Regarding the claim that Naxos has the broadest repertory I did imply - but
perhaps not strongly enough - that the reason that it was not so apparent
that EMI led this field (or could and should) was because of financial
constraints on the current record industry scene.  I recognise too that the
US suffers a lack of EMI product much more so than in Europe.  So Bernard
Chasan & Kevin are right in that way of looking at the present market
state.

There are, of course, numerous, re-issue specialists who work on "out of
copyright" material but usually without access to original material.  Many
are very skilled - others less so.  All are *very* expensive considering
they've acquired the repertoire for nothing!

If the price differential was not so pronounced then some of the UK's
excellent specialist mail order firms could help a little and would do even
better in filling this gap.  I have to use a mail order facility (The Music
Group in Ely, Cambridgeshire) as retailers here in Spain have simply no
idea what is going on - but they have great displays of Naxii!!  Ask in
Spain for tenors Fleta or Cortis (rather Martinelli & Caruso in the US) and
most times you'll get a really funny look!  I'd like to use Berkshire more
often but the freight charges make it rather difficult; bigger the package
the more likely to attract taxes!

None of this overall picture will really change until Klaus Heymann buys
Warner-EMI.

Regarding artists' advances on royalties....  well there is one coloured
singer whose demanded advance - it seems apparent - has kept that person
out of the studios (with one irrelevant exception) for some 6 years
already.  The resulting break-even, were the record company to succumb to
the demanded sums, would stretch the patience of most investors.  One needs
remember that the initial full-price release produces 3000-10000 of sales
only.  It is the first release as "secondary" exploitation, i.e.  at medium
price, where the recovery for the record company really begins if the
record is worth it.  Here, for a major with good distribution, figures
of 25k and upwards can be obtained thus bringing some return.

Regarding royalties to the Dallas SO - are you suggesting that these are
dues coming from the record company?

John G. Deacon
Home page: www.ctv.es/USERS/j.deacon