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'80s Rocker Bryan Adams Clamps Down on Fan Web Sites
If you were an aging rocker with a few hits from decades past occasionally percolating up through the sappy songlists of soft-rock radio stations, would you tell your already slim and likely dwindling fan base to ratchet up the tribute Web sites, maybe to spur on a few album sales? Or would you employ the long arm of the Web Sheriff, and shut'em down! (That exclamation point tells you everything you need to know.)
Bryan Adams – one of Canada's least-impressive imports (well behind Wayne Gretzky and John Candy) – has decided that now is the time to clamp down on his small, yet passionate online fan base, using Web Sheriff, an English firm that bills itself as "Europe's leading internet policing specialist," to enforce use of officially approved images of the musician and legal posting or links to his songs.
Of course, we have no dispute with legal use of MP3s and respect Adams' rights and wishes to be properly compensated for his work.
When the also aging and somewhat more influential artist Prince chose Web Sheriff to clamp down on unauthorized fan sites last year, the action was aggressive and the response was not friendly, with threats of legal action ultimately in play. But, the Bryan Adams Web sites seem to be surrendering to the Sheriff more readily, according to Web Sheriff's John Giacobbi, who says "nothing we've asked for from the fan sites is unreasonable." He also notes, "We're not anti-fan."
In the end, maybe it is just more telling of Adams' fans that they're more ready to comply with their rock idol's wishes than Prince's. Or maybe Web Sheriff itself learned a few lessons about how to get better cooperation before threatening litigation? Either way, it's time to cue up Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)," which you may recall, was the theme song to the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, the aging actor with a dwindling fan base. No word yet on what's happening with his unauthorized fan Web sites. [From: The Register.]
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Comments
32
Subscribe to commentsdebbieOct 30th 2008 12:26AM
Wow, Bryan Adams. I thought he died a few years back. I guess it was just his music.
bobOct 30th 2008 1:03AM
I LLOOVVEE YOU BRYAN. IT WAS MY FIRST CONCERT. (87)
Wanda CabinOct 30th 2008 3:01AM
Wassup,
Rock me Amadeus,and Adam Ant!~Wanda~
James W TysonOct 30th 2008 1:24AM
I have never heard of Bryan Adams and I have heard of a lot of people. I am the fan base of a lot of stars, Elvis, Rick Nelson, John Wayne.
mikeOct 30th 2008 1:52AM
everyone is aging. this is like saying someone is breathing: it is meaningless.
bryan adams has churned out hits for 30 years, and will have a much more lasting legacy than 10,000 younger flashes in the pan.
will safer, what have you accomplished?
BeatrixOct 30th 2008 11:08PM
I like Kevin Costner, too.
JTOct 30th 2008 3:00AM
Geez...
I think almost everyone is aging and has everchanging fan bases....What does that have to do with anything?...I mean, am I gonna hang out at Robert Downey's front yard because I liked watching Iron Man....I think a good percentage of the USA makes a living doing stupid useless jobs, such as internet writers and such, to get advertising....I have never, ever, ever clicked on a link that Yahoo or Google or whatever to ever ensure that their ad dollars aren't wasted....I don't have the time to....so if these stupid mindless articles are for that, I might actually cancel AOL for wasting time on stupid links to useless disparaging info.....
Besides, these aging rockers have songs you can hum and sing and recall....Has anyone sang Ja Rule or Brittany Spears or Jessica Simpson or Miley whatever in the shower? ...or while mowing the yard?....or whatever?....
Just miles and miles of nonsense......
Wanda C.Oct 30th 2008 3:29AM
One more once,
When I see songs hit the silverscreen in movies long after a writer/singer has sold copyrights & thought it wouldn't make money I understand why even at this jucture all hell breaks loose when Mr. Cuts Like A Knife just wants his cut.Damn no one is ever on your side when they should be!Yes it has been a while back since Bryan wrote a song Rock Never Dies we know this don't we.I was on stage some time back and an artist jumped on stage after one of my performances and copy several of my techniques into her's.I was piss'd.Stopped my shows cold turkey maybe I shouldv'e done this but screw it one day I'm taking my stuff classical.Don't copy off someone right in their face especially me.10, 9, 8.......~Wanda~
kateOct 30th 2008 9:24AM
Bryan Adams is an EXPORT of Canada, imports are things brought into a country from abroad. Also the fan base is far from dwindling and 11 albums of all original songs is a huge achievement so of course he wants to protect his work.
KevinOct 30th 2008 1:55PM
It is funny when these so called internet bloggers post articles that are provocative but hold only one side opninions backed by no real facts. Mr. Adams has sold 65 million albums - over 30 million of those in the 90´s and each year perfoms 100 shows around the globe to crowds between 10.000-25.000 each night. I guess this is what you call a dwindling fan base?
earwigoNov 3rd 2008 3:34PM
I'd never listened to much Brian Adams until I got the chance to see him in Newmarket UK in 2008.Checked him out on You Tube - went to concert and became a very belated convert. Without the You Tube postings I would never have gone to this concert so why the hell is he or his publishing Co taking all the clips off of You Tube. I shot some footage on my Fuji F10 - a £150 basic camera with video option, not high tech - of this concert for others to share on my site Earwigo on You tube and Big Brother Adams Co is now removing them 1 by 1. Not the way to keep new fans intersted so as far as I am concerned BA can stuff his6 string up where the sun doesn't shine !!!
LaeineaNov 28th 2008 1:00PM
Still amazes me when, no name nothings attempt to break down established, proven and still valid artists like Bryan Adams who not only has sold 65 million records, he's also churned out hits for other bands and singers, is a top photographer and has his own charity foundation not to mention he'll play a free for all benefit concert at the drop of a hat and keeps in contact with his fans with a preference to "intimate" concerts. Oh yeah and he's Canadian EH?!
Get over yourself, he has every right to protect his work, credibility and privacy even if it means a few noses out of joint. Frankly unless you have a resume as solid and experienced as his, just zip it.