Reggae icon Horace Andy was a standout performer at Rebel Salute’s 30th Anniversary Show at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Priory St. Ann on Saturday night. The “Skylarking” singer delighted the mostly GenXers and Baby Boomers in the crowd with a slew of hits.
After his performance, WMV caught up with the JARIA Reggae Icon awardee to discuss his musical journey and his longstanding complaint against Trojan Records UK, alleging non-payment of royalties for over 40 years.
Last April, Horace first brought attention to the issue of not being compensated for songs recorded in the 1960s and 1970s during his acceptance speech at the JARIA awards in downtown Kingston. At that time, he addressed the late producer Bunny Lee and Trojan Records, accusing them of non-payment over four decades, while expressing gratitude to Studio One owner Clement Coxsone Dodd, who he was signed with for his first single “Got To Be Sure.”
“I have been performing since 1966,” Horace confirmed, noting that legal advice has been sought in pursuit of his royalties. “It’s true, man, all of them (owe me royalties), they’re working on it, ‘Justice For The Music’ is working on it. That’s the lawyers,” he added.
Now 72, Horace Andy, had re-recorded several tracks for Bunny Lee, including hits like “Just Say Who,” “Don’t Try To Use Me,” “You Are My Angel,” a new version of “Something on My Mind,” “Zion Gate,” and “I’ve Got to Get Away.”
Over the years several top reggae and dancehall acts have said they are owed by record labels; most recently Max Romeo filed a $15 million lawsuit against Universal Music for 47 years of unpaid royalties. Even Bob Marley‘s widow Rita Marley lost a copyright case in 2010 against Universal as she and the Marley estate attempted to reverse rights under a reversion clause in the copyright law. The judge however deemed that the first Marley albums were work for hire including the classics “Catch A Fire” which turned 50 last year and was re-reissued in 3CD deluxe edition and a 3LP vinyl + 12-inch package on November 3.
Based on his experience and the current music landscape that makes it easier for artist to release music, Andy says he now encourages young acts from Jamaica to steer clear of record labels,”I think they should do it themselves, I think some a the youths them should gather up and form a company and do it themselves instead of giving your music to these people. What them doing?” he said.
Adding, “They putting the money in them pocket. All the while is say it, the youths themselves, 3,4,5 of them come together, put out the music plus them bredrin and new artist music, instead of working for those people. Thats what most artist doing now in America.”
The convoluted ownership history of Trojan Records involves liquidation in 1975, subsequent reformation as Trojan Recordings, and eventual purchase by businessman Colin Newman. In 2001, Newman sold the Trojan catalog to Sanctuary Records, later acquired by Universal Music Group. In 2013, BMG acquired Sanctuary’s catalog, including Trojan’s songs, leading to the current ownership structure.
The situation has garnered attention, with BMG’s CEO Hartwig Masuch expressing a commitment to investigate and rectify any outstanding payments to artists who were not compensated during Trojan Records’ tumultuous history. However, Hartwig resigned last year as the head of the company when The German-owned publisher and label exceeded 31% in revenue to 866 million euros ($912.6 million) in 2022.
Watch Horace Andy WMV interview below:
