Owing to a not-entirely-clear European Union ruling stating that artists must “use or lose” (i.e. officially issue) sound recordings within 50 years of their creation. If they do not, the recordings then go into public domain and become fair game for anyone to release legally without compensating the creator, according to Variety.
The practice began to gain steam around 10 years ago, as early recordings by Bob Dylan, Motown Records, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others reached the half-century mark, but because the material wasn’t previously considered strong enough for official release even as an archival item, the artists usually bury them in limited-edition CD collections or brief streaming availability.
Pink Floyd are among the most savvy artists when it comes to the value of their catalog, and two years ago they began essentially repossessing bootleg recordings of concerts from their early career by posting them on streaming services for a few weeks — thus officially releasing them — before taking them down.
Right on schedule, about a month ago, they released another 18 about-to-expire concert recordings on streaming services.
Live at Kiel Opera House, St Louis, USA, 6 March 1973
Live at Chicago International Amphitheatre, USA, 7 March 1973
Live at University of Cincinnati, USA, 8 March 1973
Live at Kent State University, USA, 10 March 1973
Live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada, 11 March 1973
Live at Boston Music Hall, YSA, 14 March 1973
Live at Radio City Music Hall, NYC, USA, 17 March 1973
Live at Earls Court, London, UK, 18 May 1973
Live at Earls Court, London, UK, 19 May 1973
Live at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, USA, 17 June 1973
Live at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, USA, 18 June 1973
Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, USA, 20 June 1973
Live at Sportatorium, Hollywood, USA, 28 June 1973
Live at Tampa Stadium, USA, 29 June 1973
Live at Munich Olympiahalle, Germany, 12 October 1973
Live at Vienna Stadthalle, Austria, 13 October 1973
Live at The Rainbow Theatre, Early Show, London, UK, 4 November 1974
Live at The Rainbow Theatre, Late Show, London, UK, 4 November 1974
On Dec. 8 Pink Floyd released an expanded, "Special Edition" of their 1970 album Atom Heart Mother.
Pink Floyd’s psychedelic art rock made Atom Heart Mother their first No. 1
Atom Heart Mother, which was released on Oct. 2, 1970, included collaborations with a brass section and choir, paired with one of their most bizarre improvisational moments.
The original album will be accompanied by footage from the band's first concert in Japan from 1971.
The video footage - which will be included on Blu-ray - comes from Pink Floyd's appearance at Japan's Hakone Aphrodite Festival in August 1971. The clips were first included in Pink Floyd's 2016 box set The Early Years.
Atom Heart Mother will include a two-disc package with a 7-inch gatefold sleeve, containing the album on CD and a Blu-ray. The video has been upgraded from a recently discovered tape. There is also a behind-the-scenes mini-documentary included in the set.
