Grab a copy of today’s Toronto Star if you want to see who made my own personal list of the Top Ten Songs of 2009! There’s also lists from Gentleman Reg and Damian Abraham from Fucked Up!
Link = http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/recordings/article/742917
OK. So the saga is over – and it looks like Sony ain’t so bad after all. Shortly after our video was re-posted to Youtube yesterday, Colin, myself, and my manager Remi each received personal phone calls from Sony Canada reps who apologized profusely for the whole mishap.
I guess what happened is that an automated computer program from their UK offices took offense to the fact that my stage name Diamond Rings is also the name of a single that was released by a Sony signed UK rap artist named Chipmunk. It put two and two together and notified Youtube, who took our video down without checking the facts. It goes without saying how creepily Orwellian this whole thing seems, but I guess that’s the price we pay for wanting everything all the time at the click of a button, huh?
Either way, Colin and I are really happy that the video is back online and want to thank Sony for resolving everything quickly and without hassle. They’ve even promised to send me some Beyonce swag and limited edition Modest Mouse 7″ records! Sure beats a libel suit, huh?
But most importantly, we really want to thank everyone who blogged or wrote about this whole event and brought it to the attention of the corporate suits – without you making some noise our “counter claim” would have most likely been buried under some desk for weeks. It’s great to know we have so many fans and we’re really humbled by the support that you’ve shown us. Thank you.
Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a new video in 2010!
XO,
John O
Hey Friends,
First off, thanks to everyone who has shown such sincere and impassioned support for both Colin and in response to our recent music video saga. It means so much to both of us to know that you’ve got our back!
The good news (sort of) is that the music video for “All Yr Songs” is now back up and running on Youtube. However, we still haven’t received anything in the way of official word from either Sony BMG or Youtube which means we still don’t know (and may never know) why exactly it was removed in the first place.
Either way, it’s a bit spooky to realize how much power these international conglomerates can wield out there on the Wild World Wide Web. That’s quadruple-double-you-dot if we’re keeping score, BTW. But seriously, for something like our homemade video project to get snatched out of thin air, what’s next? Protect ya necks, kids! Stay vigilant! If we hadn’t had such great support from each and every one of you, who knows how long it might have taken to get our work back online. So thank you again.
Anyhow, we’re doing our best to get some information (or maybe an apology in the form of those signed Beyonce vinyls we were talking about earlier) out of Sony BMG, and you’ll all be the first to know once we hear anything.
Until then, stay safe and enjoy the falling snow.
Sincerely,
John O
Hey Friends,
Sometime on the morning of Wednesday, December 9th the Diamond Rings music video “All Yr Songs” was removed from Youtube at the request of Sony/BMG on the grounds of copyright infringement. Neither video director Colin Medley or myself were consulted by either Sony/BMG or Youtube before the video was removed and we therefore are unclear as to whom or what we are infringing upon.
Colin has since received an email from Youtube stating that “we received a notification of claimed copyright infringement regarding the video from Sony BMG Music Entertainment. When we’re notified that a particular video uploaded to our site infringes another’s copyright, we remove the material as the law requires.” To make matters worse, he has been informed that his Youtube account status is “not in good standing” and further “strikes may result in the termination of your account”. Colin’s numerous videos have helped a great many bands reach far beyond the physical boundaries of the Toronto scene, so for him to potentially lose a means of disseminating his hard work would be a real setback for our entire music community.
Despite all the crap, we’re working hard to get the video back online as soon as possible and will keep everyone notified with any new developments in “Colin and John O’s Most Bogus Corporate Misadventure”. Hopefully this is all just a big misunderstanding and Sony/BMG will call us up tomorrow to offer the both of us a whole bunch of autographed Beyonce or Modest Mouse albums for our troubles. All I can say is that in the meantime, I’m totally throwing out my Sony Sports Walkman. Panasonic Shockwave XBS rules!
Heads High,
John O