Tag Archives: Sex Pistols

Glug.

This afternoon.

Save yourselves.

Iarla writes:

The Sex Pistols have just signed a new deal with Universal Music (see below), which if they got a decent advance/signing fee will mean that because of mergers etc., they will essentially have gotten 5 advances for the same album from what is now the same company. The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle indeed. Breakdown as follows:

1976 – Sex Pistols sign a deal with EMI. They get dropped weeks later, but keep the advance. (Famously singing about it on “EMI Unlimited”)
1977 – Sex Pistols sign a deal with A&M. They get dropped weeks later, but keep the advance.
1977 – Sex Pistols sign a deal with Virgin, who eventually releases the album.

Meanwhile, over in the land of labels consolidating with each other…

1992 – Virgin Records sold to EMI, meaning that Sex Pistols are back
on EMI (re-inking a new deal, new Best Of etc.)
1998 – Polygram (who bought A&M in 1989) gets bought by Universal,
meaning all A&M catalogue ends up on Universal.
2011 – EMI bought by Universal.
2012 – Sex Pistols sign a new deal with Universal.

Which means the Sex Pistols have signed a deal with EMI (twice), A&M, Virgin and now Universal, all of whom are now/will be owned by Universal, and all essentially for the same album – “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.”

And the lesson?

This is why you should own the copyright to your own albums.

 

Sex Pistols Sign New Record Deal With Universal (BBC)