Red Bull to Launch Record Label, Anything is Possible (100 Million Deal), and The New Frenzy!
Posted April 1, 2008 — in Music News
Slash Talks Music Shop: Slash, the GNR and Velvet Revolver guitarist said it was sad that that were “no identifiable guitar players in rock ’n’ roll any more.” “With the exception of Jack White – who is great – the new breed of bands aren’t bringing out decent guitarists,” he said. “Rock ’n’ roll is so diluted in this millennium, you just don’t hear good solos. And I hate Emo.”
The New Frenzy: Every couple of years there seems to be a new teen act that spreads like a wild fire. At least the kids moved past Britney and Christina. The new disease inflicting the teens is called Jona-Sitis. LiveNation.com announced today that 1.45 million unique visitors accessed the site for Jonas Brothers information and tickets last week, setting a new record for a single artist on the website. Jonas Brothers fans shattered any previous record for unique visitors for a single artist on LiveNation.com.
Tesco puts squeeze on music industry: Tesco which sells about 13% of all albums in Britain is trying to slash the amount it pays them for CDs sold in its stores. Music heads fear that the move would make it uneconomic for record companies to supply the supermarket and they might be forced to cut ties and turn elsewhere for distribution.
Red Bull Looking to Launch Record Label: It looks like the energy drink will follow Starbucks lead and get into the recorded music business. According to the NY Post, Red Bull’s music endeavors, which include sinking millions of dollars into a recently constructed recording studio in Santa Monica, Calif., are all part of the company’s plans to launch a branded record label by year’s end.
Anything is Possible - Leona Lewis Scores a 100 Million Deal: Lewis struck gold with Bleeding Love, her debut single over the pond, which has now topped the charts in more than 20 countries. A Forbes spokesman said: “It looks like Leona’s heading straight to the top of the financial chart as well. Also, the public has been waiting for a new female star and it looks like Leona Lewis is going to take on the job. The Daily Star says she will be rewarded with a mind-blowing album and live performance deal worth £50million.
Sources close to Clive Davis, boss of J Records – Leona’s label in America – say he is “thrilled” to tear up the £4.5million, five-album agreement she signed last year.
Recommended Listening: Out of My Mind by Cavashawn
Rock ’n’ roll is so diluted in this millennium, you just don’t hear good solos.and if you do, “solo’s your called 80’s.real music is “backseat” to “fashion and weak ass singers.
Comment by larry anderson — April 1, 2008 @ 11:50 am
Cavashawn isn’t bad. They’re definitely working Maroon 5’s territory, but at least that’s still fairly fresh groud — much more so than the whiny, over-produced pop punk field.
Comment by Jalan — April 1, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Are labels still giving 100 Million Dollars deals in this current enviroment???? Wow.. evidently! I’m happy for the artists no doubt… but I think the labels are going to be sorry for this one….
Comment by Universal Indie Records — April 1, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Labels don’t typically give out 100 million dollars because superstars aren’t typical. If superstars popped up more regularly then you would see more money being handed out.
I personally would bet on Lewis. She deserves to be in a mega deal— she has an amazing voice, great songs, and a compelling image.
It’s not like you can pick up the phone or go to your local club and find an artist then could stand next to Keys, Carey, Houston, and Dione. People are starving for good music and a great live show, it looks like Lewis is going to take some people out for dinner.
Anything is possible…
Comment by koar — April 1, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
“It’s not like you can pick up the phone or go to your local club and find an artist then could stand next to Keys, Carey, Houston, and Dione. People are starving for good music and a great live show, it looks like Lewis is going to take some people out for dinner.”
Very true indeed. But in the scope of today’s market do you think that’s a wise decision? Artists are doing the numbers they used too, although Key’s did just do double platinum. Maybe there is something to this. But $100 Million????
I’ve never heard her music or seen her live show, but you have my interest piqued now…
I’m going to have to check her out….
Comment by Universal Indie Records — April 1, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Wow.. 100 Mill eh. well she sure does have quite the buzz about her.. I think it’s great.. we need some kind of superstar nowadays… but the biggest shocker to me was.. that Labels even have 100 Mill to play around with anymore?
Comment by RG — April 1, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
I don’t understand this… Clive is ripping up a multi-album contract? To give her more money? To get her into a 360 deal? Or what? Someone’s going to have to explain this to me.
No question the single is absolutely fantastic, but what’s the shelf life on this kind of artist these days? Mariah is on & off, Whitney is off the deep end, Britney is certifiable, Amy Whinehouse is already a wreck… without Jay Z & Jordan Bratman, I wonder if Beyonce & Christina would still be sane. These careers get shorter & shorter as the demands get higher & higher… seems like an awful lot to invest in this day of age. Here’s hoping there’s someone around to keep an eye on her.
Comment by Jon Cole — April 2, 2008 @ 12:08 am
Kelly Clarkson brought RCA/BMG over 100 million from her ‘Breakaway’ album alone. Then she turned down Clive’s 10 million offer to change 4-5 songs on her ‘My December’ album (which he wanted to include a Lindsey Lohan released song). That’s artist integrity. Her self pinned ‘My December’ has passed 1.6 million worldwide.
Comment by Mark — April 2, 2008 @ 5:34 am
kelly hasn’t got artist integrity, it’s artist ego - and 1.6 million is waaay lower than breakaway sold — she won a big karaoke contest not a songwriting one
Comment by barrym — April 2, 2008 @ 6:43 am
Kelly won ASCAP Song of the Year for “Because of You” Here’s an interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91fKRcqxQkA
Comment by Mark — April 2, 2008 @ 7:10 am
BECAUSE OF YOU (Title Code: 321495754)
CLARKSON KELLY BRIANNE
HODGES DAVID
MOODY BEN
She had some help from two BMI affiliated songwriters.
Comment by × — April 2, 2008 @ 10:08 am
More label idiocy. Here’s an idea: stop digging yourself into a hole by giving artists an obscene amount of money upfront and instead give them a fair share of their catalog sales, licensing, publishing, etc.
If the artist sells millions of records, you both win — the artist is maybe not as rich as they would’ve been, but they’re still pretty damn rich. Plus, you’ve made a decent amount of money and you’ve saved yourself $100 million. If the artist only sells 100k, you still get half of whatever they did manage to sell and you STILL saved yourself $100 million.
Jesus, it’s not rocket science. The same principle works for every local live music venue on the planet, so why is it too complicated for the MBAs running this business. Seriously, how many times does this industry have to shoot itself in the foot before it bleeds out…?
Comment by Jalan — April 2, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Jalan - it’s not a 100 million upfront. I have not seen the exact deal proposal, but there are usually bumps and incentives to reach 100 million. Corporate lawyers who crunch numbers will probably design a plan and a contract so they wont lose their pants since there is always risk.
The reason why Lewis wins is because alot of people want her. Its called competition. Its all a gamble but the indicators look good. So everybody will throw their hat in the ring!
Hollywood is built on Hope. Its a Believe in Me business!
Comment by koar — April 2, 2008 @ 10:58 am
Everyone wants her, but didn’t she sign a 5-album, $9m deal with Jive already? Isn’t that the whole purpose of a contract? That she would be off-limits to other American labels?
I still don’t understand.
Comment by Jon Cole — April 2, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
I’m sure there are caveats, loopholes, etc. but it’s still insanity. An industry that’s on a rocket train to financial ruin (and bitches about it incessantly) is offering ONE artist $100 million?! Even if she’s the world’s biggest superstar, you’ll be lucky to break even. How is this not common knowledge?
And yes, I understand the argument that ‘if they didn’t offer it to her, another label would’, but that doesn’t make it a smart business decision — it’s more like a suicide pact (which, anymore, is fine by me).
Vegas is built on hope, too. Good luck reversing years of horrific business decisions from the roulette table.
Comment by Jalan — April 2, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Cavashawn is amazing!! I’ve seen them many times live and it gets better every show. Check them out on their myspace http://www.myspace.com/cavashawn
Comment by Whitney — April 2, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
“She had some help from two BMI affiliated songwriters.”
Kelly wrote the lyrics and had the melody. She sought out Ben Moody and David Hodges….not Clive or RCA. (They are former members of Evanescence). Kelly ended up dating David Hodges. He ended the relationship by leaving her a letter (he was seeing another woman and ended up marrying her). Kelly wrote another song about that
experience…”Never Again”.
Here’s another tidbit about Kelly. Her biggest hit “Since You Been Gone” was written by 2 Swedes. It was originally a bubblegum pop song. It was Kelly’s idea to add the guitars and riffs to give it a more rock edge…not Clive’s or RCA’s or the songwriters.
Comment by Mark — April 2, 2008 @ 4:52 pm