WHEN THE RECORD INDUSTRY FALTERS, TURN TO DRUG DEALING

There are a number of ways record labels are attempting to combat sinking profits from an outdated business model: some have chosen to sue illegal downloaders, some have chosen to launch personal attacks at vocal bloggers, and some have even decided to look to the future by embracing new technology (!). Others simply turn to national cocaine distribution.

According to the Smoking Gun [via Metal Insider], members of a narcotics ring that sent large amounts of cocaine and cash back and forth across the U.S. in music “road cases” arranged pickups and deliveries at the offices of Interscope Records:

Department of Justice prosecutors this week provided defense lawyers with shipping records detailing “pickups and deliveries” made at Interscope’s Los Angeles office by a cargo firm that was used to transport the music cases, which were alternately stuffed with kilos of cocaine and upwards of $1 million in cash.

A year-long Drug Enforcement Administration investigation has resulted in the indictment of James Rosemond on 18 felony charges, which could result in a sentence of life in prison for the 46-year-old rap music manager.

To be fair, there’s no evidence pointing directly to any Interscope employees — Rosemond is (was?) a manager who handles the rapper The Game, who is signed to Interscope, among others — but I can’t imagine that no one at Interscope knew what was going on. I guess that’s one way to combat music piracy.

-VN