David Gray

As published by the Press Association David Gray joined the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and also  took a post on the board of directors.

Musicians 'unite with one voice'

12 hours ago

Stars from the music world including Robbie Williams, David Gray and KT Tunstall have united to form a lobby group to fight for artists' rights.

The musicians gathered at a central London nightclub for the first meeting of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) launching a campaign to give those in the music industry a single collective voice.

The big names were joined by up and coming acts as they discussed how to campaign for effective laws and regulation and for transparent and fair business practices designed to protect artists' ownership of their products.

Singer Kate Nash said: "It's really positive. A lot of people have signed up. It's been quite an historical day because a bunch of artists from big names to up and coming bands have come together.

"Because of the digital age we as artists need to be coming up with innovative and fresh ideas to use the new technology like Radiohead have because its not going to work the way it used to.

"The music business is run in an analogue way. We need to reshape the industry and we have got to be in the forefront."

The FAC's first board of directors includes Blur drummer, David Rowntree, Soul II Soul's Jazzie B, Billy Bragg, Radiohead, guitarist Ed O'Brien, Kate Nash, Marillion keyboard player Mark Kelly and Master Shortie.

Leaving the meeting, David Gray said that he had also taken a post on the board of directors. He said: "This has been a formative moment as the music business falls apart around us something new is forming."

Travis frontman Fran Healy said: "As money has been drained out of the record business and the record companies have panicked, it has all got very confusing."

He said that it would help policy makers and industry bosses to have a body to negotiate with that represented music artists.

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Thx Rena!

on this link I found another David Gray quote:

Singer-songwriter David Gray added: "Everybody is filled with uncertainty. Record sales are disappearing and we don't know how it is all going to work in the future."

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_349082.html

Some members of the FAC: Billy Bragg, Cate Nash, Ex-Clash Mick Jones ...

I suppose it could be a reason - DG says above the music business is falling apart - so he may be trying out new ideas to get his music out to us. 

I have his cd's as originals so have done my bit. I do not get any music from download sites either free or to pay for. I like having the actual cd - feels more like I have bought and own something.

Good luck to them - if they were not doing their music what would we do?

DG is on the board too - Great choice as DG will not let them do the wrong thing. He has lots of experiance within the music industry - his early tours in USA  - almost giving up - getting the breaks - issues with recording companies and labels - compare his rise with the X factor winners!!

Oh yes, well said Djk.

 So ya got a new pic - nice

Well, Djk, if it's the reason or part of the reason even - I am prepared to wait until the situation is resolved. Would the people who 'download for free' give their services free to the rest of the world. I think not. Then why should musicians. I, too, like to hold the DVD/CD in it's box, called me a Luddite if you like - I don't understand things I can't see. Give me wheels and cogs any day,

Congratulations to DG for being on the board. We are behind you.

The Featured Artist Coalition has a website where you can keep up to date here http://www.featuredartistscoalition.com/index.html

You can sign up to support ot get newsletters but only if you are in the business as you have to give a band/artist name.

 Good luck to them

Sigmad - as an engineer and a "hands on" person I like wheels and cogs as well