Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 October 2002 — Page 26

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FRIDAY,OCTOBER 25,2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

‘We need more Integrity In our art’ Attorney L. Londell McMillan pushes for changes in the recording industry

Electronic Urban Report Remember the ‘90s when it seemed that Prince had straight flipped? Remember he said he wanted to be called “The Artist formerly Known As Prince” and he appeared on a televised awards show with “Slave” written on his face? Did you know that New York entertainment lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, was the one who, in 1995, got Prince out of the oppressive recording contract that had the artist so bugged? McMillan has done similar work for other artists. He negotiated The Lox out of their contract with Bad Boy. He got Ja Rule out of a former contract so that the rapper could sign with

Def Jam. He helped Russell Simmons when Polygram threatened to take his company. McMillan currently represents Faith Evans who is rumored to “want out” of her Bad Boy deal. McMillan has done impressive negotiating on behalf of recording artists and his client list is top shelf. His clients include Stevie Wonder, DMX, Chaka Khan, D’Angelo, the estate of Sammy Davis Jr. and the estate of Notorious B.I.G. However, McMillan’s latest efforts are more activist oriented. He is general counsel for Artists Empowerment Coalition, an organization to empower recording artists through partnerships with groups like the NAACP.

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Why is this successful entertainment lawyer now involved in a socio-economic movement? “People are rebelling against how they feel their music is being controlled, particularly urban music,” McMillan says. “We need to reinvest in the creativity of the music.” And, says McMillan, with music distribution moving towards the Internet, now is the perfect time to demand more equitable relationships between artists and the industry. “Now is the appropriate time to have a meaningful change in the quality of music as well as the quality of business,” he says. It’s easy to understand what’s wrong on the business side. According to McMillan, the standard industry contract binds an artist to a label for six to seven albums which translates into anywhere from 14 to 25 years. “That’s a form of long-term servitude,” McMillan says. In addition, many recording artists don ’ t have a pension or health care benefits and they don’t own the master recordings to their songs. But what is the lawyer talking about when he says we need a change in the quality of music? “When you look at how Black

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music is run today, you would think that its almost all hip-hop or hip-hop/R&B. Biit when you look at other culturels’ music and how they’re promoted, it’s promoted in a substantially different manner.” V “We want to increase the diversity and broaden theVcope of urban music,” he says. Hb; mentioned how the music he hearld as a child was more varied. Speaking of diversity, the i will showcase the range of Blacl music at a concert Oct. 28. Pej formers include gospel artis Hezekiah Walker, rappers DMX and Scarface, Stevie Wonder, Faith Evans and others. The concert will be co- hosted by Free of “106 & Park” and rap legend Doug E. Fresh. Although McMillan wants to change current industry practices, he’s not posing as an outsider. He’s fightihg-from the inside and as an insider he has some of the same interests as the record labels. For example, McMillan may be against downloading music. He says the AEC will “work with the record industry to address issues of piracy,” and, according to Internet reports, McMillan’s law firm is responsible for those threatening “cease and desist” letters that were mailed to people who downloaded Prince’s music from the Web. But remember he is not a consumer advocate but an artist’s advocate. McMillan believes that if artists are respected by the labels that their product will be better and the consumers will benefit in the end. “We see this as encouraging a sick business that’s in need of... a healthy system to incite creativity,” he says. “We need more integrity in our art.” c

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h» year, we're especially proud to feature the wortddass talents of three of Indiana's own: Jack Evedy, our ever popular holiday Maestro; snger Sandi Patty, a smash hit in her 2000 debut as our hostess; and painter Nancy Noel, vtfwse sought-after images of angels will be incorporated into our spectacular new sets. he/ll be joined this season by the amazing aenal artist Alexander Streltsov soaring above the stage, Broadway phenomenon Karen Calloway Williams in audience favorite Tap Dancing Santas'’and celebrated New

York City Opera tenor Benjamin Brecher

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o, come home again to SBC Ameritach's Yuletide Celebration and create a few new memories I

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DECEMBER 6-23. 2002

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A Legacy Series Presentation Sunday, October 27 3:30 to 5 p.m.

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Enjoy jazz artist Oliver Nelson in a salute to his father, renowned composer and arranger, Oliver Nelson, Sr. Admission $5; $3 for members. Reservations recommended. Museum admission not required for this performance. lndl«no|8uto MUSCUM ISO West Wisb<R|Un Strut • 317.232.1J37 www.fndfaniDHistuz.org

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