Lee B has definitely hit the nail on the head (for any n00bs who don't know: Lee_B is Lee Barrett, the guy who used to run Candlelight Records and the guy who signed Opeth in the first place). I'm going to take a pop at a few points in this thread that I feel the need to respond to
Having a band like Nickelback just brings in more money for the label to spend on other bands...it's a good thing.
Yup, I said the exact same thing about Music For Nations. If having Sugarcoma doing god-awful 'metal' versions of Britney Spears songs allowed Opeth to do Deliverance & Damnation at the same time, then bring it on.
even if the album isn't changed by this, the touring most definitely will. That's very important to me.
Incorrect. The label doesn't determine who with or where Opeth plays (that's the booking agents and promoters), and there's no rule that says you have to tour with people on the same label. Porcupine Tree anyone? They're signed to Lava/Atlantic, and Opeth weren't/aren't. Labels generally have fuck all to do with touring (besides the issue of financial tour support, but that only comes into play if a band is making a financial loss on tour).
Keep in mind now, Mike's got a baby daughter and a wife so it's not only about him anymore. The man's got to be a provider and think about the best choice for the family.
Word. Gotta keep little Melinda in nappies.
One thing that slightly amuses me is the general mindset that signing with Roadrunner would be some sort of major-label sell-out job. Uhh, Music For Nations was an imprint of BMG/Zomba, which, in terms of size and power, is probably the music industry equivalent of the fuckin' Death Star. Opeth signing with RR is, in comparative terms, like joining the Rebel Alliance or something (would that make Lee_B Obi-Wan Kenobi? I'm taking this Star Wars thing too far, aren't I?).
'Sides, Mike's said himself that he sucks at the whole 'industry' side of music. But he's not stupid enough to get smoke blown up his arse by any forked-tounged A&R asshats telling him 'We need a radio tune. We want to reach out to the teen demographic. Could you try rapping? Do you want a hit of this?'
Opeth did what Opeth wanted to do in terms of musical direction on MFN, and I'm sure the situation will be the same at whatever label they wind up on, Roadrunner or otherwise.