Blank & Jones copyright

Julian Del Agranda

Elite Member
Jul 3, 2020
1,583 Posts
1,824 Thanked
If their tactic worked, then they would get invited to ASOT 1000, Luminosity Beach, Ultra (trance stage), Tomorrowland (TE Stage), Untold Festival... or maybe smaller parties... Something at Amsterdam Dance Event... So far... zero of that...

Don't think it's working out much.

But they aren't that big, are they. I mean... The Nightfly, Desire... small commercial hits... can't think of more. Sorry.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
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?
I'm pretty sure that they don't block the use of their material with the aim of generating publicity on sites like this or reddit
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.
How would you know whether it's working for them financially or not?
They are an established act and don't need publicity to get themselves noticed and break through. I'd like to see you produce then and give it all away for free.

Your kind of attitude that people are entitled to free music is precisely what's hurting so many artists and puts people off from entering or staying in the music business.
 

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
If their tactic worked, then they would get invited to ASOT 1000, Luminosity Beach, Ultra (trance stage), Tomorrowland (TE Stage), Untold Festival... or maybe smaller parties... Something at Amsterdam Dance Event... So far... zero of that...
They don't produce trance any more. I think they're just trying to make sure that they can get some buck from what they did produce in the past. And their back catalogue on Beatport is pretty extensive too so there is potential for generating some money there.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Julian Del Agranda

DazTC

Member
Jul 14, 2020
213 Posts
308 Thanked
Age
43
Scotland, UK
Website
www.facebook.com
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.
Content ID match on Youtube means they can monetise and the copyright holder earns revenue through placed ads on third party channels. This is the route that 90-95% of artists/labels seem to prefer nowadays at least where the music we upload is concerned.

I don't even mind if they want all the traffic to come through their own channel. That's totally fair.

I'd just like all of their music to be made available online, and also without just radio edits. The last I looked their was a load of their own Trance stuff was not featured with many remixes from others not being allowed to be featured on other channels either.

They own the rights, they can do what they want I know....but it just seems mad to me and the opposite of what music should be about. Especially DJ mixes where if you decide to promote a Blank & Jones track you get punished for doing so.

Madness
 

TRANCEBLASTER

Elite Member
Jul 21, 2020
1,207 Posts
1,461 Thanked
How would you know whether it's working for them financially or not?
I think they still have enough money... we can't even imagine how much kesh they have made in the late 90's. Kai Tracid or ATB are really rich people, even Taucher still don't need to get a proper job after 20 years from his last trance hit.

An "ID" german producer/dj once said to me that he could build his house from the sales of his single wich made it in the top 10 of the german charts.

So maybe B&J just don't really care if some djs play their tunes in the mixes.

btw. U can still found many B&J Remixes uploaded by random youtubers:

Humate - Love Stimulation (Blank & Jones Remix)

Yeah, official remixes for Moby, Pet Shop Boys, Alphaville, INXS, Robin Shulz, Delerium, Chicane... collab with Robert Smith from The Cure... the guys are no losers!
 
Last edited:
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96 and Archon

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
I'm pretty sure that they don't block the use of their material with the aim of generating publicity on sites like this or reddit
Of course not. They're blocking it for... greediness.
How would you know whether it's working for them financially or not?
They are an established act and don't need publicity to get themselves noticed and break through.
I don't know. It's not like I have their financial statements at hand, but you can make some guesses. If their tactics were working, we would hear Blank & Jones on ASOT and other big events as @Magnevi mentioned.
I'd like to see you produce then and give it all away for free.
I would. Also, people are quite literally lining up to have their tracks featured on MrSuicideSheep, Selected, and similar Youtube channels.
Your kind of attitude that people are entitled to free music is precisely what's hurting so many artists and puts people off from entering or staying in the music business.
You say that I'm entitled, but I say that Blank & Jones are being greedy. Their attitude is not normal and does not reflect what every other producer does nowadays.
 

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
Of course not. They're blocking it for... greediness.
That's a good one. Do you have a job? If so, are you willing to work for free?
I don't know. It's not like I have their financial statements at hand, but you can make some guesses. If their tactics were working, we would hear Blank & Jones on ASOT and other big events as @Magnevi mentioned.
Most likely if the tactics weren't working they would have given up on blocking by now.
They haven't made trance for 15+ years so presumably don't want to be on ASOT.
I would. Also, people are quite literally lining up to have their tracks featured on MrSuicideSheep, Selected, and similar Youtube channels
Good for you. You are free to join them. People are also lining up to join bandcamp.
You say that I'm entitled, but I say that Blank & Jones are being greedy. Their attitude is not normal and does not reflect what every other producer does nowadays
You are indeed displaying an entitled attitude. Wanting to reap financial rewards for your hard work is normal, not greedy.
 
Last edited:

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
That's a good one. Do you have a job? If so, are you willing to work for free?

Wanting to reap financial rewards for your hard work is not in any sense greedy.

False equivalence.

"Work" in my opinion would be more like Blank & Jones getting contracted today to produce music for someone else, ex. for a pop artist, or to produce an album for a label at a specified dollar/euro amount.
If they want to get passive income from their music, they can license their music without putting up paywalls for the average listener.
Pushing listeners to pay full amount for music produced 20 years ago reeks of greed.

Good for you. You are free to join them. People are also lining up to join bandcamp.
I would be surprised if these people didn't have day jobs.
 

Hensmon

Admin
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,109 Posts
2,606 Thanked
UK
Pushing listeners to pay full amount for music produced 20 years ago reeks of greed.

It really doesn't. Youtube plays, beatport puchases, liscense fees etc.... none of that is gonna give them any sort of significant income so its obviously not from a point of greed. Silly to say that really, especially as you have no idea what the reason is. Maybe it's out of principle? They put their time to create something of value and feel like people should pay if they want to enjoy that. Completely fair enough. It might not make the most business sense but the motivation behind it is completely reasonable.
 

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
It really doesn't. Youtube plays, beatport puchases, liscense fees etc.... none of that is gonna give them any sort of significant income so its obviously not from a point of greed. Silly to say that really, especially as you have no idea what the reason is. Maybe it's out of principle? They put their time to create something of value and feel like people should pay if they want to enjoy that. Completely fair enough. It might not make the most business sense but the motivation behind it is completely reasonable.
That's actually an angle I hadn't considered. Good point.
 

Propeller

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2020
686 Posts
428 Thanked
UK
If they want to get passive income from their music, they can license their music without putting up paywalls for the average listener.
Pushing listeners to pay full amount for music produced 20 years ago reeks of greed.
Dude, tracks on Beatport cost £0.99 or dollar 1.49. Artists are people with bills to pay too.
You can't stream Hollywood movies for free on YouTube, why should music be any different?
 

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
Dude, tracks on Beatport cost £0.99 or dollar 1.49. Artists are people with bills to pay too.
You can't stream Hollywood movies for free on YouTube, why should music be any different?
Yeah, you're right.
If money were what they are fter, they would be producing actively and accepting gigs on ASOT.
Still not sure why they would want this specific income stream alive. As @Hensmon mentioned, the income from Beatport sales/licensing probably isn't enough for them to earn a significant amount, and thus their decision couldn't be based on greed. Principle sounds about right, and them wanting to get paid for their work even if every other producer today is willing to give away their work for free. Hopefully that also works out well for the other people who helped produce their music, ex. the audio/mixing engineers.

FWIW I do believe in paying artists and other creative types their fair share of their work. For example, if I want to hire a graphic designer to make me a logo, I'll make sure they are paid at least market rate. I just feel like something about Blank & Jones rubs me the wrong way with how they've handled copyright.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Propeller
P

Progrez

Guest
Its the wrong attitude - LET people share your music,but make sure you keep the copyright and monetization.

Yeah, you're right.
If money were what they are fter, they would be producing actively and accepting gigs on ASOT.
Still not sure why they would want this specific income stream alive. As @Hensmon mentioned, the income from Beatport sales/licensing probably isn't enough for them to earn a significant amount, and thus their decision couldn't be based on greed. Principle sounds about right, and them wanting to get paid for their work even if every other producer today is willing to give away their work for free. Hopefully that also works out well for the other people who helped produce their music, ex. the audio/mixing engineers.

FWIW I do believe in paying artists and other creative types their fair share of their work. For example, if I want to hire a graphic designer to make me a logo, I'll make sure they are paid at least market rate. I just feel like something about Blank & Jones rubs me the wrong way with how they've handled copyright.
I just find it odd that the only thing that has decreased in price over time has been music whether it be cds, vinyls and mp3. Narrators get paid from a range $50 - $300 per finished hour some of them get paid into the millions if you are famous and that doesn't include royalty share and how many they sell while musicians don't get paid that much. I wish there was something similar in music or correct me if I am wrong.
Of course,you cannot compare narrators to musicians but still they still offer a service by using their talents, skills and abilities. I remember paying Ross Couch for his entire discography $350
 

Julian Del Agranda

Elite Member
Jul 3, 2020
1,583 Posts
1,824 Thanked
Propeller is right though, they probably dont want to be on any trance related event, as they clearly dont want to be involved. Thats true.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96

Archon

Gagi
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,913 Posts
2,809 Thanked
They can do whatever they want with their work, my personal opinion (as a listener) is that I don't like it - especially bringing down mixes that contain their tracks. I know only one track of theirs (Heart of Wax) and I love it to bits. Maybe that's why I know only one, but then again, it's not trance. I can understand where they are coming from, but that's about it.
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: dmgtz96
P

Progrez

Guest
When I think of Blank & Jones few things come to mind.

Perfect Silence (E-Craig Remix) and Beyond Time (Original or Darude JS16 remix) and watching the waves (Van Bellen remix)

and this too
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Thanks
Reactions: BladeRunner_