From: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org (music-issues-digest) To: music-issues-digest@smoe.org Subject: music-issues-digest V1 #9 Reply-To: music-issues@smoe.org Sender: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-music-issues-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk music-issues-digest Wednesday, October 7 1998 Volume 01 : Number 009 Today's Subjects: ----------------- OAC: Help Sophie B. Hawkins! [Paul Schreiber Subject: OAC: Help Sophie B. Hawkins! *************************************************************************** **** Even if you aren't a fan of Sophie's, read on. This is an important issue concerning artistic freedom everywhere. It's an opportunity for you to make a difference. *************************************************************************** **** Singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins' third album, "Timbre," was scheduled to be in stores on October 6, 1998. However, Sony decided not to release it. Despite the album having been completed a year ago, Sony refuses to release it on the basis that the use of a banjo in the song "Lose Your Way" *isn't commercial enough*. They want her to use a guitar. This is a blatant slap in the face to artistic freedom! Sophie was recently in Tampa, FL to screen her film "The Cream Will Rise." Janice, the webmaster for the film festival, informed Sophie that legions of her fans on the Internet wanted to know what was up with her album. She posted a personal message to usenet asking for her fans' help. She's asked us to call Sony and insist that she be allowed to include the banjo. Sony must let Sophie follow her artistic vision. Sophie's message: >Hey everybody out there this is Sophie B. Hawkins, I need your help in >getting my record out, it's been done for a year and we are in a stalemate >over the banjo, which is the instrument on which I wrote my song "Lose your >way". There are several ways you can hear the song, it's the last in the >movie "The Cream Will Rise", and also it was on the radio station Star 95 in >Tampa on friday morning...maybe you heard it. Any way, please call Rocko >Lanzilotto at 212 833-5133 and Tim Devine at 310 449- 2700. Also. please >call the Sony guys at the general number in New York 212 833 8000. >Unfortunately, the guys you'll be talking to aren't in control, but they can >hopefully get the message to the big guys. Thank you so much, your >faithfull songwriter, Sophie B. Please call or fax Sony at the following numbers: Tim Devine 310-449-2700 [fax 310-449-2070] Rocko Lanzilotto 212-833-5133 Colleen Riezenbach 310-449-2162 (voice mail answers Lisa Grey) If they tell you Tim is not in, keep mentioning Sophie's name, and they'll put you through to him. Give them your name/phone number/whatever. Let them know that you feel this is a terrible, awful, unconscionable thing to do. Please also email Janice at or with a letter of protest. She's collecting the emails and faxing them over to Sophie. Already, there have been over forty letters of protest. She wants over 100 by the end of the week. In your letter it is *important* that you mention that banjo. Be sure to use phrases like "butt out Sony" as well. If you work for a a radio station, or know someone that does, call Sony and tell them you will *refuse* to play "Lose Your Way" without the banjo. The Sophie B. Hawkins mailing list is . To join, go to the OneList web site at . Ryan's Protest page can be found at . The Sophie newsgroup is alt.music.sophie-hawkins . Please forward this to anyone you think can help. Thank you in advance for your support. Paul shad 96c / 3A CS / mac activist / eda / fumbler fan of / jewel / sophie b. hawkins / sarah slean / steve poltz / / x-files / buffy / dawson's creek / habs / bills / 49ers / t h i n k d i f f e r e n t. I'm still recalling the things you said to make me feel alright I carried them with me today - -- Sophie B. Hawkins, "As I Lay Me Down" ------------------------------ End of music-issues-digest V1 #9 ********************************