Why the music industry (Warner Bros.) sucks.

Guided By Voices · Post by **Guided By Voices** » 6/8/2004, 2:00 pm

Warner Brothers has decided it would be best for them to completely decimate their record labels, which includes dissolving Elektra records into Atlantic Records. On top of that, they plan on dropping over half of the 170 acts they have under contract.

What does this mean to you?

Well, if you are like me and you like well written music, it means one of the few record labels willing to take chances on indie-powehouse bands is giving up. It's a fucking shame too, because they're dropping all these great bands that they signed because they find them incapable of producing platinum-selling albums.

They've already cut Stereolab from their label, which is one of the best indie bands around. Next up on the chopping block include Green Day, Built To Spill (my personal favorite major-label band), Depeche Mode, New Order, The Deftones, Junior Senior, the Stratford 4, Barenaked Ladies, The Donnas, and The Stills.

The list baffles me, seeing that The Donnas, Barenaked Ladies, Deftones, and Green Day all push out great numbers. Junior Senior has huge numbers, and The Stills are just getting started and have a huge radio song at the moment. New Order and Depeche Mode are legendary bands, and Built To Spill makes the best pop-rock songs since Guided By Voices.

Bands they decided to keep include Metallica (who couldn't even sell 1million copies of St. Anger), Third Eye Blind (who haven't done dick in years), Guster (weak sales), and a band with no future in America, The Darkness.

Record labels disgust me. It makes me glad I didn't take an internship with Warner Brothers, because I couldn't stand what they're doing right now.

hpdfk · Post by **hpdfk** » 6/8/2004, 2:03 pm

Jr Sr suck major balls. I'm glad they're gone.

But I love built to spill. That really sucks. They're the best band on that list.

Henrietta · Post by **Henrietta** » 6/8/2004, 2:05 pm

Wow, that sucks alot. I can't believe some of the bands they're dropping.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 6/8/2004, 2:11 pm

Neither can I. I don't understand why they would drop Green Day from their label when they're in the middle of recording a new album. They probably got scared at the prospect of politcal themes in music. Jackasses.

And the name is back!

hpdfk · Post by **hpdfk** » 6/8/2004, 2:11 pm

Sweeeeet

Did rob forgive ye?

Henrietta · Post by **Henrietta** » 6/8/2004, 2:14 pm

I wish I had enough money to start a label and take in all these bands :lol:

hpdfk · Post by **hpdfk** » 6/8/2004, 2:16 pm

NOT JUNIOR SENIOR :mad:

bad scandinavian pop music=*shudder*

clumsychild_ · Post by **clumsychild_** » 6/8/2004, 2:18 pm

They're dropping The Stills?

Mother of..

:cuss:

That's horrible.

xoNoDoubt69 · Post by **xoNoDoubt69** » 6/8/2004, 3:53 pm

The Superjesus were dropped as well cause of this crap. it does not make me happy :mad:

Waiting to Exist · Post by **Waiting to Exist** » 6/8/2004, 4:29 pm

I like Guster and Third Eye Blind, I'm glad they're staying.

I have to wonder what these record guys are smoking, though.

Green Day and Barenaked Ladies should have no problem finding another label... they're pretty much sure hits.

liam · Post by **liam** » 6/8/2004, 7:28 pm

in a world where boy bands and brittany spears rule this shouldn't be surprising.
I could see if they were cutting bands that don't make shit for records. But Deftones, have extremely die hard fans, they'll find a contract real soon. Green day will find one even faster (and i'm not even a Green Day fan). BNL, come on, even after this last album being a complete waste of time, they'll find another label quick. But still them cutting that many bands is rediculous. I wish i had the money to hold a label and bands and distribute them worldwide. Too bad those who do have the money are too busy keeping dicks in their asses.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 6/8/2004, 8:35 pm

But the fact of the matter is, Guster and Third Eye Blind can't sell albums. Guster has never been a big seller, and 3EB hasn't done shit in years.

WB just sucks at everything. There's no way of getting around this.

lemonphile4 · Post by **lemonphile4** » 6/8/2004, 10:03 pm

Warner used to have some interesting, creative people working at the label. I guess they've all left for better things, and we're all stuck with the dumbasses who haven't bought a CD in 20 years.

I did go to two of Third Eye Blind's shows in November, and both of them were packed. Granted, one was in a small bar in a small town and the other one was in a 1200-capacity place, but there were a lot of people at them singing every word.

I blame a lot of their decline in popularity to the tour manager they used to have, Bobby Schneider. He is such a dick to work with. Venues got so pissed off with him that they don't want 3EB back.

Waiting to Exist · Post by **Waiting to Exist** » 6/8/2004, 10:04 pm

Yeah, I can see your disbelief at them dumping these guys and keeping Guster and 3EB, I'm just saying I'm glad they did

By the way, I'm probably a couple months behind on this, but do you (Rufus Wainright)=Guided by Voices?

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 6/8/2004, 10:13 pm

Yeah, I am. I got my name and post count back because I haven't flamed on anyone's stupid comments yet. :lol:

Post by **faninor** » 6/8/2004, 10:49 pm

Haha, I was going to reply with a laughing face, but I'm on dialup for the summer and your laughing face just hadn't loaded yet. :cry:

joe_canadian · Post by **joe_canadian** » 6/9/2004, 3:31 pm

let's explain this simple math to WB.

fewer acts = fewer new releases = fewer albums for consumers to choose from = less money for you

they're doing this while the cost of cd's is at an all time high, and they wonder why the industry is in a decline.

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 6/9/2004, 4:00 pm

I think Green Day has sold around a million copys of Warning (their last album) and there is a fair amount of hype for American Idiot. It'll probably sell well.

But to be honest, the only good I have ever heard from a record company was when Universal lowered their prices. A record company dropping good bands, isn't exactally ground breaking. Not everyone they sign will become the next Britney, but they are holding out for that.

Anacin02 · Post by **Anacin02** » 6/9/2004, 5:51 pm

Wow. Dropping Depeche Mode, now that's pretty stupid. I've always known record labels make some pretty bad choices, but this is really dumb. Once I grow up and start my own major record label, there will be no more stupid choices.

lemonphile4 · Post by **lemonphile4** » 6/9/2004, 10:02 pm

joe_canadian wrote:fewer acts = fewer new releases = fewer albums for consumers to choose from = less money for you

I think the industry is moving more towards less market share for major labels and more for the indies.