Recording industry’s loss is BGSU’s gain

BGSU’s Sound Recordings Archives will be receiving a windfall of 277 compact discs in July, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The recordings are part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought against major record producers.

The companies were found to have conspired to illegally raise the prices of compact discs, cassettes and vinyl albums by implementing minimum advertised price policies in violation of state and federal laws.

The attorneys general of 43 states brought the antitrust suit, which resulted in cash and noncash settlements, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s office. As a result, in Ohio, public schools, libraries and 13 state colleges and universities will be receiving more than 222,000 compact discs, allocated by school enrollment and library circulation.

According to the attorney general’s office, 10 genres of music were identified, and four were chosen for distribution to colleges and libraries. BGSU will receive selections from blues, classical, roots and jazz, after the proposed list from the record companies is approved by the antitrust division of the AG’s office.

“We’re happy to hear that, because we have plenty of the other kinds,” said Bill Schurk, director of the archives.