The Coldplay guys need to start their own record label am i right or am i right?

 

You are right. I've been saying it since Viva. :D

The Coldplay guys need to start their own record label am i right or am i right?

 

SO right. If they re-sign with EMI or any other major label...I don't know what the hell they're thinking.

Kylie Minogue, one of EMI's acts. The company's sale is expected to create a third major global record label.

 

EMI to be sold to Russian billionaire after deal with Universal collapses

 

Len Blavatnik poised to pay $1.5bn for the last major British record label, home to the Beatles and Coldplay

 

EMI, the record label that signed the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Coldplay, is likely to be broken up this week and sold to a Russian-born billionaire.

 

The sale will mark the end of an era for UK music. EMI is the last major domestic music label and its record of signing homegrown talent has made it the unofficial home of British pop.

 

EMI's other acts include Kylie Minogue, Kate Bush and Tinie Tempah. It is now owned by American bank Citigroup, which took control of the label when its private equity owner Terra Firma failed to repay the loans it took out to buy EMI in August 2007.

 

Citigroup has been in talks to sell EMI's recording arm and its music publishing division since last year, but at the end of the week Universal, one of the main potential buyers, pulled out of the bidding process, leaving the wealthy businessman Len Blavatnik in pole position to buy the bulk of the business.

 

Blavatnik is the New York-based founder and owner of Access Industries, the international chemicals conglomerate that bought EMI's rival Warner Music for £2bn in May this year.

 

He is expected to pay around $1.5bn for EMI's recorded music division, according to industry sources. Its publishing arm, which owns the rights to a catalogue of more than a million songs by artists including Kanye West, Arctic Monkeys and Jay-Z, is likely to be sold to the German media group Bertelsmann and KKR, an American private equity company.

 

The deal will create a third major global music label to rival Universal and Sony, which have emerged as the dominant forces in global music following a string of deals in the industry over the past decade.

 

It is also likely to mean the end of the EMI brand in America, where the label is expected to be phased out, although the name will be retained in European markets.

 

The final details of the sale are still being hammered out, but music industry sources say official confirmation is likely to come at the end of the week.

 

Senior industry figures are already bemoaning the fact that a national industry champion is set to fall into foreign hands. Jazz Summers, a rock music veteran who was manager of British indie band the Verve, said: "It's a tradition that I'll be sad to see end. It will be a stronger record company [after the sale] but it will also throw a lot of people out on the street." The new owner is expected to trim the combined group's workforce after the sale is complete, and hundreds of jobs are expected to go as a result.

 

EMI's sale follows the disposal of other quintessentially British companies, including Rover and Cadbury, to overseas brands. Cadbury was bought by the American food giant Kraft in 2009.

 

But Sir Martin Sorrell, who chairs British-based WPP, one of the world's most powerful advertising and marketing companies, said that it would be wrong to feel sentimental about EMI falling into foreign hands.

 

"I think it was probably inevitable, given what happened with Terra Firma and given consolidation due to [the shift to] online content. It was inevitable that the established brands would have to consolidate", Sorrell said.

 

He added: "We do work in a global economy, we don't operate in a vacuum. Plenty of [uK] companies have benefited from overseas expansion and have done well overseas. It is more to do with global business and not a great British brand disappearing. The pressure has been there since Napster and the impact of online on the music business."

 

The digital revolution and the advent of iTunes and the iPod transformed the economics of the music industry and has forced major labels to seek merger deals.

 

Terra Firma, which was founded by the millionaire buyout specialist Guy Hands, embarked on a cost-cutting exercise after it acquired EMI four years ago, in an attempt to reduce debts of around £2bn.

 

Hands cut up to £100m a year in spending on items including "fruit and flowers" (widely believed to be a euphemism for drugs). The company's £700,000-a-year London taxi bill was slashed, and some 2,000 jobs went in his first year.

 

That exercise is now likely to be repeated by EMI's new owners, with further redundancies of around 10% expected at its global workforce of around 3,500.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/28/emi-sold-russian-billionaire?newsfeed=true

Coldplay is part of the EMI recorded music division that is being sold to Universal Music.

 

Universal Music to buy EMI's recorded music division for £1.2bn

 

World's biggest record company to buy home of Coldplay and the Beatles

 

Universal Music, the world's biggest record company, is poised to announce the £1.2bn purchase of EMI's recorded music division, home to the Beatles, Coldplay and Tinie Tempah.

 

The sale is the first part of the break-up of the 114-year-old British company, which is likely to be followed by the EMI's music publishing division, most likely to a consortium led by Sony for in excess of $2bn (£1.26bn).

 

Although the enlarged Universal will now account a third of all music sales worldwide, company executives believe they can persuade regulators to allow it to swallow the business whole because the music industry is in such decline.

 

Nevertheless, Universal will respond by selling record labels or catalogues if the European Commission were to demand disposals. Its goal, however, will be to retain the Beatles material.

 

Buying EMI is a coup for Universal's boss, Briton Lucian Grainge, whose bid had been considered opportunistic. Smaller rival Warner Music, recently bought by Len Blavatnik's Access Industries, had been considered the front runner.

 

EMI is being sold by Citigroup, the bank that ended up owning the record company, after it seized control of the debt-laden business from venture capitalist Guy Hands.

 

However, Citigroup is retaining in deficit EMI's pension fund, which has 21,500 members. The deficit was £162m according to the last set of publicly available accounts.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/11/universal-to-buy-emi-music-division?newsfeed=true

SO right. If they re-sign with EMI or any other major label...I don't know what the hell they're thinking.

 

They like to be "owned" remember? And IMO EMI is the label that gives more creative freedom, so I'm OK with it.

EMI has sold its recorded music unit to Universal for £1.2 while the department goes to a Sony-led consortium for £1.3bn.

 

EMI has sold its recorded music unit to Universal for £1.2 while the department goes to a Sony-led consortium for £1.3bn.

 

Universal and Sony reach deal to buy EMI for £2.5bn

 

Famous British music business could be split into two in agreement that hands control to biggest rivals

 

EMI, arguably the most famous corporate name in British music history, fell into the hands of its two largest rivals in two deals worth £2.5bn – a finale to a disastrous four-year period that saw the company loaded with debt by financier Guy Hands and rejected by bands like the Rolling Stones.

 

Universal Music, the world's biggest recorded music company, triumphed in an auction for EMI's recorded music business, with a £1.2bn bid for the label behind Coldplay, Tinie Tempah, and above all, the Beatles. Its offer was about £250m more than rival Warner Music.

 

It was the first part of a two-stage break-up of EMI, with the music publishing division, the home of the Motown catalogue, going to a consortium led by Sony – the world's second-largest music group. Sony reached agreement in principle to buy the division for £1.3bn, seeing off a bid from BMG Rights Management, a joint venture by Germany's Bertelsmann and the private equity group KKR.

 

EMI was put on the block by US bank Citigroup, which seized control of the company in February after it became clear that its owner, Guy Hands's company Terra Firma, could not contend with the £3.4bn debt taken on when he bought the business in 2007.

 

The double sale means that Citi will recoup about £2.5bn of its original loan. The bank also scooped a little over £200m in fees from the original loans to Terra Firma, meaning that its overall loss on those loans is a little less than £700m. Bank insiders characterised that as "a good result" given that EMI was bought at the height of the credit boom and is being sold in a downturn.

 

Universal's move for EMI means that the two companies will account for 38% of all recorded music sales worldwide. In some countries, such as France, that figure will be over 50%. Vivendi, Universal's owner, pledged to take on the regulatory risk in the deal. Chief executive Jean-Bernard Lévy said it would pay £1.1bn in 10 months' time and a further £100m on completion.

 

Simon Dyson, editor of industry newsletter Music & Copyright, said that he would "be very surprised" if regulators cleared the deal "without a lot of sell-offs" – and said that the overall market share level was perilously close to "the magic number for an outright no" for the Universal-EMI combination. Sony's deal for EMI's music publishing catalogue carries far fewer regulatory risks because Sony is a relatively small player.

 

Universal was quick to emphasise its commitment to EMI's musical heritage, with Lucian Grainge, the British chief executive of Universal Music, pledging to keep the historic Abbey Road studios where the Beatles and many other famous artists have recorded. "Abbey Road Studios are a symbol of EMI, a symbol of British culture, a symbol for the creative community of exactly what the company is and we are [now] part of," he said.

 

Universal said that it expected to save £100m a year in costs by combining operations with EMI. The company added that it was "very confident" that it would be able to get the deal through a regulatory investigation, which could take up to a year, saying that it expected "deep and fruitful dialogue".

 

To emphasise the point, Universal wheeled out Mick Jagger, who moved the Rolling Stones catalogue from EMI to Universal after a falling-out with Hands. The singer said Universal's move was "a very positive development and I particularly welcome the fact that EMI will once again be owned by people who really do have music in their blood".

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/11/emi-sold-to-universal-and-sony?newsfeed=true

Stars: EMI is home to artists such as Katy Perry (pictured) and Coldplay

 

Universal's proposed acquisition of EMI faces competition probe

 

France's Universal Music is likely to face intense scrutiny from competition authorities in the US over its $1.9billion (£1.2billion) proposed acquisition of EMI, home to Katy Perry and Coldplay.

The deal will be examined by the US’s Federal Trade Commission which has been urged by open internet lobbyist Public Knowledge – which played a key role in stopping AT&T’s merger with T-Mobile – to block the deal amid claims that it would thwart innovation, drive up prices and minimise choice.

 

Universal had until last Friday to offer any concessions that might have warded off a full-blown inquiry into the deal by the European Commission, but declined to do so in the hope that the merger will go through unscathed. It is now likely to face an investigation that could last for months.

 

Universal has claimed that digital music distribution, both legal and illegal, has changed the market radically and it insists this is a good reason for allowing the deal to go ahead.

 

The four major music companies – Universal, EMI, Sony and Warner Music – account for about 90 per cent of sales of recorded music in the US, while Universal has about 40 per cent of European sales.

 

EMI’s music publishing arm is being bought by Japan’s Sony in a $2.2billion deal.

 

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2116452/Universals-proposed-acquisition-EMI-faces-competition-probe.html#ixzz1pTQFT7ZH

Do we know when Coldplay's contract is supposed to end?

Do we know when Coldplay's contract is supposed to end?

 

I read somewhere (no idea where, unfortunately) that Mylo might have been the last album they were signed for but really I don't remember.

I read somewhere (no idea where, unfortunately) that Mylo might have been the last album they were signed for but really I don't remember.

 

 

It's been variously reported that they have either a 5 or 6 album deal, so depending on which number is actually correct it might be. I suspect the moment they are actually free of their contract, it will be public knowledge as they'd undoubtedly be the biggest free agents in music. There's not a label in the world that wouldn't want them at this moment.

It's been variously reported that they have either a 5 or 6 album deal, so depending on which number is actually correct it might be. I suspect the moment they are actually free of their contract, it will be public knowledge as they'd undoubtedly be the biggest free agents in music. There's not a label in the world that wouldn't want them at this moment.

 

Did I read somewhere that they might have renegotiated and renewed their contract a few years back?

I hope at this point they have more than enough experience to create their own label 1x their commitment ends. These guys still have a long career in front of them and I feel their best stuff is yet to come.

I'm pretty sure, unless they re-negotiated, that MX is in fact their last with EMI. Frankly I hope so. And I agree that their own label would be the way to go. They're at a point where they can not only write their own ticket, but could help a lot of new talent up the ladder too.

I'm pretty sure, unless they re-negotiated, that MX is in fact their last with EMI. Frankly I hope so. And I agree that their own label would be the way to go. They're at a point where they can not only write their own ticket, but could help a lot of new talent up the ladder too.

 

I'll be very surprised if they don't resign with a major. They're one of the last few acts in the world that labels will throw oodles of cash at, and it would require them doing things a lot more "indie" than they've shown the inclination to in a long while, in order to go it alone. They can basically dictate the terms of their own deal to any label at this point, and they'd still have the apparatus of a multi-national company at their back when it came time to launch their next campaign. It would be cool if they'd pull a radiohead on this one, but frankly Coldplay have essentially become the anti-radiohead and I don't see them changing that on this issue.

I'll be very surprised if they don't resign with a major. They're one of the last few acts in the world that labels will throw oodles of cash at, and it would require them doing things a lot more "indie" than they've shown the inclination to in a long while, in order to go it alone. They can basically dictate the terms of their own deal to any label at this point, and they'd still have the apparatus of a multi-national company at their back when it came time to launch their next campaign. It would be cool if they'd pull a radiohead on this one, but frankly Coldplay have essentially become the anti-radiohead and I don't see them changing that on this issue.

 

You're probably right, but I hope you're wrong. I'd love to see how they handled themselves in a more 'indie' setting. There'd be a lot of pressure on them, but it might be good for them.

You're probably right, but I hope you're wrong. I'd love to see how they handled themselves in a more 'indie' setting. There'd be a lot of pressure on them, but it might be good for them.

 

I could see them ending up with a vanity label though. That's probably the best we can hope for.

I could see them ending up with a vanity label though. That's probably the best we can hope for.

 

What I'd like is to see them start their own label but maintain their distribution deal with EMI. Creative control but none of the hassles of shipping etc.

 

And they can sign me!!;)

What I'd like is to see them start their own label but maintain their distribution deal with EMI. Creative control but none of the hassles of shipping etc.

 

And they can sign me!!;)

 

That seems to be the way a lot of big acts are going these days. Muse have that sort of deal with Warner's. It seems like a good compromise to me, going totally alone does mean you give up a ton of logistical support and whatnot.

 

It's on a much smaller scale, but Travis attempted to self release after leaving Independiente (or whatever it's called) and lost pretty much all commercial steam they had left. They've not done much since, which is a shame because they're a really solid band. I'd hate to see that happen to Coldplay, and I'm not sure they've got the right advisor's around them to guide them though something like that right now.

That seems to be the way a lot of big acts are going these days. Muse have that sort of deal with Warner's. It seems like a good compromise to me, going totally alone does mean you give up a ton of logistical support and whatnot.

 

It's on a much smaller scale, but Travis attempted to self release after leaving Independiente (or whatever it's called) and lost pretty much all commercial steam they had left. They've not done much since, which is a shame because they're a really solid band. I'd hate to see that happen to Coldplay, and I'm not sure they've got the right advisor's around them to guide them though something like that right now.

 

Anyone advising them now is doing so with a major label band, so they probably don't have the right people for that right now. But it would be interesting to see how well they could manage on their own. They'd have to really mess up to lose the support they have now, but bands can die in the blink of an eye, so anything's possible.

 

And yes. Truly a shame about Travis. They have a lost of respect from me for trying though.

 

EU starts review of EMI sale deal

 

BRUSSELS - The European Union’s competition regulator on Friday launched an investigation of Universal Music Group’s planned acquisition of part of the iconic British music company EMI - home to The Beatles, Coldplay, and Katy Perry.

 

Universal Music, which is owned by French media company Vivendi SA, announced in November that it would buy EMI’s recorded music division for $1.9 billion. At the same time, a consortium led by Sony Music’s Sony/ATV said it would pay $2.2 billion for EMI’s publishing arm.

 

The deal has been vehemently opposed by rivals such as Warner Music and small independent music labels, which fear that Universal and Sony would dominate a market that is already under strain from illegal music downloads.

 

 

In its statement Friday, the commission indicated that those concerns may be justified.

 

Buying EMI’s recorded music arm would make Universal almost twice the size of its next-largest competitor in Europe, the commission said.

 

Notably, it added that even the threat of music piracy did not appear to be a sufficient constraint on the new company.

 

“The proposed acquisition could reduce competition in the recorded music market to the detriment of European consumers,’’ the EU’s Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement. “The Commission needs to make sure that consumers continue to have access to a wide variety of music in different physical and digital formats at competitive conditions.’’

 

Universal said the review had been expected. “We will continue to cooperate fully with [the commission] and look forward to a successful resolution of the process,’’ it said in a statement.

 

http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/03/23/starts-review-emi-sale-deal/Oa484jPb2g89Eu0BRoW47M/story.html

Key developments in proposed sale of EMI Group to Universal Music, Sony/ATV

 

EMI Group Ltd., the iconic British music company that is home to The Beatles, Coldplay and Katy Perry, is being split and sold, though it faces regulatory scrutiny as the planned buyers increase their dominance of the music industry. Here are key developments in the proposed sale:

 

Nov. 11, 2011: Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV announce plans to pay $4.1 billion for EMI. Universal would get the recording division for 1.2 billion pounds ($1.9 billion), joining Universal artists including Lady Gaga and Eminem with EMI superstars such as David Guetta and Lady Antebellum. A consortium led by Sony/ATV would pay $2.2 billion for EMI’s publishing division, which is in charge of songwriting copyrights for such artists as Rihanna and Norah Jones.

 

Jan. 31, 2012: Outgoing Warner Music chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr. says the proposed purchase of EMI by recording rivals Universal and Sony/ATV is “dangerous” and must be stopped by regulators. At a technology conference, he says the deals would create overly dominant global players that could harm new digital music platforms and crimp payments to artists.

 

March 23: The EU’s competition regulator says it is launching an in-depth probe of Universal’s planned acquisition. The European Commission says the deal would make Universal Music “almost twice the size of the next largest player” in Europe’s recorded-music market.

 

March 27: The European Commission says the Sony consortium has offered concessions to get approval for its deal. The Commission did not give details, but they could include the sale of certain units or a commitment to change certain business practices. The Commission plans to take until April 19 to decide whether the concessions are sufficient.

 

link

Anyone advising them now is doing so with a major label band, so they probably don't have the right people for that right now. But it would be interesting to see how well they could manage on their own. They'd have to really mess up to lose the support they have now, but bands can die in the blink of an eye, so anything's possible.

 

And yes. Truly a shame about Travis. They have a lost of respect from me for trying though.

 

Travis were so great back in the heydays. Oh well.

I really don't know. I mean, it would be so interesting to see them take their own reins, but I always forget of how huge of an act they really are. They fill stadiums in days, every show is always sold out (three consecutive sold out shows at a massive venue here in D.C.) Also the ridiculously high record sales, ect ect.

So I don't honestly entertain the possibility of it, but again, something that would be interesting. Music industry's a fickle thing, these days...

 

EMI, Grooveshark's only major label, tears up contract

 

The fourth-largest record company alleges that music-sharing service has failed to meet the financial obligations of licensing contract.

 

EMI, one of the four top record companies and home to such acts as The Beatles and Coldplay, has terminated its agreement with Grooveshark, a well-known music-sharing service, CNET has learned.

 

Court documents filed in New York state court reveal that the recorded-music division of EMI alleges Grooveshark has failed to meet the financial obligations of its licensing agreement. In January, EMI's publishing arm filed suit against Grooveshark for breach of contract.

 

Grooveshark is a music service that provides free access to songs by enabling users to post their own music to the site. The company issued a response to EMI's court filing and allegations:

 

"Grooveshark was recently forced to make the difficult decision to part ways with EMI due to EMI's currently unsustainable streaming rates and EMI's pending merger with Universal Music Group, which we consider monopolistic and in violation of antitrust laws," the company wrote. "To date, Grooveshark has paid over $2.6 million to EMI, but we have yet to find sustainable streaming rates. In spite of this, Grooveshark's dedication to artists and rights holders remains the same."

 

The loss of EMI is significant for Grooveshark as it was the only major record label to license music to the service. Grooveshark is also being sued by the other three major labels -- Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group -- for copyright infringement.

 

The Gainesville, Fla.,-based company maintains it is a legitimate Internet service provider that is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

 

Grooveshark's copyright battles with the labels go back years, but this time, the trouble seems to be contractual. EMI said in a motion for summary judgment against Grooveshark that managers there signed "a promissory note on Nov. 29, 2011, unconditionally promising to render payment of the sum certain of $450,000 to (EMI-owned) Capitol Records in accordance with the payment schedule."

 

On March 15, Grooveshark failed to make a $100,000 installment, EMI asserts. The record label maintains that Grooveshark has yet to pay down any part of the outstanding principle.

 

As a result, EMI terminated the agreement and began legal action to recover the money it says Grooveshark owes.

 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-57408868-261/emi-groovesharks-only-major-label-tears-up-contract/

EU Set To Approve Sony's Purchase Of EMI-Report

 

BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--The European Commission is set to back Sony/ATV's purchase of EMI's music publishing arm Thursday, according to the Financial Times.

 

The publishing deal, one of two reached last year by Citigroup © to split the British music group, is worth $2.2 billion.

 

The commission wouldn't confirm the report. Sony declined to comment and EMI couldn't be reached.

 

The paper reports that in order to meet the commission's competition concerns, the Sony-led consortium will divest EMI Music catalogues, which generate EUR25 million from songwriters such as Culture Club and Ozzy Osborne.

 

Citing sources involved in the negotiations, the FT adds that Sony clinched early clearance from the EU's antitrust regulator by making more concessions in order to avert a lengthy investigation.

 

The publishing deal had been expected to pose fewer antitrust challenges than Vivendi Universal's (VIV) $1.9 billion bid of EMI's record labels. The commission is currently in the second phase of its probe of the deal, which would see a combined Universal-EMI control roughly 40% of the global recorded-music market. Regulators are expected to rule in August on the acquisition.

 

EMI own the rights to The Beatles, Coldplay and U.S. artists Norah Jones and The Smashing Pumpkins.

 

Sony/ATV owns the rights to tens of thousands of songs, including those of Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald and We Are Scientists. It is currently the world's fourth-largest music publisher, with a market share of around 9%.

 

link

I've finished reading the Rock Diary: Coldplay by Luke Crampton and Daffyd Rees. Mr. Crampton has written critically acclaimed rock diaries for other music acts such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, etc. So I trust his info is accurate. I don't think I'm allowed to post the whole thing since the document is for sale, but perhaps this excerpt can confirm that indeed MX is the last contractual album between EMI and Coldplay.

 

In an interview with TV Globo in Brazil, Martin and Berryman confirm their plan is to have a new album (their fifth and last contractual obligation to Parlophone/EMI) released “hopefully this Christmas.” Queried about potential leaks of new material, Martin quips: “There are only two people in the whole building who know how to open all the recording files. Even we don’t know how to do it. We couldn’t even steal our own music. You would have to be a computer genius and a great burglar to get into the building, and download it, and mix it.”

 

Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (2010-12-19). Rock Diary: Coldplay (Kindle Locations 790-794). Original Media. Kindle Edition.

 

I'm dying of anticipation now, wondering what the boys will do when they're finished all their obligations with the MX Tour. Surely they're capable of starting their own label. After 10+ yrs making music and touring, they know the ins and outs of the business and can hire all the right people to promote them and keep the big cut of profits to themselves. If the self released Sea of Memories by Bush can reach number 18 on Billboard 200, surely Coldplay can fair much better?

They can also peek Jay-Z's brain to learn how to do things the right way. I'm really looking forward to the next album when they are hopefully free birds and doing things their way. It's ridiculous that they have to wait so many years to own their own music. Here's hoping that number 6 is a killer album. Can't wait!

 

PS. We already know MX wasn't released in 2010 but that's not the point I'm trying to make;)

Til true.

 

*reliable source.

 

But they can re-sign, though I haven''t heard if they plan to.