Stryper band x Stryper reissues by Girder Music and the question about morality in business

Well, all started with this:

https://girdermusic.com/blogs/music-news/stryper-gold-disc

At the first moment, looks like a cool bunch of re-releases, but...

Michael Sweet himself made this following statement:

"So this guy who is supposed to be a friend goes to our old label and buys the rights to release our catalog. 
What’s the problem with that? 

1 - He never came to us to see if this was something we were planning on doing.
2 - We’re releasing a few albums  this year (side projects and a new Stryper album) and he’s over stepping our plans. It’s just something you don’t do, especially if you call yourself a “believer” and a “friend” and it’s unethical. 
3 - He licensed and  “remastered” our albums and we didn’t approve this and we haven’t even heard them. He never spoke to us about it and if he had we would have said “no”. That’s something that the band should have the rights to, not anyone else. It’s our band, our brand and our right. Legally he can do it but it’s just wrong. All it does is hurt us financially. We’re doing our best to survive and when someone does this it just makes it harder for us to survive. 

If you want to support the band and help the band continue on, don’t support people like this. I won’t name names but it isn’t hard to figure out. This guy isn’t helping us, he’s hurting us. All I can ask is that you don’t buy any of these albums and you wait till we (Stryper) release legitimate, official merchandise. Please don’t support other people who are living off of our name and legacy. 

Thank you"

 - - - 

What is your opinion on the matter?

This kind of release is obviously legal, but is it moral? Or is Michael Sweet just overreacting over a minor issue?

That's sounds pretty sleazy to me if true.

I just got the email. I'm with Michael.

A comentary from Scott Waters (he comment this on MS original post):

"I know for a fact they were legally licensed and that Strypers management was contacted about it. It’s not this labels fault that Stryper doesn’t own these releases."

Np one is claiming that anything was illegal.

Legal and ethical are often two completely different things. This is one of those times.

Is it a sin? Sounds like a business move.

It is an unethical business move. I hope everyone who’s preordered will cancel, and that people will boycott these reissues.

Is it a sin?

Luke Easter wrote:It is an unethical business move. I hope everyone who’s preordered will cancel, and that people will boycott these reissues.

Very hard to happen...

If they legally purchased the rights to do this, then there is nothing unethical about it.  Their label owns the rights and saw a way to make a buck off their investment.  Girder paid for permission to do this from who has the rights to the recorded music.  I don't see a problem as this happens all the time.

I won't be buying them, though, as I like what I already have.

Thanks alldat for being level headed.

It’s expensive to get a gold disc version of albums I already have. Maybe just my favorites!

How is this affecting the band financially or interfering with Stryper’s plans because they are releasing other material?

My Awesome Timothy wrote:How is this interfering with Stryper’s plans because they are releasing other material?

Bands/Brands usually try to stagger their similar releases so as not to force the fans to make a choice of one over the other at one point in time.  Staggering allows for the greatest chances that a fan will pick up all releases that are available.

IMO, Mr. Girder should have given Michael a courtesy call in this matter, instead of undercutting him thus.

I adamantly refuse to purchase these unnecessary re-releases, and ask Mr. Girder to refrain from such puerile decisions in the future.

Love how pharisaical people are being about this. Stryker didn't own the rights, Girder bought them from who did. Mike needs to grow a pair.

"Grow a pair"? Who's pharisiacal again?

I'm not the one holding to an unbiblical standard.

Black Rider wrote:I'm not the one holding to an umbilical standard.

Did you intend to say "unbiblical" instead of "umbilical"?  If not, that's hilarious 

Controversy aside, these are easily my 3 least favorite Stryper albums, making these an easy pass for me. Although, I must admit, "God" is an awesome track, but I do not think it needs a remaster.

LexMetalis wrote:A comentary from Scott Waters (he comment this on MS original post):

"I know for a fact they were legally licensed and that Strypers management was contacted about it. It’s not this labels fault that Stryper doesn’t own these releases."

If it is true that Stryper's management was contacted about this, then why would Michael be saying that the band was blindsided?

Something is not right here.  Either the band's management was not actually contacted, or there are severe communication problems between band and management and Michael should address that immediately.

Girder didn’t do anything wrong. He has a business and bought the rights. 

This is basically just sour grapes from Michael and Stryper because it potentially could take away the spotlight or confuse (some fans) with their upcoming new release. But why would a Stryper fan buy a overpriced remaster over a brand new album? I wouldn’t!

If you really boil it down, Michael is essentially claiming here that it’s immoral/unethical to release a product that he has no legal ownership of unless it’s with his permission and to his financial benefit. The way he put quotes around “believer” could even be interpreted as questioning the salvation of someone who apparently doesn’t agree with him on that point. While I understand that it could be frustrating for an artist to not own their back catalogue, this is a pretty extreme position that I find hard to justify.

Black Rider wrote:I'm not the one holding to an umbilical standard.

Thankfully, the obstetrician cut that for me when I popped out. 

It’s not a great image.