Legendary sing/songwriter Anita Baker took to Twitter last week to ask her fans to stop purchasing and streaming her music as she battles with her label for ownership rights of her masters.
Baker posted that she has outlived all her artist contracts. She went on to say that the record label no longer owns her name or likeness, and, by law, her 30-year-old masters should be returned to her.
She is referencing something called a copyright reversion, also known as the “35–year law.”
The law permits authors to reclaim their copyrights 35 years after transferring rights for purposes of publication.
The music legend says the time is up and she is urging her fans to avoid her music until she can regain her copyrights.
Check out her tweets below:
🎁Miraculously… i have out-lived *ALL, of my Artists Contracts🎈 They no longer “Own”, My Name & Likeness. And, by Law…30 yr old, Mstrs are 2B Returned, 2 Me🎼 Unfortunately, They’re gonna make me Fight 4 it. I’m Prepared, 2 do that. Please Dont advertise/buy them ABXO🎈💓 pic.twitter.com/PXe9xzsJK0
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) March 9, 2021
Hello Sweetheart🎈 Thank You 4 Sending Me, 🎁Your Love. But, let’s not Advertise *Spotify Streaming, which is, a Publicly Traded Company, with a 50 Million$ Valuation… but doesnt pay Artists/Creators what their Worth.
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) March 9, 2021
ABXO💓 https://t.co/74vGjm00GY
Love, HugZ & Convo, Always Welcome🎈🍷on Our TL… I Am Just, No longer 💥Free Advertising, for the 🎼Theives in The Temple. #JoyRising🎈 pic.twitter.com/UjXVU19Tf5
— Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) March 9, 2021
