Blank & Jones copyright

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
Just saw that the Transa tribute mixes on Youtube were blocked worldwide because they contained a single Blank & Jones remix.

Who the heck do these guys think they are? We live in a world where Youtube streaming is how most people listen to music. Are these guys technology-age luddites?
Why is it that every upload of Blank & Jones' music gets blocked worldwide, and why would they/their label do this?
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: DazTC

Julian Del Agranda

Elite Member
Jul 3, 2020
1,582 Posts
1,823 Thanked
Is it them or Kontor?

A lot of their music isnt on Spotify. Its weird. I want to support by streaming (whatever you think about the payment-system etc, thats another discussion). But now I simply can’t.

Its not really strategic either. I think its effect is that some tracks don’t grow into big trance classics. Tracks like The Nightfly, of Desire. Im guessing they are still like small respectable ‘cheese-trance-classics’. But they could have been bigger.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96
Jul 16, 2020
111 Posts
53 Thanked
These guys did the right thing abandoning trance while it was a sinking ship. Their music would have sucked monkey dick anyway if they would have decided to stay on the sinking trance ship.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Halon

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
Is it them or Kontor?

A lot of their music isnt on Spotify. Its weird. I want to support by streaming (whatever you think about the payment-system etc, thats another discussion). But now I simply can’t.

Its not really strategic either. I think its effect is that some tracks don’t grow into big trance classics. Tracks like The Nightfly, of Desire. Im guessing they are still like small respectable ‘cheese-trance-classics’. But they could have been bigger.

I don't know if this is coming from them or Kontor. It could be both.
I doubt there are many people buying their tracks physically, and as you mentioned they're not even available digitally. This is one of those cases where piracy is the only convenient way you can hear the originals in good quality.
Frankly I didn't care much for their tracks except for Cream. If they're forgotten because of their actions and lack of availability in legal platforms, I don't really see a problem.
 

Elysium013

Member
Jul 13, 2020
206 Posts
116 Thanked
I've heard over the years it's actually them, but Kontor is known to take all of their tracks down too so... But based on the fact they're not on streaming platforms, could very well be B&J themselves. A shame, because a lot of their older tracks aren't that easily found anymore.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

DazTC

Member
Jul 14, 2020
213 Posts
308 Thanked
Age
43
Scotland, UK
Website
www.facebook.com
It's both Blank & Jones and Kontor.

We actually received a private message from Piet Blank some years back now telling us to remove a list of uploads (which he provided around 30 links to) on our channel. As dissapointing it was we were of course obliged and didn't want to cause any problems with them.

What I struggle with though is why are they placing restrictions and blocking tracks and remixes that don't even feature on their own channel?

I mean, it makes sense if they want all traffic to go through themselves and get the views etc, but....The Nightfly (Transa Remix) which is what saw our mix blocked isn't even on their channel.

More so, why are they also blocking fully mixed DJ sets which if anything are promoting their work. It goes completely against the point of DJ'ing in the first place.

Anyway, I tried to dispute this particular claim, explaining as best as I could that we were trying to do some good and something positive in the Trance scene helping to promote the return of Transa....

...after reviewing your claim 'Kuntor' New Media have decided their claim is still valid.
 

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
It's both Blank & Jones and Kontor.
...
...after reviewing your claim 'Kuntor' New Media have decided their claim is still valid.
Time and again they've proven they're unreasonable when it comes to copyright. May their productions remain unknown and their legacy forgotten.
 
P

Progrez

Guest
Just saw that the Transa tribute mixes on Youtube were blocked worldwide because they contained a single Blank & Jones remix.

Who the heck do these guys think they are? We live in a world where Youtube streaming is how most people listen to music. Are these guys technology-age luddites?
Why is it that every upload of Blank & Jones' music gets blocked worldwide, and why would they/their label do this?
Most musicians these days especially the old guys think because they produced and created them they feel they hold all of intellectual rights for the tracks to be distributed and decide where to distribute the product. It's greediness most of their recent stuff is forgettable just chillout stuff the only good thing they've released is a track with van bellen. They have a very archaic way of looking at music distribution. I personally think you should look music as a hobby not as a career because 1) you stop learning new things or trying new things creatively 2) You get pressures from peers like partners to put money first rather than enjoyment of the experience 3) The moment you start taking things seriously, is a moment you are doomed for a life to pull you down which will be full of bitterness and misery.

Sadly, social media and hell the internet has ruined it it's a double edge sword.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
P

Progrez

Guest
It's both Blank & Jones and Kontor.

We actually received a private message from Piet Blank some years back now telling us to remove a list of uploads (which he provided around 30 links to) on our channel. As dissapointing it was we were of course obliged and didn't want to cause any problems with them.

What I struggle with though is why are they placing restrictions and blocking tracks and remixes that don't even feature on their own channel?

I mean, it makes sense if they want all traffic to go through themselves and get the views etc, but....The Nightfly (Transa Remix) which is what saw our mix blocked isn't even on their channel.

More so, why are they also blocking fully mixed DJ sets which if anything are promoting their work. It goes completely against the point of DJ'ing in the first place.

Anyway, I tried to dispute this particular claim, explaining as best as I could that we were trying to do some good and something positive in the Trance scene helping to promote the return of Transa....

...after reviewing your claim 'Kuntor' New Media have decided their claim is still valid.
You would think that they could work out a deal with you guys because of the views you get. You probably rake in more money compared to their sales. I know some companies out there pay good money for internet traffic or for blogs and I get paid $100 in 6 month period with over 11,000 subscribers but you have 97,000 subscribers on your channel so I assume you guys should get a lot more or at least the artist or labels.
 

TRANCEBLASTER

Elite Member
Jul 21, 2020
1,207 Posts
1,461 Thanked
Piet Blank was one of the hardest working guys in the german Trance scene.. he even collaborated with Paul van Dyk at his peak.. when he don't want his music to be shared by other persons, then i'm totally on his side, he is a music biz dinosaur, knows what he is doing..
 

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
Laughing at a lot of comments in this thread where people are saying 'Well why don't they just give away their music for free!! How unreasonable!!!'. If you really want to listen to B&J stuff, go to beatport where their entire back catalogue is available and purchase.
Ironically, people are saying they will be forgotten yet this thread and others have had precisely the opposite effect and generated publicity for the artists. They were pretty average trance producers IMO but their stance on copyright has shown them to be shrewd businessmen.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Archon

Magdelayna

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
1,489 Posts
1,215 Thanked
West Yorkshire,England
Website
soundcloud.com
Piet Blank was one of the hardest working guys in the german Trance scene.. he even collaborated with Paul van Dyk at his peak.. when he don't want his music to be shared by other persons, then i'm totally on his side, he is a music biz dinosaur, knows what he is doing..

Its the wrong attitude - LET people share your music,but make sure you keep the copyright and monetization.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

Hot Tuna

Senior Member
Aug 24, 2020
416 Posts
383 Thanked
142 Paul van Dyk Avenue
Ironically, people are saying they will be forgotten yet this thread and others have had precisely the opposite effect and generated publicity for the artists. They were pretty average trance producers IMO but their stance on copyright has shown them to be shrewd businessmen.

I don't know, when was the last time you ever saw someone play a Blank & Jones track?
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
I don't know, when was the last time you ever saw someone play a Blank & Jones track?
I don't know, I for one would have more or less forgotten about them had it not been for these posts slating them. Maybe the tough stance has led to more people purchasing their music hence their persisting with it.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Archon

Hot Tuna

Senior Member
Aug 24, 2020
416 Posts
383 Thanked
142 Paul van Dyk Avenue
I don't know, I for one would have more or less forgotten about them had it not been for these posts slating them. Maybe the tough stance has led to more people purchasing their music hence their persisting with it.

I don't think forgetting they exist is a good argument that they might be doing it right. But if it's working for them I suppose that's fair enough. They seem to be making exclusively ambient and occasional deep house records now anyway.
 
Last edited:
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
I don't think forgetting they exist is a good argument that they might be doing it right.
Exactly. Think about the Internet traffic that trancefix and (maybe) r/trance have. In the grand scheme of things, it's not that much.
How many CD, digital sales can Blank & Jones really make from the traffic in these two sites? 20-50?
Ironically, people are saying they will be forgotten yet this thread and others have had precisely the opposite effect and generated publicity for the artists. They were pretty average trance producers IMO but their stance on copyright has shown them to be shrewd businessmen.
See above. No, I don't think they're "shrewd businessmen." I have more respect for artists that give away their albums for free and then use the popularity gained from that to get gigs and performances.
Gatekeeping is not fit for the streaming era.
 

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
I don't think forgetting they exist is a good argument that they might be doing it right
It wasn't my argument. You asked a question about when was the last time I heard someone play their track and I was answering that.
There's nothing wrong with them blocking unauthorised use of their content. They won't make any money from streaming or other people posting their tunes on personal YouTube channels. They can make some money from beatport sales though.