Rambling Notes, July 8, 2020
(by Bill Glahn)
Anyone with a brain and a sense of racial inequity knew what Lady Antebellum was and what their name represented. When it was feasible, the group of no-talent, pop/country schlock artists chose a name that sat well with the more conservative (and racist) Nashville music production line and the fans of that particular brand of country music. And they stuck with that name until the massive Black Lives Matter protests of this year, whereupon they decided on the more politically correct name of Lady A.
One problem, as any capable music attorney could discover with a simple one minute Google search: there was a performer who had already released 4 albums under that name dating back to 2010. I’m sure Lady Antebellum has capable attorneys. I’m positive they checked.
Are Lady Antebellum racists? Well, sure they are. How could any band that would take a name that glorifies the traditions of the old south and slavery not be? And continue to do so for 15 years. Do they believe in white supremacy? Read on and draw your own conclusions.
Does Lady Antebellum have clout? A quick check of Wikipedia now lists them as Lady A. Yes, they have clout. Star power gives you that. How you use it determines what kind of human you are. They can call themselves Lady A if they want to. That’s a question for the courts. I’m still calling them Lady Antebellum.
The courts you say?
The real Lady A (Anita White) played in the Motown group, Lady A and the Baby Blues Funk Band for 18 years before going solo under the name Lady A in 2010. I don’t know if she ever filed a trademark for that name. But, for certain, there is an implied one. The ticklish problem for Lady Antebellum are the four copyrighted albums by Lady A that establish that.
George Floyd is dead. Let the negotiations begin.
Lady Antebellum approaches with the tried and true music industry approach of the rule of gold. Those with the gold rule. Anita White supplements her musical career with a job at the Seattle Public Works. To Lady Antebellum, a 4-time Grammy nominee (1 time winner) with multiple platinum and gold record awards, Lady A was just another struggling black woman to be trounced. They didn’t even bother to notify her of their new trademark.
Another problem for Lady Antebellum: Lady A is not only a performer, she is a performer with a sense of activism when it come to Black lives. According to Wikipedia: “Her own music's subject matter has included racial activism such as about the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the killing of George Floyd.”
Lady Antebellum feigned innocence. It was just an innocent mistake, they claimed, while refusing to relinquish their new trademark. They approached White, who was willing to co-exist as Lady A. But when Lady Antebellum sent the contracts, it contained a different solution. As stated by Lady A to Pitchfork, "Their camp is trying to erase me ... and I no longer trust them.” Lady Antebellum sued.
It’s not like Lady Antebellum’s name hasn’t been the subject of controversy for over a decade. They chose to ignore those criticisms. It’s too late now. I suggest another name change where they can retain their identity: New Antebellum. Or maybe The Daughters of the Confederacy. Oh, yeah. That one is taken too.
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