Zak Starkey, an acclaimed drummer known for his contributions to legendary bands like The Who and Oasis, recently took to Instagram to criticize German record label BMG, his former music distribution partner, over issues related to royalty payments for himself and Jamaican artists who have been under the company’s ownership for more than 50 years.
Starkey revealed that he arrived in Jamaica with the support of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. “With the help of Chris Blackwell, I shipped my studio to Jamaica and set it up in one of Chris’ properties in Ocho Rios,” Starkey disclosed.
According to Starkey, who is the son of Ringo Starr of The Beatles, his grievances stem from BMG’s mishandling of finances, as he had to cover the costs of album production before BMG, who granted him permission to use the Trojan Jamaica name, provided him with the advance. “I self-funded and recorded five records and made a label deal with BMG, who reimbursed and distributed them. BMG has categorized the reimbursement/advance as royalties,” he stated, noting that the funds provided by BMG have resulted in a tax liability.
Despite Starkey’s persistent efforts to resolve the situation, he claimed that BMG remained unresponsive to his pleas: “BMG is ignoring my requests to rectify this,” he wrote on Instagram.
Moreover, Starkey brought up BMG’s failure to address unpaid royalties owed to Jamaican artists from Trojan UK, a festering issue he raised six years ago: “They also owe dozens of Jamaican artists unpaid royalties from Trojan uk…and they are ignoring that too…I told them this 6 fucking years ago.” Acknowledging that his public rant against his former partners could cause some industry backlash, he told WMV, “I am not scared but I’m probably f*cked but not as f*cked as Jimmy Cliff was and countless others.”
Just last week, Sanctuary Records, a company BMG bought for £40M in 2013 with over 17,000 titles unveiled a musical treasure trove with the release of “Uptown Top Ranking: Trojan Ska & Reggae Chartbusters,” a 50-track, from the 1960s and 1970s, 2-CD compilation featuring iconic Jamaican artists, some of the same artists referenced by Starkey in his rant.
On Disc 1 boasts timeless hits such as Althea & Donna’s “Uptown Top Ranking,” Dawn Penn’s “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No),” and Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ “Israelites,” a reggae classic that topped charts worldwide. Disc 2 features Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ UK top 40 hit “007 (Shanty Town),” along with tracks by Ken Boothe, John Holt, Dennis Brown, and Tony Tribe, among others.
The release of “Uptown Top Ranking” marks a significant milestone nearly 50 years after Trojan Records faced bankruptcy, leaving behind unpaid royalties and debts.
Despite generating profits of £1.1m from £3.1m in sales in 2000, Trojan Records went into liquidation in 1975 without paying royalties to its artists. The catalogue was later acquired by businessman Colin Newman and eventually sold to Sanctuary Records for £10.25m in 2001. Subsequent acquisitions by Universal Music Group and BMG have further complicated the issue of unpaid royalties for artists like Horace Andy.
Trojan UK’s catalogue, includes early works by legends like Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, and Desmond Dekker, remains a testament to the enduring legacy of Jamaican music.
No tracks rom Horace Andy were including in the latest compilation but Andy is among the disgruntled artist who are alleging non-payment for 40 years. Andy’s frustration stems from his contributions to hits like “Skylarking” and “Just Say Who,” ad he confirmed in an interview with WMV, that he is now seeking legal representation to reclaim royalties owed for songs recorded in the 1960s and 1970s. Reflecting on his extensive career, Andy said, “I have been performing since 1966.”
