Concord Shutting Fantasy Down and Burying its Tapes?

[RDK]

It's being reported on the Hoffman forum that Concord is firing its Fantasy Records vault archivist, shuttering its mastering studio, and shipping off its tapes to Iron Mountain. Don't know how accurate this news is, but it doesn't sound good.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=116530

[J Larsen]

True or not, I believe the "golden age" of jazz reissues is coming to an end.

[sidewinder]

Truly depressing news to end the day on. Just glad I picked some of those 'limited editions' in the Concord (spit) sale of a while back - wished I'd got more.

Time to put the Prestige/New Jazz/Riverside/Contemporary vinyl in a safe.

Edited June 8, 2007 by sidewinder

[J Larsen]

One way or another, Concord is going to have to get their $90 million worth out of Fantasy - you don't suppose they can do it on comps and Stax alone, do you? If so, then it would seem that Fantasy really undersold itself.

Edited June 8, 2007 by J Larsen

[kh1958]

I certainly hope this is not true--Iron Mountain is a paper file storage company. What kind of idiot would entrust these precious master tapes to that company?

I have been following Steve Hoffman's advice for some time, however: "I've said it before but I'll say it again: If I were you all I would buy every OJC Jazz CD I could get my hands on."

[J Larsen]

Iron Mountain does more than just paper. They store all the back up tapes of my firm's electronic data in what they represent as a fireproof, humidity and temperature controlled room.

[J Larsen]

http://www.ironmountain.com/filmsound/

[paul secor]

I certainly hope this is not true--Iron Mountain is a paper file storage company. What kind of idiot would entrust these precious master tapes to that company?

I have been following Steve Hoffman's advice for some time, however: "I've said it before but I'll say it again: If I were you all I would buy every OJC Jazz CD I could get my hands on."

Our own Mr. Nessa was more than two years ahead of Steve Hoffman. http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...173&hl=OJCs

[Dan Gould]

If it is true:

Number one, it sounds to me like they are eliminating future reissues of material that hasn't seen the light of day. That's distressing for all of us still hoping that Paul Bryant's LPs will see the light of day, but I hardly think its a complete disaster.

Number two, I don't they aren't tossing it all into a landfill.

Number three, as JLarsen stated, Concord wants to get its money out of its investment. Can that really be done with comps, Coltrane, Miles, Monk, Stax and CCR?

Lastly, I've got too much f-ing music anyway. Between the music I've purchased in the past and haven't nearly acquainted myself with enough, concerts from Dime, and my new fascination with blues, I could quit adding music to the collection today and not run out of music to listen to for the rest of my natural life.

In short, I'm not going to freak over this rumor. I'll live very nicely, thank you, if Concord never reissues anything ever again.

[Christiern]

I wouldn't worry about the tapes being deliberately destroyed, as some alarmists at Hoffman's are suggesting. These tapes represent a considerable investment and even if the current reissue boom has ebbed, there will eventually be another. A good vault has always been the backbone for record companies, an insurance of sorts. In recent years, the industry has been taken over by tone-deaf number-crushing types and lawyers who cannot see beyond the bottom line, but they are not so dumb that they will throw out costly resources. The material is not making enough money for them right now, so they put it on the shelf, not in the garbage.

[Jim Alfredson]

Is there any chance that they have transfered, to high-resolution digital files, those tapes that they deem will make them money and are simply storing them safely for the future?

If everything has been transferred into hi-res digital, then there is no reason to keep the master tapes around the studio. Store them safely and if they need another transfer, then they can recall those tapes.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

you didnt need to tell chewy, i knew 9 months ago when you told me of the initial sale. this is such complete bullshit.

[Claude]

Is there any chance that they have transfered, to high-resolution digital files, those tapes that they deem will make them money and are simply storing them safely for the future?

If everything has been transferred into hi-res digital, then there is no reason to keep the master tapes around the studio. Store them safely and if they need another transfer, then they can recall those tapes.

That's what many other labels are doing. It should not be forgotten that these tapes are degrading progressively and will become unusable. However, with the huge Fantasy catalog and the limited staff, it will take a couple of years to transfer everything, if it is done decently.

Edited June 9, 2007 by Claude

[Big Al]

If it is true:

Number one, it sounds to me like they are eliminating future reissues of material that hasn't seen the light of day. That's distressing for all of us still hoping that Paul Bryant's LPs will see the light of day, but I hardly think its a complete disaster.

Number two, I don't they aren't tossing it all into a landfill.

Number three, as JLarsen stated, Concord wants to get its money out of its investment. Can that really be done with comps, Coltrane, Miles, Monk, Stax and CCR?

Lastly, I've got too much f-ing music anyway. Between the music I've purchased in the past and haven't nearly acquainted myself with enough,..... I could quit adding music to the collection today and not run out of music to listen to for the rest of my natural life.

In short, I'm not going to freak over this rumor. I'll live very nicely, thank you, if Concord never reissues anything ever again.

I am in total agreement with Dan on this. Of course, I'm disappointed that folks are apparently losing their jobs as a result, but from a consumer's standpoint, this doesn't bother me near as much as say.... Paris going back to jail.

[Big Al]

Maybe the folks at Concord saw that horrid picture of OK in the trays of his Keepnews reissues along with the notes he was writing, and in a state of panic decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[bertrand]

If it is Stuart Kremsky they are firing, they are idiots.

Bertrand.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I want the Paul Bryants, too. On CD, I mean

This has been obvious for three and a bit years. I've still got a few OJCs to catch up on, but I've had a good blast at them in the last few years. And I've got all the Soul Jazz twofers they issued. So I can empathise with Dan's feelings.

But I STILL don't like it!

MG

[mikeweil]

[Morganized]

I have been following Steve Hoffman's advice for some time, however: "I've said it before but I'll say it again: If I were you all I would buy every OJC Jazz CD I could get my hands on."

Well I have certainly been doing my best lately....as you well know!

kh1958 ....you haven't been doing so bad yourself lately..Glad to see your are following your own advice there!!!

[kh1958]

I have been following Steve Hoffman's advice for some time, however: "I've said it before but I'll say it again: If I were you all I would buy every OJC Jazz CD I could get my hands on."

Well I have certainly been doing my best lately....as you well know!

kh1958 ....you haven't been doing so bad yourself lately..Glad to see your are following your own advice there!!!

Yes, Friday after reading this I had to take the precaution of acquiring Joe Henderson, Relaxin' at Camarillo, Johnny Griffin, Return of the Griffin, Ernie Henry, Last Chorus, and Roy Eldridge, What It's All About.

[RDK]

If it is Stuart Kremsky they are firing, they are idiots.

Bertrand.

It is indeed, Stuart. He's posted here to clear a few things up...

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost...p;postcount=212

[Big Al]

I hope I'm not being too optimistically naive when I say that it may be a good thing that staff from Iron Mountain is going in and bar-coding everything. I hope that Fantasy staff is allowed to help with the sorting, so that future access will be made easier.

[Ron S]

If it is Stuart Kremsky they are firing, they are idiots.

Bertrand.

It is indeed, Stuart. He's posted here to clear a few things up...

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost...p;postcount=212

Could you copy/paste that here? Nonmembers of the Hoffman forum can't see that. Thanks!

[J Larsen]

Has that thread over at Hoffman been deleted? I can not access it.

[RDK]

If it is Stuart Kremsky they are firing, they are idiots.

Bertrand.

It is indeed, Stuart. He's posted here to clear a few things up...

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost...p;postcount=212

Could you copy/paste that here? Nonmembers of the Hoffman forum can't see that. Thanks!

Sorry. Here you go...

Hello Steve Hoffman Forum members,

This is Stuart Kremsky of Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group signing in to this thread for the one and only time.

First things first: The entire building was never locked out. Not all Fantasy/Concord employees in Berkeley have lost their jobs. Most everything else on this thread, however, is true.

As part of my professional duties, it was my responsibility to inform various people in the industry about changes in the Fantasy vault. Clearly, Steve Hoffman is one of those people. I half-forgot about this web-site when I called him. Because there was a lot of information to impart, and because I’ve probably spoke too quickly, some of the details as reported on this thread were wrong.

Please note the following: I have absolutely NO intention of participating in any further discussion on this thread. I have neither the time nor the energy, nor would be it be appropriate for me to make any speculations whatsoever. But I felt like this was the easiest way to clear a few things up.

Here’s what I can tell you: Fantasy Studios in Berkeley are being closed. They’re not taking any bookings after September 30, and unless someone takes over the operations, it appears that they’ll spend the rest of the year until December 31 shutting down. The Fantasy tape vault is also being closed, and the tapes are being sent to an Iron Mountain facility. The studio staff and myself were informed of this on Friday, June 1. As we were sitting in the meeting, workers from Iron Mountain, along with a locksmith, were in the parking lot, waiting to begin the work of bar-coding the tapes. Since Iron Mountain was now directly responsible for the tapes (and some artwork as well in another location in the building), they changed several locks in the building. It took a few days to sort out legal and access issues. So that’s all there is about the keys and the building; no one was ever locked out, except for me, out of the vault, for a couple of hours one morning. I’m over it.

The Concord Music Group does still have a small presence in Berkeley. How long that will last I have no idea. I will be with Fantasy/Concord until September 30.

I have to thank Steve H. for all the praise he sent in my direction in this thread. You're welcome. And yes, the “Lisa found it” goad did work, once or twice.

I’d also like to thank everyone in this forum for their thoughts and their love of the music. And while I have no wish at all to inhibit or influence this thread in any way, I’d like you all to think for a second about the weirdness of having your job (or lack of same) coming up for public discussion.

Thanks!