Death Records Now

Wanna know the whole story?

This movie had to be reloaded with new background music due to copyright claims by unknown parties. I say unknown because of this:

During the first week in January, I was notified that someone had claimed copyright infringement on a portion of my audio. Since the only music used was the recording of the kids in Osnovna škola Bilje and Israel “Izzy” Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of the song Over the Rainbow, I contacted Mountain Apple Records. I asked them for permission to use the song — even offering to pay a reasonable copyright fee if necessary.

The people at Mountain Apple were very nice and said they were glad that I “thought enough of the song to want to include it in your project. But,” they said, “Mountain Apple only controls the master rights to the song. EMI Music Publishing controls the publishing rights. In order to use the song, you must first get permission from the publisher.” They told me who to contact at EMI (Electric & Musical Industries Ltd.), and said after I received permission, they would let me use the master.

All I heard back from EMI was that “this song is not available for this use.” And then they directed me to their website where they said they were “certain you will be able to find another composition that will work for your website,” for which they “would be happy to quote a fee.”

Well, wait a minute!! Meanwhile I hear back from Youtube, who tells me that the copyright claim was made by WMG (Warner Music Group).

I looked on Amazon, and they list Amazon Digital Services, Inc, and SONY BMG Music Entertainment Downloads LLC as the sellers.

So who owns the rights to Iz’s music? I don’t know. I couldn’t find a listing of his name at either EMI, or WMG’s websites.

It’s just a shame that for Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Izzy”, “Iz”, “Brudda Iz”, whose music became as popular worldwide as it is due to — not record sales — but because of it’s use and exposure in movies, commercials, and in Youtube videos and tributes, his musical legacy is being stifled by the greedy corporate executives in the recording industry. It is their dispute with Youtube over compensation that has caused this, and other people’s videos, to be removed or changed.

But I still love Brudda Iz’s music. The original (and officially sanctioned) version of the song “Over the Rainbow” can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Baz6T_QOQ

At the end of the video, it shows his ashes being scattered in Hawaii after his death in 1997, at the age of 38.

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GCT school visit.

Our visit to this Croatian school happened well into our vacation. When we got home and started organizing the photos and videos, I had to make this movie first because of the impression the kids and the people (and the food too) of Croatia made on me.

I hope they enjoy my tribute to them as much as we enjoyed our visit.

Duration : 0:8:56

[youtube Z5VjXlsOKo0]