Teleprompt Records
Encyclopedia
Teleprompt Records LLC is an independent record label
that was formed in 2003
by producer Tedd T
, keyboardist and Mutemath vocalists Paul Meany
, and lawyer/manager Kevin Kookogey. The label was forged with the sole intention of promoting and distributing music for Meany's start up project Mutemath. The small label is based in Franklin, Tennessee
and has an exclusive distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records
. New Orleans rock outfit Mutemath remains the only artist on their roster.
in litigation involving the marketing and distribution of Mutemath as a Warner artist. Teleprompt claimed that the marketing of Mutemath as a "Christian" band on WB's Word Records
constituted breach of contract and negligent mis-representation. Meany and Kookogey both made public statements regarding the action via various media outlets including MTV
and Billboard
, the latter of which ran a cover story on the incident. Warner never made a public statement. Meany's version of the story claims that they had an agreement to be represented by the mainstream Warner label from the beginning and that WBR was continuously refusing to honor their end of the bargain. When the two parties entered litigation, all the rights to Mutemath's previously released work on Reset EP remained with Warner and the group opted to release their debut LP on their own without any previously recorded material to avoid more conflict. The suit was settled out of court as of August 10, 2006 with a newly forged contract and exclusive distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records who re-released the group's LP on WBR in September 2006.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
that was formed in 2003
2003 in music
-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
by producer Tedd T
Tedd T
Tedd T., born Tedd Andrew Tjornhom , is a Grammy Award–winning music producer, songwriter, arranger, programmer, and engineer. He also launched the independent record label Teleprompt Records in 2003 as a joint venture with Word / Warner Music Group. His interest in the music industry began in his...
, keyboardist and Mutemath vocalists Paul Meany
Paul Meany
Paul Meany is the lead singer and keyboardist for the band Mutemath. He is also one of the co-founders of Franklin, TN based independent label Teleprompt Records...
, and lawyer/manager Kevin Kookogey. The label was forged with the sole intention of promoting and distributing music for Meany's start up project Mutemath. The small label is based in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
and has an exclusive distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. New Orleans rock outfit Mutemath remains the only artist on their roster.
Controversy
In mid 2005, Teleprompt Records engaged Warner Music GroupWarner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
in litigation involving the marketing and distribution of Mutemath as a Warner artist. Teleprompt claimed that the marketing of Mutemath as a "Christian" band on WB's Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
constituted breach of contract and negligent mis-representation. Meany and Kookogey both made public statements regarding the action via various media outlets including MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the latter of which ran a cover story on the incident. Warner never made a public statement. Meany's version of the story claims that they had an agreement to be represented by the mainstream Warner label from the beginning and that WBR was continuously refusing to honor their end of the bargain. When the two parties entered litigation, all the rights to Mutemath's previously released work on Reset EP remained with Warner and the group opted to release their debut LP on their own without any previously recorded material to avoid more conflict. The suit was settled out of court as of August 10, 2006 with a newly forged contract and exclusive distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records who re-released the group's LP on WBR in September 2006.