PRO-ARTIST MURRAY SCORES
MUSIC BIZ $$$

Few in the music industry were surprised over published reports that the RIAA paid a firm more than $46,000 to lobby California lawmakers against any change in the seven-year rule in Labor Code section 2855—and that was in the fourth-quarter of 2001 alone. However, there is an impressive list of industry players who have contributed to the campaign war chest of State Senator Kevin Murray, the leading proponent in Sacramento for changes in the seven-year statute.

At a recent music-industry fundraiser for Murray hosted by Irving Azoff, a number of executives hocked up contributions. They included Azoff ($3,000); Simon Renshaw and Jeff McClusky ($2,000 apiece); John Branca, Jay Cooper, Jay Marciano, Jim Guerinot, Andy Gould, Rob Light, Martin Erlichman and Michael Lippman ($1,000 each). Companies making contributions included ICM and CAA ($3,000); UTA and William Morris ($2,000); ATA ($1,500); Atlas/Third Rail, AOL Time Warner, Brillstein-Grey and the Fox Group ($1,000).

Among the musicians ponying up for Murray at the fundraiser were Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy Schmit, Stevie Nicks, Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt, each of whom contributed $3,000.

Filings with California’s Secretary of State revealed the RIAA also made two $1,000 contributions to Murray in the third quarter of last year—before he announced his intent to support artists by amending Labor Code 2855.

In addition to that pro-artist fundraising, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, uber-manager Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm will hold a fundraiser called “Winning Back the House and Winning Back Artists’ Rights.” Funds raised will go directly to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as Democratic House Leader Richard Gephardt’s re-election campaign.