Mick:

No --- what I was and am talking about are RECORD COMPANY EXECUTIVES. As everyone here is well aware --- 75% of everything in all retail music outlets have been put there by ONLY five media conglomerates, in the $32 Billion Dollar global music market:

01) Vivendi-Universal (UMG) = 25.9%

02) Sony Music Entertainment (SME) = 14.1%

03) EMI Records, LTD (EMI) = 12%

04) AOL Time Warner (WEA) = 11.9%

05) Bertlesmann Music Group (BMG) = 11.1%

Figures From: International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)

Concievably, the number of people who truly control the vast majority of the music industry can all sit at the same conference table.

What I said was that David pissed off the people who control the major-label releases --- something which he recently admitted was true when he spoke of his being told that he had POWERFUL ENEMIES. I don't know about you --- but, I thought that this was what he was talking about.

NOTE: The figures above came from the following article, dated September 9, 2003:

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/030909/80/e7y7y.html

Since all five of these companies are conglomerates with many subsidaries each --- it is perfectly within reason to suspect that a couple of well-placed phone calls were made --- and all promotion was pulled from a release like HCTNFU.

Hell, even the TV show BOOMTOWN should have had the D+D title track as its' theme! If DB was Randy Newman, that is precisely what would have happened.

This scenario makes much more sense --- as obviously Luke Lewis' public comments --- about how excited he was to have signed DB to Lost Highway --- did not come anywhere close to matching the reality of what happened to HCTNFU upon its' release.

It didn't even make the BILLBAORD charts --- and eventually sold less than 15,000 copies (without any promotion). However, the TV pop star fabrication known as Kelly Clarkson sold 1.5 MILLION COPIES of her over-produced synthetic fluff driven debut CD.

Also, HCTNFU had at least one NUMBER ONE hit on it --- which many agree was LOVE # 29. This was the song most frequently named as the favorite song by those for whom I purchased a copy.

The other aspect of all this that I find rather strange is that David has talent, and everyone that I know to whom I gifted with some of David's music --- they all loved it and wanted more.

So this idea that LOST HIGHWAY could not promote DB is complete nonsense --- especially when you listen to someone like David Gray --- a singer-songwriter with a style very similar to what DB has done.

The bottom line is this:

This is yet another example of how all levels of dissent are being unconstitutionally prevented from exercising what should be their FIRST AMENDMENT rights.

Also, some of the subjects that David sings about --- the managers of POWERS THAT BE, Inc. (a GLOBAL company) would rather they were not mentioned or discussed.

This may be why DB cannot sell CD's through major labels, but it also happens to be why I respect him so much.

Go on with yer bad self, David!!!

KDB = Buffalo, NY USA