of music industry executives, offering the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the highest level of decision makers in the music business. Judges include Presidents and CEOs from Republic, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Elektra, Columbia, Virgin, Sony Music Latin, Mercury, Wind-Up, Tommy Boy, Alligator, S-Curve, Blind Pig, and Concord Music Group.

Coupled with additional high profile industry executives and a notable group of recording artists & many of whom are currently dominating the charts, ISC offers the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the most impressive and elite panel of judges yet.

"This year we decided to invite more record company executives in order to open up more opportunities to songwriters and artists," states Candace Avery, Founder and Director. "It is so difficult for up and coming artists to reach these elusive music executives, so this is an incredible chance for artists to have their music heard by the people who actually make career changing decisions. We are very excited and honored that so many high-level industry professionals want to participate. This is truly unprecedented in any competition."

ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and much more in merchandise and services. Open to both amateur and professional songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories to enter, representing all genres of popular music. Past winners have included Grammy winners, chart-topping artists, amateur songwriters, and everyone in between, including Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; and many more.