Short Takes: Jesus and Mary Chain Error Addressed, Meat Loaf Catalogue Could Be in Doubt

A few brief notes from around the catalogue world on this Tuesday afternoon!

• Slicing Up Eyeballs reports that the deluxe edition of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Darklands has an error on one disc, but Demon Music Group is ready to replace your copies. A mastering error caused eight tracks on the first CD to become improperly indexed, meaning the starts of those tracks will be cut off if you shuffle or skip through the program. Replacement discs are already being pressed and should be ready in two weeks; interested parties should e-mail info@demonmusicgroup.co.uk with the subject “Replacement Darklands Disc.”
• Sony Music could lose their longtime distribution rights to several Meat Loaf albums, depending on the outcome of a new lawsuit. Billboard reports the estate of Stephen Popovitch, founder of Meat Loaf’s onetime label Cleveland International Records, is suing Sony for unpaid royalties, at least $3 million in total. The estate alleges that Sony’s actions have led to their forfeiture of distribution rights on the singer’s Cleveland International discography, including the landmark Bat Out of Hell, Dead Ringer, Midnight at the Lost and Found and the Hits Out of Hell compilation. The suit, filed Wednesday, is the third of its kind between Cleveland International and Sony, following court actions in 1998 and 2002.