Swedish newspapers threaten to boycott Britney’s gig over restrictions
By ANISaturday, July 11, 2009
LONDON - Swedish newspapers have reportedly threatened to boycott pop princess Britney Spear’s concerts in Stockholm, if restrictions imposed on the press are not scrapped.
The country’s top four dailies-Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, Expressen and Aftonbladet-have said that they will not send their photographers to the show if certain conditions on how the images can be used are amended.
The current contract reportedly disallows newspapers from publishing pictures from the show that the concert’s organizers deem unflattering.
At the same time, if any picture is apparently favorable, the contract says that Spears’ manager be given ownership rights to it.
It also bars the papers from reselling the pictures, and publishing them more than 30 days after the concert.
Swedish media believe that the demands are ridiculous.
“The next step would be to tell critics they can’t write anything critical,” the Telegraph quoted Roger Turesson, the photo editor for Dagens Nyheter, as saying.
However, local representatives of Spears’ record label Sony BMG have refused to answer phone calls seeking comment.
The event in the Swedish Capital is scheduled for July 13. (ANI)
