Teena Marie's Mention In The Book 'HITMEN'

[Boogiedown]

Just glancing through my copy of the book HITMAN that examines the corruption within the record industry and thought I'd see what of Motown was referenced in it . Not much, but this book was about exploring the industry into the eighties and Motown was a fading player at that point and its dirt had well been played out by then .

There was included this brief mention about Teena Marie , so I thought I'd share:

From HITMAN by Fredric Dannen:

The record industry has long been contentious of artist handlers who dared show independence. The pioneers of the rock business learned that the best defense against being sued by a wised-up artist was to hire his attorney to do corporate legal work. Some labels went one better, in fact, appointing an attorney for the artist, someone completely under the company's control.

The seventies provided some classic horror stories form this scenario. When Teena Marie was signed to Motown in 1976 by founder Berry Gordy, she had no attorney at all. When she asked to take her contract home before signing it, she later testified, a Motown official admonished her: “Don’t you trust us?" Motown assigned as her manager the common-law wife of Berry Gordy's brother.

Result: Two of her albums made an estimated $2 million for Motown, while the label paid her about $100 a week for six and a half years.

[sansradio]

Yes, HIT MEN is essential reading. I've got to read the updated edition. Didn't remember that Teena story. Geez.