A friend just sent me this link from the IrTrad list about a story in the Irish Echo regarding Lunasa and problems with Green Linnet.
http://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0306&L=irtrad-l&T=0&F=&S=&P=47142
If true, it makes one hesitate about buying from Green Linnet - at least it does me.
Susan
(edited the subject line to more accurately reflect what this is about)
I ordered Redwood from Green Linnet and it only took a few days to arrive.
Mind, it was about a month ago, 1 day after the CD was available.
HTH
The problem isn’t Green Linnet’s service - it’s the possibility that they’re cheating their artists - and that the CDs we’re all buying may be of inferior quality.
A news release of possible interest was posted to Irtrad-l this morning about Green Linnet and its troubles with the law:
http://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0306&L=irtrad-l&T=0&F=&S=&P=52069
John
Wow.
Thanks for that, John.
Very interesting.
I’m surprised Tommy Peoples’ name wasn’t mentioned, as I understand he had, not to put too fine a point on it, a “history” of similar woes. If anybody should be compensated, it would be him, IMHO.
Were Tommy Peoples’ problems with Green Linnet? I’m not certain.
Does it make any difference if people stop buying from Green Linnet? If the bands/individuals are contracted with GL, are you helping or hurting if you don’t buy the CDs? Obviously, if the artists get no royalties from GL’s compilation CDs, it’s easy not to buy those, but what about the individual or band CDs? Anybody know?
Susan
I’m appalled at this news. It looks like GL, whether in the short run or the long run, is on the road to self-destruction. It reminds me of reports of large American car companies balancing the costs of safety ugrades to cars like the Ford Pinto against the costs of settlements for wrongful deaths. In this case, GL figured the artists didn’t have the resources to fight them.
I’ve bought a bunch of those compilation cd’s and really enjoy them. I would never have guessed the artists didn’t make something off them.
I wonder, if in the short run, a letter writing campaign by cd purchasers like us would intimidate the company into paying out what they owe. In the long run, they’ve already shot themselves squarely in the foot and I don’t sympathize. It would be good to get some input from some artists on the economics of how to influence the company in light of Susan’s question regarding helping or hurting the artists. Anybody in communication with someone on the inside?
Tony
I can confirm that the buzz on the Irtrad street is that Tommy Peoples and Green Linnet are Not Good Friends and that he feels he was cheated, although I have no more substantial evidence of their relationship than what I’ve heard.
Highly suggestive though is the tune he composed which is on his latest album, The Quiet Glen, “Don’t Touch That Green Linnet.”
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~logo/track.htm#t10
where he writes that it was “named after a small bird, to which innocent children got too close, unaware of it’s [sic] voraciousness.” If one takes his choice of wording as a matter of prudence it fits the stories.
As far as the question of buying GL recordings goes, I don’t know what’s the right thing to do. Gee, where’s a professional philosopher when you need one? 
John
When I heard of the alleged Peoples/GL situation (and from sources I could accept as credible even though it was hearsay), there was no way I could purchase any of GL’s releases and feel right with myself. I’m not suggesting that this is the right thing or that others ought necessarily to follow my example. It was simply a decision that best suited my need to respond to a wrong. Needless to say, I’ve missed out on some fine recordings, but there you have it.
What I didn’t know was that the phenomenon was so widespread. Ouch.
I just wanted to chime in that the reason that Jack Coen did not appear on the first “Wooden Flute Obsession” CD was that he had been treated poorly by record labels, who used his tracks on other compilations without his permission or compensation. He did decline the use of his track on WFO (I could have gotten Green Linnett’s permission), but did thank me for being to first person to actually ask him. I sent him a CD, and he did enjoy it and thank me, and the possibility might still exist for something in the future.
The artists who appear on the “Wooden Flute Obsession” compilation CDs do appear with their permission and approval of the track selection.
Kevin Krell
I’ve bought Green Linnet CDs before, and I’d be quite willing to write to them, telling I have no intent of doing so in the future unless they make amends. However, this makes buying music rather difficult, doesn’t it?
If anyone knows to whom I should write, I’d be quite glad to.
I am not entirely sure that Green Linnett has been effected one way or another by the above negative issues. At least not to the point that they are going to disapear in a hurry, fade away or whatever.
Many of the above mentioned issues where the discontent of Wolfstone back in 1996. Its not new information by any means.
I have bought quite a few of these compilation albums and feel so guilty that I now make the following offer:
If any of the artists who have not received royalties turn up at the Newmarket Tuesday session I’ll buy them a pint.
How can they resist an offer like that?
IMHO if we buy from a maker that cheats artists, it is the same as stealing from the artist.
If the artist is content with what he or she is being paid, and wants us to purchase from the label, its OK. If the artist asks us not to purchase from that label, then it is not.
It’s just my opinion 
Seems to me this is a question of how a contract is written. If a player owns the copyrirght to a song or perfomance then he/she shuould get compensation, unless it is written into a contract. Just because somebody is a “Folk” artist does not mean they can ignore the small print. If the compilation non-compensation thing is illegal, take 'em to court.
Speaking of Green Linet, so there I was on the Isle of Skye looking looking for authentic celtic music and pick up a GL tape to discover it was produced by a company from the hot bed of celtic sound, Danbury CT, the city where I work. DANBURY CT!?? Small world I guess.
Nick
Hey look,
Don’t go jumping down GL’s throat before you know all of the details. Remember, that information can’t be 100% accurate, considering that Eileen Ivers does not use Green Linnet anymore. Remember that it says that she was one of the people taking legal action, well, she uses a fancy Sony label now. Proving that most or NONE of that information isn’t necessarily true.
Hope this helps,
Ross
Nick, did I know that you were in CT? (getting old and losing memory…)
There is the option of writing to GL,
expressing concern about the reports,
and saying that you believe an increasing number
of their customers are following this
issue with interest, and would like
to see it resolved amicably. Best not to mention
this board. One doesnt’ have to express
a judgement in the message. e mail may
be an option. This sort of communication
tends to capture a company’s attention, I think.
Just not buying won’t help much. Best
How do you figure?
Just because she’s not currently with them does not mean that she may not have legal action pending against them for past issues.
By your logic, if my bank mishandles my accounts, and I switch banks, I can no longer hold them accountable for the lost funds.
I’d say there’s no proof here, one way or the other. The other posts are based on rumor or second/third-hand statements, whereas yours is based on an illogical assumption.