Interesting new twist RE:RIAA

[eaeolian]

Best quote from the article Jim linked:

On an important animal rights note, too many of us now refer to record label A&R people as "weasels." That's not really fair to weasels. Let's be nice to weasels and not give them such a bad rap by associating them with the lowest form of life on the planet.

 

[BlackRoseMetalHeart]

Also, do a search and find someone using Wikipedia as a source on this thread. Perhaps I am blind, but so far nobody has used it.

No to be a party pooper, but this was recently posted before your above comment:

Roadrunner records is NOT an indie. It is a label of Warner Music Group which is one of the "Big 4" labels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrunner_records

... although I haven't seen a vast abundance of referrals to Wikipedia throughout this thread.

 

[...AndTimeBegan]

No to be a party pooper, but this was recently posted before your above comment:

... although I haven't seen a vast abundance of referrals to Wikipedia throughout this thread.

I missed that . However, it's common knowledge that RR is now owned by Warner. This is a non-disputable fact source or not.

arner Music Group Corp. today (Jan. 29) announced the completion of its acquisition of 73.5 percent of Amsterdam-based Roadrunner Music Group B.V., which includes Roadrunner Records, one of the leading hard rock and heavy metal labels.

The Roadrunner acquisition was originally announced on December 18, 2006. The transaction was subject to regulatory approval in Germany, which has now been obtained.

Roadrunner will operate as a freestanding label group within WMG's Atlantic Records Group. Roadrunner Managing Director Cees Wessels continues to run the company he founded.

Lyor Cohen, WMG's Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music, said in a previous press release, "Very rarely do you find a record company with such a longstanding reputation and distinct viewpoint that its very name rises to the level of true brand. Roadrunner, from its strong artist roster to its deep catalog and first-rate creative team, embodies the hard rock aesthetic to its core. Cees and I shared great success when we brought Roadrunner into the IDJ family in 2001, so naturally I'm thrilled today to welcome Cees and his team to Warner Music Group. We look forward to building upon Roadrunner's 25 years of success together."

Initially founded in the Netherlands in 1980, Roadrunner Records has earned its place as one of the most prominent international independent record labels. The Roadrunner catalog boasts early releases from such seminal artists as KING DIAMOND, TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEPULTURA and ANNIHILATOR. More recently, the label has experienced unprecedented success with multi-platinum artists NICKELBACK and SLIPKNOT, gold-certified STONE SOUR and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, as well as modern heavy hitters BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, TRIVIUM and MACHINE HEAD. Though primarily known as a metal and hard rock label, Roadrunner's roster also includes acts such as THE DRESDEN DOLLS and newcomers MADINA LAKE.

Roadrunner has been at the forefront of the hard music genre for more than 25 years, a genre that has outpaced the overall U.S. industry. According to NPD MusicWatch, hard rock/heavy metal has experienced the greatest increase in market share of any subgenres of rock in 2006 over the prior year.

In four of the last five years, Roadrunner has had at least one of the five top-selling hard music acts in the U.S. with releases from NICKELBACK. With the acquisition of Roadrunner, WMG has the top three labels in hard music based on 2006 SoundScan figures: Warner Bros. at No. 1; Atlantic at No. 2; and Roadrunner at No. 3.

Still headquartered in the Netherlands, Roadrunner occupies offices in New York, now the A&R hub for the label, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and Australia.

 

[The Fiddler]

FYI Fiddler, Death only released one album with Roadrunner and then signed to Nuclear Blast before Chuck passed. Don't use them as an example.

And I didn't say SPV was a major label.

Where did I say that you did?

Thanks for the clarification on Death. They did do just one record ("Symbolic") with Roadrunner. Odd that Roadrunner is still promoting that CD on their website.

 

[...AndTimeBegan]

Thanks for the clarification on Death. They did do just one record ("Symbolic") with Roadrunner. Odd that Roadrunner is still promoting that CD on their website.

They're not "promoting" it, they just keep profiles up for all their bands past and present. (every label does this for the most part) Hell, there are profiles up there on Roadrunner for Infernal Majesty and Cynic. I highly doubt Roadrunner wants or needs to "promote" the releases (or release, in Cynic's case) from those bands. There's a huge difference between promoting an album, and adding a shitty little page with barely any information on it for a past artist. Chuck hated working with Roadrunner and was glad to be away from them when Death signed to Nuclear Blast.

 

[The Fiddler]

FYI Fiddler, Death only released one album with Roadrunner and then signed to Nuclear Blast before Chuck passed. Don't use them as an example.

And I didn't say SPV was a major label.

Where did I say that you did?

 

[nailz]

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2007/12/riaa-files-supplemental-brief-in.html?

Illegal to rip cds to your computer now. Where does the rediculiousness end?

 

[Cheiron]

It's an intentional deception (aka outright lie) designed to disassociate bands from "the underground" from the corporate stigma.

A nice essay on how "fake indies" work (from 1993 or so?): http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/howthegameworks.html

My dismantling of Sounds of the Underground from a couple years back: http://www.lotfp.com/content.php?editorialid=47

At this point there's a bigger reason. And that has to do with the payola settlement.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9521092


Most 'indie' lables that will get radio time are owned by major labels. Now do you see why Nickleback is on every fucking rock, rock alternative, adult alternative, radio station?

But I agree. If you are owned by a major label, you are a major label subsidiary, and you cannot call yourself independent. That is, unless you somehow feel that the major label is not watching over you and your financial books. In that case, you should just state that your label is full of idiots.

 

[rockyracoon]

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2007/12/riaa-files-supplemental-brief-in.html?

Illegal to rip cds to your computer now. Where does the rediculiousness end?

If that's the case, I will gladly continue to break the law. What kind of fool would adhere to this type of shit?

 

[Photino Decay]

But I agree. If you are owned by a major label, you are a major label subsidiary, and you cannot call yourself independent. That is, unless you somehow feel that the major label is not watching over you and your financial books. In that case, you should just state that your label is full of idiots.

Although RR does still carry more of an independent spirit (and definitely a leaner staff, from what I've seen) than any of the more traditional "major label" brands.