What did you want, them standing in front of her? She's the one who has to get on the stage and sing the songs and entertain the crowd, why wouldn't she give the speeches? Get a grip.

And I'm talking about a deal brokered in 1991 and as I was a journalist and interviewed the guys when they were offered the deal, I know exactly what I am talking about and what was being put on the table for them.

They were offered a recording contract but were told, quite clearly, that Island would also wish to use their songs to be recorded and released by other artists on the label at that time and not necessarily by the band themselves. They couldn't promise them any record releases although they were being offered a recording contract. That's why they turned it down.

Island Records was not part of UMG in 1991 and published under its own branding as Island Music as well as using RCA (and other major labels) for distribution and marketing. It was sold to PolyGram in 1989 and didn't become part of UMG until 1999.

Please don't assume that because something is how it is now, that it was the same at the time I was talking about. You chose to disregard the information I gave you because you thought you knew better and all but accused me of lying.

I was like that at first, but when you see the interviews you know how much she contributes.

I never accused you of lying. I accused your friends of lying.
This information is all very good but it doesn't change the fact that island records are and were a record company and not a publishing company.
Any songwriter would have their songs registered with a publishing company and the publishing company would determine which songs were used where.
This is not trying to start a fight this is simply how the industry works. A publishing company owns the copywrite of the songs, not the record company.

Where have I said anything about copyright? The boys would have retained copyright, but the songs would have been published under the Island Records label. And Island Records were not only a record label, they published as well under their own label and under the Island Music label, which I have already said.

I'm not sure why you feel the need to constantly tell me what the record industry DOES. I'm not talking about what happens now, I'm talking about what happened in 1991. I saw the recording contract being offered them by Island Records and it was exactly as I have said.
They would be signed to Island Records which would produce and publish their music (it was a two album deal originally) however they also wanted to use the lads' songs for other artists on their label to release.

You seem to be talking about who retains ownership and copyright of the material which is something I've not even mentioned.