The news of Coldplay's dispute with EMI shouldn't come as much of a surprise, nor has it got anything to do with it being taken over by Guy Hands.

 

I recall writing a column for The Times more than 18 months ago >>

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article526030.ece

 

about Chris Martin's relationship with his record company:

 

Last week the lead singer of Coldplay announced: "I think shareholders are the great evil of this modern world."

 

Martin was commenting after EMI had given warning that its profits would be lower because the band took longer than expected to record their latest album. "I don't really care about EMI," he said, graciously.

 

And the explanation for Martin's comments didn't lie in the obvious places - not in mismanagement of talent by EMI, not in Chris Martin being a great idiot.

 

It lay then, as it lies now, in simple economics.

 

There was a time when performers made their money from record sales. Now, as a recent paper from Princeton University economists demonstrates, they make it from touring.

 

Recording artists have once more become travelling troubadours.

 

This isn't an artistic dispute, it's all about money.

 

http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2008/01/the-news-of-col.html

 

I saw this quote by the chief executive of Terra Firma:

 

"creating wonderful music in a way that is profitable and sustainable".

 

Note the word Profitable, hence they won't sign up any unusual new bands which might not turn a profit on their first album or won't pay over the top for marketing.