There is a dispute between two giants of the music business. On the one hand, Stephan Eicher, for years one of the most successful Swiss pop musician, a Star in Belgium and France. On the other hand, Universal Music France, the French branch of the global record labels. Universal is also the Parent company of Barclay Records, where Eicher had published over the years his albums.

Stephan Eicher has recently added in 2012, with “L’Envolée” is a new Solo-Album. His recent publications include a collaboration with the writer Martin Suter (“Song Book”) and a reinterpretation of old songs with the Bernese Balkan orchestra, tract Orkestar. The lack of new Songs Eicher explains each of the legal dispute.

money for tour and Album

Now allow French court documents with a detailed insight into the dispute. It goes to show pending payments for albums and tours to a claim for damages in the millions and Songs, the Eicher under the lid to keep.

The dispute dates back to the year 2005. At that time, the 58-Year-old and Universal of the three agreements signed, as a judgment of a Paris civil court by November 2016.

Eicher, the full rights to the audio and video was recording at Universal. He, too, is committed to Universal record three albums and to promote them with appropriate promotional appearances. In return, Universal committed to Finance recordings and tours.

the recording of the 2012 Album “L’Envolée” the problems began. Eicher speaks in a Mail to this newspaper that at that time his “unhappiness” had begun. The cabaret singer accuses Universal to have the money tap turned off: cost for the tour, Promo-activities, and a planned live album. Also have paid Universal a payment of 9000 euros for the recordings of “L’Envolée” never. Universal wanted to take no position.

Eicher’s lawyer claimed over a Million Swiss francs

Also, a dispute on the question of how Eicher Songs on Streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music should be made available ensued. Universal has put all the albums on the Streaming platforms online.

The Bernese complained once, that he could not stringing job from the money he wars of Spotify, once the guitars. It’s obvious that he cares that his Songs on the Streaming platforms to be interrupted by advertising. In the case of the free service of Spotify, the platform offers a paid Premium model.

Eicher success of albums like “Engelberg” or “Carcassonne” – in between Audio advertising for small loans and pop-up banner advertising on the Display: for Eicher a horror show. He makes before a court, the advertising between his Songs would affect his works and “his copyright as a composer and singer damage”.

Eicher was before the court of Emmanuel Pierrat represented. A dazzling Parisian lawyer who writes the way of erotic books such as “Sin editor”, or “An erotic thought for every day”. He also defended successfully the writer Michel Houellebecq, was referred in 2001 to the Islam as the “stupidest Religion”. Pierrat demanded from Universal as compensation, a total of 942 000 euros, the equivalent of over a Million francs. In addition, all contracts with Universal are to be resolved and the record company are forbidden to use Eicher’s Songs and Videos.

The case is expected to deal with the French courts for years to come.

The French justice has addressed after a first judgment, 2016, in September 2017, again with Pierrats million claim, is not yet come far: she has merely decided that the jurisdiction for the case is not a civil court, but in the case of a labour court.

The case is still pending and is expected to deal with the French courts for years to come. However, Emmanuel Pierrat, Stephan Eicher no longer represents, as an employee of his law firm. Eicher writes that he had been rejected by the millions claim to be his lawyer for yourself.

stalls During the legal processing, Eicher attempted in recent years to help in an unconventional way: Because for him, the Universal has cut the recording budget, he delivered with “Homeless Songs” is a Low-Budget production with pieces, some a Minute long. In an Interview, he referred to them as “small, broken songs, the shuffle somewhere on the road then and don’t know where they belong”. In Universal, the Album is obvious. It appeared until today I never.

Out of necessity arose a Tour with the music machine

Also on his big Tour of 2015, the legal dispute had a positive impact. Eicher was not, as usual, with accompanying musicians on the road, but specially built for him the vending machine: an automated Glockenspiel or a programmed Piano, played as if by magic without the Intervention.

What was at the time celebrated as the intelligent technology criticism and comparisons with Jean Tinguely brought in, was born out of necessity. Stephan Eicher wanted to be able to pay on Tour, received no money from Universal, with whom he would have his fellow musicians. Money that would have him, the musicians, the agreement provides for it.

Recently, Eicher has approached – without an attorney – Universal. So it was also possible that Eicher was able to record the CD “Giddyup!” together with the Bernese tract Orkestar. She also appeared under the Universal Banner, but not in the case of Barclay, but with Polydor, a subsidiary company. Stephan Eicher writes that the story is “still Healing”. One who knows him well says: “Stephen just wants to make music.”

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 02.03.2019, 22:28 PM