Majors claim they are making concessions

The major labels claim they are offering major concessions in an effort to appease pop stars angry over punitive contracts. It follows a number of artists publicly criticising, or taking action against, the majors. Eagles frontman Don Henley, Sheryl Crow and the Dixie Chicks are lobbying hard for changes in employment law in California that would reduce how long a label can tie an artist to an exclusivity contract. Meanwhile Courtney Love is pursuing legal action against Universal Music over an alleged breach of contract – action that many labels fear may become a test case which, if Love wins, would lead to other artists going to court. The Recording Industry Association of America, representing all the five major music groups, has said it is willing to negotiate, in particular offering to reduce the amount of damages record companies can claim from artists breaking contracts longer than seven years. RIAA chief executive Hilary Rosen told reporters: "I want the artist community to know that the record companies came to the table with substantial compromises and it's now in the artists' hands." But Jay Cooper, an entertainment lawyer representing the artists, has said the offer of concessions had not solved major differences. "I don't want to negotiate in the press," Cooper he said. "It's too delicate. There are too many issues. Whether we'll settle or not, I have no idea."