The Ledger

Every statement that passed quotation and attribution checks. Mix any filter with any other: certainty 1/5, debate potential 5/5, or both at once.

clear all ✕

why aren't all 5 resolved? a statement only gets an assessment when the public record can support or contradict it. opinions and what-ifs never can, and 0 checkable ones are still open, waiting for their date. predictions held up or didn't; assertions are supported or contradicted. on every card: ▮▮▮▮▮ certainty · ▮▮▮▮▮ debate potential. speakers are clickable

Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jerry Moss refused to offer A&M equity to acquire I.R.S. Records
“Jerry Moss, I wanted to merge with A&M and get shares in A&M. And Jerry Moss had said initially, yes, we'll do that. Then when I went in to finally make the deal, he said, well, we can't give you shares in A&M, but we'll buy IRS. And he quoted a number which w…”
Miles Copeland Dec 26, 2022 ▶ 47:21 I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland
Opinion
Copeland: Escalating talent costs and bidding wars ultimately killed I.R.S. Records
“Yes, that is exactly what happened to IRS records, which meant that the money I had to offer to sign the act had to increase, which meant the risks increased, and I think in the end it finally killed IRS.”
Miles Copeland Dec 26, 2022 ▶ 51:18 I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland
Assertion Supported
Warner Bros. outbid I.R.S. Records' $6 million offer to sign R.E.M.
“Jerry Moss and he says, well, I'll contribute you three million. And I was putting up three million. Anyway, I say to the group, this is what we'll offer. And it ended up between us and Warner Brothers. And then the manager and the lawyer come to me and they s…”
Miles Copeland Dec 26, 2022 ▶ 43:47 I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland
Assertion Contradicted
Copeland: R.E.M. was the only I.R.S. Records act to reach five albums
“Well, I look at IRS records and say, how many acts ever got to five records? Only one. It was REM.”
Miles Copeland Dec 26, 2022 ▶ 1:03:24 I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland
Disclosure
Copeland paid early employee Jay Boberg $100 weekly plus 25 percent equity
“I'm going to pay you a hundred bucks a week, which was a joke. But I'll give you five percent of the record company each year you stay with the company for the first five years. So Jay ended up with 25% of the label.”
Miles Copeland Dec 26, 2022 ▶ 36:12 I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland
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