The controversial Courtney Love proclaimed that a union for musicians would soon become a reality, during her remarks at the SxSW Music Conference last week in Austin, Texas. 

Love made her comments while being interviewed by LA Times writer Chuck Phillips during a Q&A session at the annual music conference.  Various reports have Love rambling along with antidotes and stories about her long fought battle with the music industry, namely with the label giant Universal Music Group, which owns Geffen Records, the label Love�s group Hole has had a turbulent relationship with including litigation between the outspoken Love and the label.

Love predicts that artists will soon form a union to go up against the major record labels. She also prophesied the death of the record industry as we know it, �the music industry is utterly failing and within three years it will have failed". To date Love has spent a reported 2.4 million in legal fees associated with her ongoing legal issues including her battle with Universal as well as the widely reported battle with the former members of her late husband, Kurt Cobain�s group Nirvana. Love told attendees that other major figures in the industry will step up to the plate and aid her in her fight against the industry, �I've talked to Springsteen. Elton John has offered to pay my legal fees. They will step up." Love said after proclaiming, �I will not be martyred!� 

Love also touched upon the recent activities of the Recording Artists Coalition (RAC), a group of musicians lead by the Eagles Don Henley, who recently staged a series of pre-Grammy benefit concerts to raise money for their lobbying efforts to have California laws amended to be more favorable to recording artists. Love�s says that widely popular artists like Bruce Springsteen and U2 will soon join her movement. 

Speaking about U2 during her remarks, according to Allstar News, Love told a story about how the popular Irish rockers management had to convince Universal/Interscope to put some muscle and money behind promoting the group�s latest chart topping album �All That You Can't Leave Behind�. Love told attendees, �They didn't want to spend more than 70 cents a record. The U2 record was going to cost two to three dollars to market; every upper level artist is going to cost that. The band's manager went into the office and got a president into a headlock ... maybe someone was dipped out the window.� Love is reported to have told the audience. ��I don't know what happened, but that day something changed. It takes money to make money if you're a mid-to-high level career artist or a baby band. End of story. If it weren't for this guy sticking up for his band, �All That You Can't Leave Behind� could've been a flop." 

So that is the latest in the continuing adventures of Courtney Love vs. the Music Industry, there is sure to be more developments on this battle in the months and perhaps years to come. In the meantime, Love told those in attendance that she is working on material for a new album and is close to inking a new record deal for the US and European markets. Whichever label decides to sign Love would be advised to make �legal fees� a recoupable expense in the new contract. 
 

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