Not sure how many NZMers here read the Sunday Star Times but there was an article in the Business section about the new head of Atlantic Records UK, Korda Marshall. I'll lift out some of what I think are the most refreshing quotes, but grab a paper if you want the full story.
'Music sales have been sliding for the past few years and piracy has been a big threat. Analysts have written off the industry amid consolidation and falling sales. Companies have looked for mergers to stem their losses. The five big labels look set to become four. "I know I sound a bit like Eddy Enthusiastic but I'm so pissed off with everyone saying it's the end of the world. It's not, man, it's really not," said Marshall. "Anyone who says that the music industry is dead doesn't know what he's talking about. Change is great."'
'Marshall said Warner was now in a position to show critics how a record company should be run, since it was privately owned and had [whisky heir Edgar] Bronfman, a music-loving songwriter, at its helm. "Of the five majors, we are the only onw that is owned by someone who actually wants to be in the music business." "Because of what music companies have become, too many decisions are based on financial criteria, not creative ones. You need to be quite strong to turn to four accountants and three lawyers and say I believe in this 21-year-old's ability to sing and write."'
'Marshall started his career in 1982 "on 20 pounds a week and a bus pass" as an A&R man. He proved to have a great ear and worked his way up the ladder to become head of A&R at BMG. He said he was "constructively dismissed for spending too much money on Take That and M People" just before they hit the big time. Marshall started his own label, Infectious, in 1993 then became managing director of Mushroom Records. "In the independent world there's a lot more freedom; but if you get it wrong at a major, you lose your job. If you get it wrong at an independent, you lose your house."'
Nice. I never thought I would hear a label guy saying 'Change is great' without some sort of caveat attached to it. It took me fucking ages to write this so please, some comments.
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Thanks Jimi, you rock....
Thanks Jimi, you rock.
// 'Music sales have been sliding for ...
// 'Music sales have been sliding for the past few years and piracy has been a big threat.
I'm sick of this error coming up over and over and over again in articles.
It sounds good, but did he outline what ...
It sounds good, but did he outline what he's going to do to bring about change?
Well, no, Jo, he didn't. ...
Well, no, Jo, he didn't. Unfortunately. But it's a much better attitude to have... it's hard to see how he will be a real anti-consumer exec without changing his philosophy completely. Step in the right direction...
As I mentioned below, when Korda ...
As I mentioned below, when Korda originally started as MD of East West (now Atlantic) 18 months ago after selling Mushroom Records Uk and Infectious to Warner's his pledge was to dedicate all of his available resources to artist development.
The main thing lacking in the UK industry at the moment is that. For the last decade we have been unable, as an industry, to produce bands that are internationally popular, original, and capable of having long careers. Too many years of record labels looking for a quick buck on throwaway pop acts with minimal talent and not enough investment in talented, creative young artists with legs to have careers for 20, 30, 40 years.
Good on you Jimi for actually reading ...
Good on you Jimi for actually reading the Business Section of the paper, it’s usually the first section to start the fire at my place.
//he was "constructively dismissed for spending too much money on Take That and M People" just before they hit the big time.//
Not to be a prick, but does that mean that whoever took over Take That & M People did a better job to make them break through?
(understanding that he obviously had seen their potential and the term "constructively dismissed" has undertones of the politics involved)
Also just out of interest, can anyone tell me who was signed to his Infectious Label?
Korda's fantastic, I'd say the UK ...
Korda's fantastic, I'd say the UK part of Atlantic (for that is all he is in charge of, Ahmet Ertegun remains the head of Atlantic in the US) is in very safe hands indeed. The problem may be Lyor Cohen who seems intent on taking over EMI rather than trying to develop acts from scratch - which was Korda's pledge 18 months ago when he signed the deal with Warner's to buy Mushroom... but we'll see.
In response to who was signed to Infectious -
When Korda started the label in 1993/1994 it was with Pop Will Eat Itself, a band he originally A&R'd to RCA in his BMG days (he wasn't head of A&R at BMG, rather their imprint label RCA), they were given their marching orders from RCA just after Korda was. I don't know the full story to his dismissal at RCA, but there's some serious bad blood between him and a guy called Mike McCormack who is now MD of Universal Music Publishing in the UK and who used to work at RCA/BMG when Korda was there -Justin from the darkness at some music awards here publicly asked them to bury the hatchet and start working together - alot of the bands on Korda's record label have publishing deals with Mike's.
Infectious' big break came in the form of 4 northern irish lads by the name of Ash who exploded a mere months after signing to the label for a nominal £5000. Great investment... Ash are still on Infectious.
The bands that are no more or are no longer with Infectious (including PWEI):
Cable - who are most fantastic and should be checked out by everyone
Symposium - half of whom turned into Hell Is For Hereos
Seafood - back in the day when they were good
Kaned & Unable
My Vitriol
Paradise Motel
Divine
Gerling
Elevator Suite
Wilt
Turn
Those that are still with Infectious (including Ash):
The D4
Funeral For A Friend
The Glitterati
Timo Maas (though I think he might have been shuffled sideways onto Max Lousada's Ultimate Dilemma label)
possibly The Crimea who recently signed to Warner's in the states. I'm not sure if they're going to end up on Atlantic or Infectious over here.
I can't think of any more, but it is nearly 1am here after a long week...
In 1995/96 Korda helped Micheal Gudinski and whoeverelse owned Mushroom Records then set up a london office for Mushroom and became the MD of Mushroom UK - taking Flying Nun's london stuff into the bargain (though, until McKessar went to work for him in 2000 he never put anything out by any flying nun acts or really help them much here at all) - as MD of Mushroom he got Garbage & Muse onto his label - both of whom have moved to Atlantic/East West/Warners with him - but again, he didn't exactly go overboard with the licensing of the antipodean roster over here, in many cases he let other UK labels pick that stuff up.
Two bands he's recently started working with at Atlantic that I think everyone should listen to - The Crimea - who grew out of The Crocketts, not sure of their web address; and welsh rappers Goldie Lookin' Chain (http://www.youknowsit.co.uk).