Does Universal's "deal" with Intrada also null & void their previous "deal" with Varese?
Somebody correct me if wrong, but I thought the recent wave of Universal scores from Intrada were a tie-in with a certain list of films for Universal's 100th anniversary.
Some were. But that is not the be-all and end-all of their relationship with Universal (just as not all of their Disney releases are co-branded, either). If you're asking whether these tie-ins are as far as their deal goes, I'm 99.9998997199% certain they are not.
As for the former question, I believe that Varese had an à la carte relationship with Universal, but that Intrada's new deal is an umbrella deal that gives them the rights to Universal scores that don't have previous encumbrances.
I wasn't clear. They were asking is the deal with Intrada null & voids the deal with Varese, and if Intrada is doing die-in's right now, that doesn't ne3cessarily nullify any deal. Plus, labels can release what ever scores from studios they have connections/inroads with. The only exception thus far appears to be a comment from MV that Disney is Intrada's territory.
So unless Universal cut ties with Varese, they should still be able to mine those vaults.
You don't think it is 'interesting' that Universal is obviously now more happy to work/deal with Intrada than we-only-do-once-in-a-while-vintage-scores-Varese ??
Not really. These are business arrangements. The labels court the studios, not the other way around. You're acting like Universal is the girl at the dance waiting for Varèse to ask her for another dance.
It's really up to our labels to convince the studios these releases are worth it for them, which they only barely are. Universal Studios had revenue in 2011 of more than $4 billion, itself a small part of parent company Comcast's $62 billion. Income from a few thousand score CDs is the equivalent of about a penny to you or me. How much do you care about a penny?
But our heroes work their magic by offering other benefits -- keeping these titles visible to film fans, restoring disintegrating elements that the studios can use in the future -- and sometimes just by making friends with people who can say "yes."
Each of our labels has a slightly different business model. Varèse's bread and butter is not their Club releases -- they only do a few of those a year -- but their releases of scores from films currently in theaters. Intrada and La La only do a few current scores; their bread and butter is the vintage releases. So sure, Intrada can sell themselves to a studio by saying "We can put your product in the hands of collectors four times a month," and I'm sure that speed of release -- and the elements the studio receives back in prime condition -- may well be a selling point to them.
But of course, so much of this boils down to dollar figures that are (and should be) invisible to us. I know that some labels spend more to secure rights than other labels are willing to do (or can afford to do). These are business decisions, and really none of our business. They each do what they have to do to stay above water, and I'm grateful for the CDs they release.
So to answer your question with a question, who's to say that Universal isn't working with Intrada not because of how often they release vintage scores, but because they're wiling to pay them $2 more per unit sold? I'm completely making that up, but it seems more likely that something like that is the case than that Universal is sitting by the phone asking "Why doesn't Robert Townson ever call?"
So unless Universal cut ties with Varese, they should still be able to mine those vaults.
And I wasn't clear. I believe (but could be wrong) that Universal is working exclusively with Intrada now. (Again, not including projects that fall under deals that existed prior to Intrada's new deal with Universal.)
Varèse's bread and butter is not their Club releases -- they only do a few of those a year -- but their releases of scores from films currently in theaters. ... So to answer your question with a question, who's to say that Universal isn't working with Intrada not because of how often they release vintage scores, but because they're wiling to pay them $2 more per unit sold? I'm completely making that up, .....
Obviously much less bread and butter otherwise they wouldn't needed to sell the company.
And wait a minute - first you say that Universal might not care for the money they get from Intrada because for them it's peanuts and at the end of your post you claim that it is indeed what they might do. Now what is it ?
Obviously much less bread and butter otherwise they wouldn't needed to sell the company.
The "they" you're referring to is Chris Kuchler, who has been doing this for over forty years. After forty years, wouldn't you likely sell the company and enjoy the rest of your life? You're making silly assumptions.
And wait a minute - first you say that Universal might not care for the money they get from Intrada because for them it's peanuts and at the end of your post you claim that it is indeed what they might do. Now what is it ?
My point was that it takes a sell job from an eager label to convince somebody at a studio that such a paltry endeavor is worth it.
I hope they are not done. If they are however they should have one more big batch release of all the titles they acquired from Universal before Intrada became their sole U.S. connection. I am specifically talking about THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER which according to a reliable source is not in the Intrada pipeline.
I hope they are not done. If they are however they should have one more big batch release of all the titles they acquired from Universal before Intrada became their sole U.S. connection. I am specifically talking about THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER which according to a reliable source is not in the Intrada pipeline.
Yes, one last batch of 20 releases would be awesome!
Varese is far to eratic, let Intrada take over and give us "THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESS....................." I don't know the financial and legal issues that would be involved in such an arrangement but it would be fine with many of us I am sure.
It's not done, for sure! At least one long requested 90's title is getting the Deluxe Treatment. I knew about Die Hard 2 a few months before it was announced. Wish I could divulge more, but would rather not be cut off from people more in the know.
We'll just have to be patient, but be warned:save your pennies.
It's not done, for sure! At least one long requested 90's title is getting the Deluxe Treatment. I knew about Die Hard 2 a few months before it was announced. Wish I could divulge more, but would rather not be cut off from people more in the know.
We'll just have to be patient, but be warned:save your pennies.
Understood. And thank you for the info. I will be saving big time.
I had hoped that Varese would release the complete OBSESSION during the Herrmann centenary. That didn't happen, but I still wish that Varese might release OBSESSION someday.
I truly hope that the Varese Club isn't a thing of the past.
It's not done, for sure! At least one long requested 90's title is getting the Deluxe Treatment. I knew about Die Hard 2 a few months before it was announced. Wish I could divulge more, but would rather not be cut off from people more in the know.
We'll just have to be patient, but be warned:save your pennies.
It's not done, for sure! At least one long requested 90's title is getting the Deluxe Treatment. I knew about Die Hard 2 a few months before it was announced. Wish I could divulge more, but would rather not be cut off from people more in the know.
We'll just have to be patient, but be warned:save your pennies.
Great! I just hope the 90's title isn't BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT since I paid a fortune for it.
