Alter Bridge and their $75 squabble with a photographer

jon ryan

jon ryan

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A photographer who has requested a nominal $75 fee for the unauthorised use of a live shot on an official Alter Bridge page has been slammed by the band in what should go down as a monumental public relations nightmare.

The photograph in question was of guitarist Mark Tremonti, which Alter Bridge posted on their Facebook page, after first cutting the photographer's watermark. As the image was used to promote Tremonti's forthcoming solo record (the post in question also included an iTunes link) the photographer contacted the band to request a $75 fee for commercial use - which seems fair enough considering the band do sell hundreds of thousands of records.
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Seems to more of this going on over the pond. Anyone seen any signs of it here?
 
Shocking....although I think it may do more to tarnish the bands reputation than the photographers.

To me, purposefully cropping off someones watermark just shows total intent for ripping them off.
 
This is brilliant. I'm a bit strapped for cash this month, so it's great that I now have permission to copy all my mate's Alter Bridge CDs :)
 
POAH said:
sounbds like a good marketing ploy to get them publicity lol
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Wouldn't it be good if a photographer used the same principle to generate some publicity, by "borrowing" one of the band's tunes for an advertisment?
 
That's a shame. I love their music, but this isn't the first occasion they have come across as a bunch of turds.
 
Hey, Alter Bridge, I've just uploaded all your albums to a torrent site so that anyone can download them without paying for them. How do you feel about that!?
 
Just remembered once of my Dutch photographer friends does loads of work for them, including one of thier album covers.
I wonder if they are happy to pay her?

I'll send her a message and see what the score is.
 
ding76uk said:
Sign of the times tho. The amount of fans talking carp about the photographer daring to demand money. Unfortunately music photography is about finished as something that is respected.
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in fairness, there was more pointing out what muppets they are being, so one has to hope something is getting through. Of course the irony is that it isn't just anyone that has done this, but a band, part of an industry that is having a meltdown over illegal free downloads of the work its artists produce.... obviously the 'practice what you preach' idea passed them by.
 
Yv said:
in fairness, there was more pointing out what muppets they are being, so one has to hope something is getting through. Of course the irony is that it isn't just anyone that has done this, but a band, part of an industry that is having a meltdown over illegal free downloads of the work its artists produce.... obviously the 'practice what you preach' idea passed them by.
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What I meant was if it isn't this kind of thing its competitions to be a photographer for XYZ event, giving all work away and saving the money of a pro photographer. Fans not appreciating what a music photographer does or goes through, just that they are "lucky" to be able to photograph a band, let's not even get onto the punches for being in a fans way.

I love it though, just having a bad day after a late night shooting a festival yesterday
 
ding76uk said:
What I meant was if it isn't this kind of thing its competitions to be a photographer for XYZ event, giving all work away and saving the money of a pro photographer. Fans not appreciating what a music photographer does or goes through, just that they are "lucky" to be able to photograph a band, let's not even get onto the punches for being in a fans way.

I love it though, just having a bad day after a late night shooting a festival yesterday
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Won't disagree that with that, it's shoddy and disrespectful to fellow 'artists' My comment was more about the specific comments on the FB page that were then 'administered' but not before a screengrab was taken ;)
 
Scarecrow said:
Hey, Alter Bridge, I've just uploaded all your albums to a torrent site so that anyone can download them without paying for them. How do you feel about that!?
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Needless to say, you'll decline to pay them if they request it (just remove the uploads), tell everyone what bar stewards they are for causing you to remove the uploads and then ask other bands to send you their work to upload.
 
Jeeez, talk about bad PR management.

And what on earth is that comment about "fans that happen to live in Israel"???

Have I missed something here or are they adding some more petrol to the bonfire.

Seems like amateur hour is taking over music PR as well as photography...
 
desantnik said:
Jeeez, talk about bad PR management.

And what on earth is that comment about "fans that happen to live in Israel"???

Have I missed something here or are they adding some more petrol to the bonfire.

Seems like amateur hour is taking over music PR as well as photography...
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Maybe it's the same 'gifted' PR people running the AB Facebook page as maintaining the Nikon one?... ;)
 
Sue the scum. Get them as much adverse publicity as possible and encourage their fans to download their music illegally then see how long they last.
 
haggis said:
Sue the scum. Get them as much adverse publicity as possible and encourage their fans to download their music illegally then see how long they last.
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There's no need to go on heavy handed, they are doing good enough job of looking like idiots all by themselves.

I know the 'tog is well within his rights to chase for payment, but I think the clever option is just to sit tight and and try and stay prefessional.
 
I never even heard of this band before. Now I have. They say no publicity is bad publicity
 
Bad PR job in deed...
Saw these guys when they were at Wembly Arena recently, great band, and I got some great shots...very glad I didn't post them online...lol
 
I can see both sides of this ,the band should not have done it but realistically they will just use a different pic and not pay.
 
mart77 said:
I can see both sides of this ,the band should not have done it but realistically they will just use a different pic and not pay.
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There is no both sides - the band are in the wrong end of
 
POAH said:
There is no both sides - the band are in the wrong end of
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yes i dont disagree with that, but they arent going to pay to put a pic on facebook, they will just ask someone else for a pic which is what they have done. From their point of view there is no real value in the picture which is what i mean when i say i can see both sides, therefore they wont pay.
 
mart77 said:
yes i dont disagree with that, but they arent going to pay to put a pic on facebook, they will just ask someone else for a pic which is what they have done. From their point of view there is no real value in the picture which is what i mean when i say i can see both sides, therefore they wont pay.
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However they did use the picture. This is what they have been billed for. This is why, should the photographer persue it, they will pay.

From what I have read the band and photographer have come to an agreement anyway. The facebook page is run by a family member who did this without the band (initially) knowing.
 
I should imagine the bands feel like a lot of Pratts,after all the fuss the music industry has been making about copyright :D
 
As I understand this, the photographer in question asked them if he could attend the venue to take shots. They accepted, and then used his work.

The way they handled this is diabolical, but it's not as clear cut as them being plain in the wrong. You can forgive them for assuming, given their hospitality, that they could use a picture or two on the Facebook page.
 
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