EMI's 2009 Financial Plan: Coldplay's Success Is Life Or Death

[busybeeburns]

 

Looking at the possibility of starting fiscal year 2009 with a bang, EMI will release Coldplay's fourth album, "Viva La Vida," in the third week of June, less than a month after the Brit conglom releases year-end financials that are expected to reveal the costs of its massive restructuring.

 

Hits have been few and far between for EMI in Guy Hands' rookie season and the company's current representatives in the top 50 are a Trace Adkins hits compilation and the B-52's first album in 16 years. The pressure will be enormous for "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" - that's the full title - to perform at a level equal or better than its predecessor, "X&Y," which has sold 10 million copies worldwide since its release in 2005. (The RIAA, which certifies shipments, has "X&Y" at 3 million copies in the U.S.)

 

"X&Y" sold 737,294 copies in its first week of release back in 2005 and Coldplay-mania was so strong then that their first two albums, "A Rush of Blood to the Head" and "Parachutes" rose to Nos. 1 and 2 on the catalog albums chart. "X&Y" debuted at No. 1 in more than 20 countries.

 

During the Eric Nicoli years, EMI often blamed stock slumps on the lack of or delays in new Coldplay and/or Radiohead material, which meant the company had to tout Beach Boys, Dean Martin and Beatles packages along with front line releases for signs of good news.

 

With EMI streamlined, the jury is still out as to whether they will be able to break new artists on the scale of Coldplay or even Norah Jones. But its reduction in size, however, may mean that a single record from a single band may be able to jumpstart a company.

 

The album's 10 tracks are:

 

"Life in Technicolor"

"Cemeteries of London"

"Lost!"

"42"

"Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love"

"Yes"

"Viva La Vida"

"Violet Hill"

"Strawberry Swing"

"Death and All His Friends"

 

http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/2008/04/emis-2009-finan.html

[melanieau]

^^Pardon me, but EMI are a bunch of fuckers!

[Mimixxx]

They said this last time :rolleyes:

[busybeeburns]

Fate Of EMI May Rest With Coldplay's Viva La Vida. Bye-Bye, EMI!

 

Record labels think of a "career act" as a reliable chart-topper with a rich catalog. Meanwhile, bands define themselves as "career acts" by spending six months in South American churches recording songs with Brian Eno that are named after Frida Kahlo paintings. This darling schism may not bode well for the folks at EMI records, who are praying that Coldplay's upcoming album will sell at least as much as 2005's X&Y. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends doesn't really ring like The Joshua Tree, and phrases like "indulging experimentation" probably aren't what the label wants to hear either.

 

"Viva La Vida" begins with a strident instrumental, "Life in Technicolor," built as much on an arpeggiated synth foundation as it is on an acoustic guitar melody. The same instrumental is tacked onto the final song, "Death and All His Friends," as a hidden track dubbed "The Escapist."

 

In between, the band frequently breaks from verse-chorus-verse constructions, particularly on "42," which is comprised of three distinct, seemingly unrelated sections. "Yes" shifts from a string- and tabla-driven rocker into a shoegazer-y breakdown, while a funky groove emerges from out of nowhere in the middle of "Death and All His Friends."

 

Elsewhere, Martin and the piano are at the forefront of the shimmering "Reign of Love," while "Cemeteries of London" conjures a foreboding vibe apropos of its title and "Lost!" swells with massive-sounding church organ strains.

 

Word is that "Lost!" was originally titled "Criminal Intent!" until Chris Martin realized that nothing rhymed with "D'Onofrio." The band will undoubtedly drop a potential "I Continue To Still Not Find What Bono Was Looking For" before Viva La Vida's release on June 16.

 

http://idolator.com/379463/fate-of-emi-may-rest-with-coldplays-viva-la-vida-bye+bye-emi

[ApproximatelyInfinite]

HAHAHAHHAHAHA

 

ohhh my goodness, the things on this site are making me laugh more and more today!!

 

"I Continue To Still Not Find What Bono Was Looking For"

BRILLIANT.

[Texasluvsjonny]

Kinda makes you want the record to tank just to see EMI take a huge one up the ass. :evil:

[busybeeburns]

Coldplay’s Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' Could Mean Sink or Swim for EMI

 

 

As mentioned last Friday, Coldplay has announced a June 17th release date for their fourth album, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.” While writing that post, something clicked on in the back of my mind: this album has the potential to either keep Coldplay’s label EMI afloat for another year, or make necessary the eventual merger of EMI Music (including its subsidiaries like Capitol, Virgin, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Def Jux, Mute and Tooth & Nail) and Warner Music Group, who currently hold the 3rd and 4th place slots in “The Big Four.” Variety agrees that “Viva…” is shaping up to be something of a high-stakes venture.

 

I remember a time, not so long ago, when a record label depended on its solid roster to make the business float, not just a handful of high-profile superstar artists. Their top sellers would go quintuple-platinum, allowing for enough extra cash to take chances on smaller artists, grow them and support them until they break through, joining the ranks of the high-sellers (we used to call such a thing “artist development”). Britain-based EMI and its subsidiaries once boasted an amazing roster including the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and The Beach Boys. Now the label seems to be relying on one or two current chart busters, in this case Coldplay, and the repackaged back catalogs of their dusty dinosaurs.

 

Artist development on major labels is now a ting of the past (that’s what indie labels are for, right?); there’s no new EMI artist who comes close to replacing Radiohead, who left the label in 2007 after deciding that they no longer needed a record label. EMI can release Best of Radiohead (June 3rd), but no one stands a real chance at releasing another OK Computer….save Coldplay. It’s possible that Chris Martin and company can release an album with (almost) as much impact. But if Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends does any worse than 2005’s X&Y, I wouldn’t be surprised to see EMI/Warner Music rear its head in 2009/2010.

 

http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/04/14/coldplays-viva-la-vida-or-death-and-all-his-friends-could-mean-sink-or-swim-for-emi/

[Cobalt]

Bah, makes me want EMI to sink, as per usual. Too true, they're only replying on Coldplay and a Best of Radiohead to make it instead of supporting new acts.

[IneedYou23]

Funny how they always rely on coldplay.

[StephenG]

They said this about X&Y, EMI is still here, I find it hard to believe Coldplay are all EMI have going for them at the moment.

[Black Rose]

Bah, makes me want EMI to sink, as per usual. Too true, they're only replying on Coldplay and a Best of Radiohead to make it instead of supporting new acts.

 

Most new artists need funding to make their debut albums, as most debut albums never break-even. Therefore coldplay and the best of Radiohead will help fill the coffins a bit more so they can invest in new acts and give them the promotion they need.

[StephenG]

And TBH I don't want to see so many people in EMI lose their jobs, even if I don't like the leadership.

[owenrees_73]

clever title for the article: Coldplay's Success Is 'Life or Death'

 

Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

emi always says things like that... but they must be sure that they will earn much money with coldplay as according to an article that i found recently only for the Japan concerts Coldplay will earn 2.4. millions.

 

article here (btw is in spanish).

 

 

and anyways i don't mind about those things.. i just like their music... labels shouldn't press bands with those things. :confused: