Stevie discusses Possible New

[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Fleetwood Mac does have a different corporation to include each era of the band, but that's not what I'm talking about. When they signed contracts to tour as Fleetwood Mac, the term and components of "Fleetwood Mac" were defined. Mick and John may own the name, but they aren't free to tour as FM with just any set of people they want. Not until whatever contracts are currently in effect expire. For at least the duration of this tour, FM has to be made up of a specific set of people.

The way Mick was talking, I think he left himself an out and that for contingency purposes, Christine is part of that definition, just in case they want to work her in. But Mick can't go out on stage with Martina McBride and John and call it "Fleetwood Mac." Maybe next year he can, but not now. The people they've contracted with for this tour have protected themselves and their investment.

Michele

Do you have access to their legal files?! Where did you discover that?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Ulpian

Do you have access to their legal files?! Where did you discover that?

I've seen promoter, engagement and tour contracts. The billing and band members are clearly defined as are the basis for termination or modification of those definitions. You first establish you have legal title to the name and then you can contract it out for a specified period of time.

I don't need access to their legal files to know that each era of the band has its own corporate entity. Corporate records are recorded with the Secretary of State.

Michele

[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I've seen promoter, engagement and tour contracts. The billing and band members are clearly defined as are the basis for termination or modification of those definitions. You first establish you have legal title to the name and then you can contract it out for a specified period of time.

I don't need access to their legal files to know that each era of the band has its own corporate entity. Corporate records are recorded with the Secretary of State.

Michele

We have a similar system of registration here with Companies House, which is a government entity. I sometimes think bands hide the figures and key players behind various different shadow companies / entities, but maybe FM companies are just straightforward?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Ulpian

We have a similar system of registration here with Companies House, which is a government entity. I sometimes think bands hide the figures and key players behind various different shadow companies / entities, but maybe FM companies are just straightforward?

Since 2001 the current line up has had the same active corporation. Michael Fleetwood is listed as president and Lester Knispel is agent for service. Those two pieces of information have to be public. When you do a Dun and Bradstreet, you can get the members of the corporation, for a fee. I don't think that's something they'd want private. But when people buy real property and such, I know they often use straw men so that ownership can't be traced back to them.

Michele

[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Since 2001 the current line up has had the same active corporation. Michael Fleetwood is listed as president and Lester Knispel is agent for service. Those two pieces of information have to be public. When you do a Dun and Bradstreet, you can get the members of the corporation, for a fee. I don't think that's something they'd want private. But when people buy real property and such, I know they often use straw men so that ownership can't be traced back to them.

Michele

I love finding out stuff like this. So, that 2001 corporation includes Christine too?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Ulpian

I love finding out stuff like this. So, that 2001 corporation includes Christine too?

Yes it does. They have separate touring and merchandising entities that don't include her. They had both a Fleetwood Mac Touring Corp. and a Fleetwood Mac Merchandising Corp, which dissolved in 1997 and they were replaced by new corporations to handle every tour.

I just think it's curious that, before he was reprimanded, Mick was acting like he could attach Christine to the tour even now -- just months before it begins. So, even though the papers are signed he seemed to think that could be done at the last minute. It made me think that they left themselves an out to add Christine to the tour, even knowing that it was highly unlikely she would ever join.

Michele

[Ulpian]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Yes it does. They have separate touring and merchandising entities that don't include her. They had both a Fleetwood Mac Touring Corp. and a Fleetwood Mac Merchandising Corp, which dissolved in 1997 and they were replaced by new corporations to handle every tour.

I just think it's curious that, before he was reprimanded, Mick was acting like he could attach Christine to the tour even now -- just months before it begins. So, even though the papers are signed he seemed to think that could be done at the last minute. It made me think that they left themselves an out to add Christine to the tour, even knowing that it was highly unlikely she would ever join.

Michele

I never know with Mick. Sometimes I completely disregard what he says.

I suppose Christine benefits from performance payments on the new tours. Won't she get something for them performing any of her songs, whether co-written or not? Is that payment a fixed fee?

[MikeInNV]

I'm a little confused by the tone of many of these messages, blaming Stevie for the lack of musical output. If FM has no record label, there is no one to demand her involvement. Lindsey has 8 songs he can do whatever he likes with. They could become his next solo album, or they could become a Stevie-less FM album. Personally, I think if they just told her they were doing an album with or without her, she would cave. In any case, it's easy to say she has all the power, but it's only the power they willingly give her. If the songs never see the light of day just because Stevie isn't on board, it says more about their artisitic integrity than hers.