Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!quiche!pone From: pone@cs.mcgill.ca (Daniel SHIELDS) Newsgroups: comp.music Subject: open letter to new music community Keywords: new music leo records ear magazine Message-ID: <1991Mar20.181100.12967@cs.mcgill.ca> Date: 20 Mar 91 18:11:00 GMT Sender: news@cs.mcgill.ca (Netnews Administrator) Followup-To: comp.music Distribution: na Organization: SOCS, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Lines: 80 Originator: pone@bart Re: "AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW MUSIC COMMUNITY", Ear, Magazine of New Music, Volume 15, Issue 9 (February). I found the attached letter in the February issue of Ear magazine. I am unsure of the legitimacy of the claims about the demise of his "american distributor" made by Mr. Leo Feigin, but he seems to have the editorial support of Ear magazine (for whatever this is worth). I have typed in the letter as it is printed except that I have witheld the names of Mr. Feigin's "American distributor" and the address of his company, Leo Records. If you would like an uncensored copy then please send me an email. Please be advised that I am not connected with Leo Records nor Ear Magazine in any way except that I am a caring and heartfelt reader who is responding in his way to what appears to be a desperate cry from an independant music producer. I am not trying to sell his records, I am trying to lend a hand because I feel that the music produced by Leo Records is of great value. -----CENSORED copy of Mr. Leo Feigin's Letter Follows----- IN February issue of Ear Magazine of New Music, Vol.15 Iss.9, Mr. Leo Feigin writes: I started Leo Records in 1980 and since that time I have been working day and night to develop the label. All these years I have a full-time job with the BBC saving every penny of my salary and investing it into Leo Records. During these 10 years I managed to release almost 100 recordings, many of which received highest critical acclaim. All these years my main distributor in the USA was , which had a stock of my records worth over $100,000.00 at shop prices. However, closed and I received a miserable pittance of this money. My efforts to get the payment from through a debt collector failed, and as a result Leo Records was sinking into debts. The interest on the bank loan continues to accumulate with every month and the bank, which gave me the overdraft against the value of my flat, is ready to take possession of the flat. Now, at 53 years of age, I am in danger of becoming homeless. During 1990 I could not release any records although I have on my shelf outstanding recordings of Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Marilyn Crispell, Slava Ganelin, and dozens of tapes from the USSR. Ten years of hard work has been destroyed. inflicted tremendous personal hardship on me, but what is more important is that the musical careers of many brilliant musicians have been crippled, their livelihood threatened. Documentation of the whole new music movement in the USSR stopped and the future of this music hangs in the air. How ironic that these musicians, who were the victims of the most totalitarian system, now have become the victims of a few irresponsible people operating in a democratic society. My efforts to find a sponsor for non-commercial, non-conformist music did not bring results. So, my last resort is music fans, who are the most sensitive, most conscientious people in the world. I am not begging for money. I am appealing to music fans to buy one LP (or one CD) from Leo Records' catalogue either directly from Leo Records or from my American distributor:
I need only five thousand volunteers to buy one LP (or CD) each. And Leo Records will be back in business releasing all those marvelous records which not only please but change the course of music history as well. Leo Feigin, Producer.
-----END of Mr. Feigin's Letter----- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Daniel J. Shields "I was happier then. Or was that I? pone@bart.cs.mcgill.ca Or am I now I?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------