Putting the boot in

The authorities appear to be taking a tougher line on outlets who sell or supply bootleg recordings of live concerts. Rhythm Records, a well-known outlet on Dublin’s Aston Quay was among several premises targeted in Garda raids over the past few months.

It is believed that among the items seized in the raid were unauthorised live recordings of acts such as U2, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, among others. Rhythm Records has been well known in the past among music fans as an outlet for live recordings of major acts. In fact, following Springsteen’s summer concert at Dublin’s RDS, several contributors to a Bruce Springsteen discussion forum (Brucespringsteen.net) had named Rhythm Records as retailing a triple live CD of the show for ¤50.
Interestingly, the raid on Rhythm Records was said to have been initiated by a member of the Rolling Stones security team who had visited the shop while the band were in town in September. Apparently, he spotted unauthorised Rolling Stones live albums on sale, purchased one and subsequently made a complaint to the Gardai who carried out the raid. A spokesperson for the Rolling Stones however would not confirm if this is what happened. “If it did take place we’re not aware of it,” he told hotpress.
According to the Gardai spokesman, about 70% of Rhythm Records’ stock – amounting to several thousand CDs – was confiscated in the raid and it is currently being examined and catalogued. He confirmed that a file is expected to be sent to the DPP. Meanwhile, Rhythm Records while confirming the raid had taken place, had no further comment to make on the matter.
The whole question of bootlegs has long been the subject of debate within the industry and among music fans. While piracy (i.e. counterfeit copying) is strictly illegal, the question of unauthorised recordings of live albums remains a grey area. Many acts turn a blind eye to such activity while others actively encourage it. Artists such as Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam and The Who have issued “official” bootlegs to cater for the demand for recordings of their live shows among fans. When U2’s 1989 New Year’s Eve show at The Point was broadcast around the world and widely recorded, custom-made cassette covers appeared in with several magazines including hotpress and Q.
According to Sean Murtagh, who heads up IRMA’s Anti Piracy Unit, it’s up to the artists themselves to take action to prevent bootlegging. “Since we represent record companies whose copyright is not being breached with bootlegs unless one of their trademarks are used, it is not of direct concern to us,” he explained. “There is a perception that some musicians are ambivalent about bootlegs and some bands openly encourage it – The Grateful Dead come to mind. Others are utterly opposed to the illegal taping of their concerts while some artists don’t like it but are wary of stopping it.”
A well-placed source in Dublin’s record retail world told hotpress that up until 2000 Ireland was one of the few countries in Europe where the selling of bootlegs was not considered to be illegal under the law. However, he confirmed that since then it had been made clear to those in the trade that bootlegs were now considered illegal and all that was required for action to be taken was a complaint to the Gardai.