A celebrity rock star trashed his own record label today and lent his voice to back Thai country musicians’ complaints about copyright.
Seksan Sukpimai, or “Sek Loso” took a shot at GMM Grammy Group, Thailand’s largest media conglomerate, for introducing a quarter-million baht licensing fee last month for covering songs by their artists. Funny thing is that Sek, who is no stranger to controversy, just happens to be one of those artists.
“Why the @#$% do you [Grammy] want to arrest the fans who support you?” he said, according to a family-friendly translation offered by the Bangkok Post. “You should go arrest those who sell pirated goods, you %$#$@!!!”
He extended his middle finger even further by telling other musicians to “play my songs, nobody dares to make that arrest.”
Sek only recently rejoined the Grammy team after being excoriated in the media for images in which he appeared to be taking drugs. As if it wasn’t something long-haired rock weirdos do.
For THB250,000, bands would be allowed to play Grammy songs 20 times. On Monday, a coalition of country musicians from Isaan and the north announced they would boycott all Grammy music unless the fee was halved. Grammy has responded that they will stick to their policy but are happy to discuss it with musicians who felt it was too high, Bangkok Post reported.
Covering songs by other bands and artists is a big part of the Thai music scene, and most labels allow their songs to be used.
Peter Doolan, who curates selections from his studied devotion of mor lam at Monrakplengthai, said playing covers is a storied tradition in the countryside. Under the new fee system, bands could end up owing the THB250,000 fee after just one show.
“Mor lam acts, especially the crazy popular lam sing, are often hours-long, mega-mix type deals incorporating melodies from dozens of popular songs, interspersed with improvised rhythmic-comedic banter,” he said. “Bands sometimes have a set list and sometimes just pull from whatever they feel in the moment. I’ve heard songs from Grammy, other luk thung labels, J-Lo, Bollywood and The Cranberries in the space of a half hour.”
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