Stones Canadian row gathers pace
Published November 17, 2003
HMV in Canada have turned down a proposal by the Rolling Stones which aimed to end the ongoing row between the two parties over the band's DVD
exclusivity deal with rival retailers Best Buy. As previously reported, HMV
withdrew all Stones products from their Canadian stores after the band gave
Best Buy, by no means the major music retailer in the country, exclusive rights to sell their live Four Flicks DVD for the first two months of release. The deal mirrored one done with Best Buys in the US.
On Friday the band's New York publicist said they had approached HMV about
doing a similar deal over the DVD release. Publicist Fran Curtis told reporters: "We sent a letter to HMV on Nov 10 [the day before the DVD was released] asking for a distribution proposal for the DVD." The implication was that HMV would be given some kind of exclusivity deal too if they agreed to end their Stones boycott.
But HMV responded negatively to the request, suggesting, somewhat
honourably, that their objections to exclusivity deals could not be overcome
with an exclusivity deal. HMV boss Humphrey Kadaner commented on Friday:
"HMV is committed to having the Four Flicks DVD available in the marketplace
on a non-exclusive basis to all retailers, on normal trade terms. We're not
interested in replacing one exclusive arrangement with another."
The latest public exchange between both sides followed HMV's decision last
Wednesday to ask the Canadian Competition Bureau to investigate the legality
of an exclusivity deal the Stones made with Best Buy.
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Stones Canadian row gathers pace
- Published: November 17, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
- Marty Dodge's BC Writer page
- Marty Dodge's personal site
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