Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia [Hardcover]

William Knoedelseder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993

An expose+a7 of the role of organized crime in the music industry focuses on MCA Records, a powerful corporation with ties to the Mob and political influence to spare. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though former Los Angeles Times reporter Knoedelseder has dug up much dirt, his fast-paced tale of music industry nefariousness suffers from convoluted detail. In 1984 a minor tax investigation sics Justice Department attorney Marvin Rudnick on Sal Pisello, a reputed mobster who had planted himself inside MCA Records managing sales of budget "cutout" discs. The story eventually involves strange upheavals inside MCA, a counterfeiting ring, a corrupt cutout dealer who turns on the Mafia, and a band of dishonest record promoters. As Rudnick probes deeper, he faces threats from MCA and odd pressure from his superiors. Knoedelseder suggests that a greater scandal has been missed because the Justice Department, under Attorney General Ed Meese, backed off from making a deeper inquiry into mob involvement in the record industry. Knoedelseder's effort to weave together several court cases, competing investigations and a large cast of characters makes for a confusing narrative. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This fascinating look at the underbelly of the music business by a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times will confirm any pessimist's worst suspicion of what lies beneath the glitter and glitz. The complicated story revolves around the ability of organized crime to get a proverbial "foot in the door" at one of the world's largest entertainment corporations during the 1980s. Presenting a large array of bad folks (and a few good ones) seemingly right out of Central Casting, plus the industry's usual copious quantities of sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll, this gripping report is fraught with twists and turns. The book combines a detective story, a plausible account of record industry business practices (in the days prior to the compact disc explosion), and vibrant, memorable characters, all of which make it more interesting than anything a talented fiction writer could devise. Highly recommended.
- David M. Tur kalo, Social Law Lib., Boston
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st edition (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060167459
• ISBN-13: 978-0060167455
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,285,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why the music business can be hazardous to your health..., August 10, 2001

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia (Hardcover)

The sordid story of how MCA Records got "mobbed up" during music biz mogul Irving Azoff's tenure as company president. Knoedelseder starts off with a powerful narrative, but as it shifts from an industry expose into a Mafia fetish, and then into a trial book, it starts to drag. Still, the first third tells you a lot about the underside of the record business economy, in particular, how "cutout" records and counterfeits get into the stores. After that, you'll learn that mafia strongmen and government prosecutors can both be bad for your health and livelihood, lessons which are always good to keep in mind, even though they're almost self-apparent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stench of Corruption Leads To Reagan's Justice Department, April 3, 2004

By 

Paul Tattaglia (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia (Hardcover)

Knoedelseder's "Stiffed" is the definitive book on Record/Movie Industry politics. The book reads like a mystery novel, but is all true. The book centers around a bunch of "cutouts," these are records that did not sell due to over supply and were returned to the record company. Cutouts are usually sold to a second party at a steep discount and end up on the
shelves of Walmart for $2.99. The artist does not receive any money, no royalties
whatsoever on these items.

"Stiffed" tells the story how millions of "cutouts" were sold, by way of mafia henchmen
working out of the offices of MCA records in Universal City, California. This is a story
of "follow the money." And a story of how Reagan's Justice department interfered in the
process of trying to prosecute MCA record executives.

At one point in the book, a prosecuting attorney wonders if he is stepping on the toes
of some strange alliance of some sort of MCA/Mafia/CIA/Iran Contra connection as
Reagan's Justice department puts the kibosh on his investigation.

Every student of politics should have this book as a reference book. You will see how
"spin control" is really worked in government, and in a powerful corporation.

I recommend this book highly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scary book if you've met the people., December 20, 2006

By 

Kendra - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia (Paperback)

Having known some of the people mentioned in this book it makes me want to get out of the industry, or at least go it on my own. At least now in the digital age that is possible. Hopefully the industry has been cleaned up, but I know a lot of it still goes on.