Let’s see if I can connect the dots here: Parlophone was owned by EMI, which was forced to sell off some of its assets after it was acquired by Universal. EMI, as all good Duranies should know, owns…or rather owned Duran Duran’s early catalog. Early as in: you know all of those remasters that came out in the past several years? Parlophone Label Group, for those who are sticking with me here – is where that early Duran Duran catalog resided within the EMI family. Well, resided…until last week. Did I lose anybody yet?
Interestingly enough, the deal with Warner beat out similar offerings by Simon Fuller (the founder of American Idol) and Chris Blackwell, who is the founder of Island Records. This means that the Duran Duran catalog – the music you and I know and love – is now owned by Warner.
I’m still trying to decide just how not-excited I am by this news. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being excited…where am I??
For one, I’m very sad about EMI. They were really the only label in the entire world that was at one time smart enough to sign The Beatles. I’m not the only blogger saying that of course, but facts are facts and I’m a big Beatles fan. Once upon a time, none other than Decca Records rejected The Beatles, saying they didn’t think they’d be relevant. That is an excellent example of the brilliance behind record labels at work right there. I know that in more recent years EMI lacked the brilliance they once had…but I suppose my sadness has more to do with wistful nostalgia than anything else. I just want to know who is going to sign the good music, and I think that based on the past several years, it’s a fair question to ask.
I know Warner pretty well from some limited, yet lasting impressions they made upon me back during the days I was working with Clear Static. Let’s just say I had some experience with the masterminds running that operation, and the experience was far less than mind blowing at the time. I have to be honest though, I highly doubt they are any different than any other label in this moment. No one knows how to make the industry work, and until these labels figure out that attempting to force-feed the public doesn’t really work – especially now that the entire world is at our fingertips, I don’t anticipate the process really changing; nor do I expect that sales will somehow grow and prosper. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto…but the Wizard still thinks he knows how to fool us all. Sadly.
So the questions I have are both complex and simple: What will happen to Duran Duran? We know where their catalog will live, but how will any of that affect current or future operations for the band? If you listened to the January Katy Kafe, you know that at least one member of the band – that would be John Taylor – wants to be back signed with a label, and he did mention that he’d like to be with the same label as most of their catalog. I can understand that business reasons for wanting everything in one place. Even if you have no experience in the music industry at all – just the very idea that everything is housed in one location should make sense, right? The only problem is that yes, it’s Warner Music. How much faith will they have in the band if they sign them, and how much homogenizing will they insist upon the band for their future albums?
I really believe the only people who can truly answer my questions is the band. Will they really be signed by Warner? Will they really give up their own free will in order to do a lot less work (that we fans probably never see or realize) to get the album promoted and sold? Would Warner really do that much better of a job promoting – and is that really going to make a difference?
For me personally, it comes down to the music. I want to see the band be supported and encouraged to own the space that is rightfully theirs as opposed to forcing a square peg in a round hole. If a label…ANY label…can do that, I’m all for whatever the band desires. The question of ability and desire remains unanswered, at least for now.
-R
What future will be for the band if they signed with Warner? Actually my worries would be if they signed with a label! I’ve seen this band, in all of its lines-up, not fitting with a record company: pressure, trouble, mistakes, stress…. These guys need to fly free, to be able to express their originality at their best and a deal with a label means erasing their creativity.
A support of a record company is necessary for embarking on huge world tours, but seen Simon’s and Nick’s recent illness, the guys said they would have to reschedule their tours in the future.
I really hope for no deal with any label in the future: as a long time fan I guess I’ve seen enough ups and downs.
I’m sorry their EMI early catalogue was sold for a small amount of money to Warner Music: their future fans will have to find a harder way to purchase their early albums, which I think were essential in the rock music history.
I got a question for you: the band re-tweeted a tip from Manimal record that featured an early picture of the Fab Five (cutting off Andy, which made me furious: they got thousands of pics featuring the 4 of them today, why don’t they use these ones? To me Fab Five are untouchable), announcing “Something is moving…”: did the band mean the Emi-Warner affair? Just to understand: thanks
I am pretty sure that tweet meant the EMI – Warner deal. As for how much Duran's part was in that deal, I really don't know. The fact is that the early catalog that was owned by EMI now belongs to Warner to do with as they please.
Even if they did a different type of tour, where they stayed in the same city for several dates before moving on – having the support of a label would be helpful, financially speaking. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm on board with the idea of having them signed, but on the same token – I don't work for the band, I'm merely an interested bystander, and when it comes down to it, I don't have to do the work necessary to make the business end profitable. I recognize that as I vacillate amongst the merits of indie vs. signed artists. I really don't think the answer is quite as simple as we fans believe.
-R
Yeah, i know they had to work really hard this year in promoting aynin and it was an exhausting effort by their own team. But what a great class act duran is. This we know. The industry, other artists, probably duran doesnt register on their radar. Idk. But it was exhausting, and jts interview with katyk was telling. I think ftom jts point of view at least what i took from it was, yeah, they can di it on their own but dont expect next albun to be marketed and toured like aynin. And i appreciate his honesty, all dd members, in just saying what their thiughts are at the moment, but who knows whats gonna happen tomorrow. A label deal may be good, and duran is smart. They dont have to in irder to survive.
My question is though, remember when the Beatles early songbook was up for purchase and paul mccartney was going to buy it, but then mj did? Is the price so outrageous that the band wouldnt purchase their songbook back? What advantages/challenges would this bring for the band. This i woyld want to know. Thanks!