Here Today... Gone To Hell!

According to Billboard:

http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i7dd5f51b9e62d892c015568999fc45b2

With the huge magnitude of Chinese Democracy around the corner, how possibly could the record company give this album the proper attention that it deserves, if it's on the verge of being dismantled? 

I just wish people would stop blaming Axl just because the album didn't get released this year.  This is clearly not his fault. 

Baz is not a liar, he's always been straight forward with his remarks.  If he said "Axl really wanted the album out this year", then we have to believe him. There's no reason not to. 

I hope things get all straighten out and next year we'll see the release of CD!

cybercurves

Well.....it's been an extremely long road for fans, and Axl as well, esp. Axl. You may have something here as far as it not being released this year by posting this latest thread, not to mention Baz's quote of course. What about the other years, Lord only knows. However, (to a degree), I still think Axl is fearful of putting it on the line so to speak, and (if true) that's pretty damn unfortunate for someone who's got the unique ability to put so much emotion forth in performance, and in words.   

I think Axl is gonna need to find a really unique strategy in maximizing his successes with the upcoming records.
Those days of going platinum and multi-platinum (5x + ) are clearly over in most cases. There needs to be other ways to measure success of records (paid downloads, concerts, merchandising).

MNW

Well that resolves the issue. 

A nice big project like GNR should pull the two teams together after they establish the pecking order and get them off to a good start.  Not that it's smooth sailing for the music industry but everyone can start looking towards the future. 

mabye now geffen needs to resolve this issue and find their feet "persay"
before concentrating on putting together a hugh prolific release which chinese democracy needs to have,

which means that cd might take a backseat , for all we know,
so, Lets sit back,
grab the popcorn,
and wait for cd to be released

xx/xx/3xxx

No backseat, GNR can make money with little promotion.  The media loves to beat on Axl, word of mouth will spread like wild fire.

This all kind of reminds me of the Motown era.  They could sell the single and the band but nothing lasted very long. 

From the article:

"The cuts are the latest in a string of major label layoffs, which included Island Def Jam and Sony BMG earlier this month."

I don't think it's such a big deal.

Most corporations do staff cuts and reorganization in the last quarter of the year. Compounded with this being the 'record company industry', it's par for the course. Nothing shocking here.

Whether or not CD has been handed over or not, I would think that such a project and it's release would not have such bearing on staff cuts. It's too big of a project. I'd be worried for all the lesser known/up and coming bands. Last hired, first fired.

Besides, the labels tend to launch the BIG stuff in the spring. The last quarter of the year, you mostly get compilations and stuff on sale. So, once again, wishful thinking for Q1 '08.

My fear is that the label is going to continue to play hardball with Axl due to the cost and delays accrued over the years. ?The label's idea of recouping the cost and Axl's idea of proper promotion amongst numerous other terms could be very problematic in thier negotiations. ?Lawyers get involved and this thing could potentially be shelved indefinitely.

I refuse to believe that they could be so stupid. They're professionals in music biz, how could they not know that the only thing bigger than the release of CD would be Elvis found alive?  :P

Last hired, first fired--not true in today's market.  Last hired gets paid less and is not set in their ways.  Also more willing to do without ie Axl may yet be driving the tour bus--lol

the cuts have nothing to do with the release of the album. nothing people. it is an cost cutting exercise. they are still in the business of selling records. they still have to sell records to stay in business. as i stated earlier, the cd has not been handed over to the label...some of you are barking up the wrong tree.

Would you hand it over if you knew they were having problems like this?  I think we have our eye on the ball.

By the way, has anyone checked the site that said they were mixing the cd to see if the GNR release is still on there?

yes, of course i would. the cuts are just cost saving measures. the company is still there to do business. the cuts have nothing to do with the ability to put out the album. also, the band is legally obligated to hand over the cd b/c of their agreement with geffen. as for when they have to turn it in, well.......

If the label was going to "properly" set this album up, mass promotion, marketing, videos and the whole bit... are u lookin at 25 million- 35 million dollars? maybe more.. i could see interscope/ geffen having a problem setting that up for a band that hasnt done a whole lot in 17 years.

your numbers are way off. plus, they are a huge company and yes they do have the funds to do proper marketing. they need to have a finshed, turned in album to get that going...that has not happened.

This is exactly what I posted on my board.  I work for a big corporation and the very same thing happens from time to time.
I also don't think it will have very much bearing on the situation with CD.    Granted Geffen lost 2 veterans but they didn't lose the whole company and I am sure that there are other veterans that still have their jobs.

trying to speculate on this shit is useless.    none of us are in the know.    it gets frustrating seeing the same people constantly stating their opinions like facts.  everyone should just chill on this whole album thing and wait for Axl to say something.

right! it's not his fault, noone more than him wanted that album out this year

I?ve always thought and have said that there could be some issues behind the scenes that could cause delays or shit. I don?t know, but maybe this could be one of those issues?. Also, it is obvious that if the band have been working hard in this record they want it to be released and not kept to be unheard.

They cut 15 people.  Relax.  You are reading WAY too much into it.  :peace:

-F

BTW, does anyone know how many people work for them?

hopefully at least 16 for it to be still considered an operative bussiness  :rofl:

Actually, they cut about 60 people.

So this is the latest excuse?

I don't get it

Perhaps if we've been properly updated as was indicated about a year ago, then we could accept this

Just don't know anymore ???

source?

according to billboard, it was 15.

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i7dd5f51b9e62d89240ce6f3b8a0d1344

KOAR News
Posted December 17, 2007 ? in Music News
18 Million Pumped Into Stiffs: About 60 people lost their jobs at Interscope and Geffen Records on Thursday when both labels merged into one. According to sources, a budget of $18 million was spent in making and promoting the Will.I.Am, Nicole Scherzinger(Pussycat Doll) and Eve albums - all were bombs and two aren?t even out yet.

http://www.kingsofar.com/

wow that suckz right during the holidays an all.

Sucks for the people who got fired. I'm sure there are talented people among them who love music.

Like with everything else, the music business is more about the business than music these days.

Seems like longterm plans and quality aren't important, what's important is to make the stockholders happy.




/jarmo

I'll second that, I work in a Major Television Company here in NYC [broadcast facility with 4 networks, alot of Sportschannels and alot HD Channels available on this certain cable system] and it's the same way.    It's all about money then quality these days.  They expect 1 person to do the work of 2 or 3 people in some depts.   Which is why I have stated before that even tho there is layoffs, it shouldn't effect the high profile clients as our layoffs don't affect the all the networks/channels we air.  We've had a year where an exorbitant amount of people were layed off.
Some procedures may change and some people may be incredibily busy going forward but the Network stays intact.   Now this may not be the case here but I am thinking it probably is as they don't want to lose their clients, they want to downsize but still have the money coming in.

I'm sorry but... someone should have seen that ^ coming. :hihi:

Maybe now they realize that they should put their money on bands that people already know. Or at least on REAL artists and bands and not some "hot" new celebrities trying to make money as much as they can before people forget about them (and that usually happens in less than a... year?).  ::)

Sentiments echoed very loudly from Dave Navarro this past Monday on his blog regarding the music biz..

www.6767.com

"What I don't miss is the industry. The good news is that there is no label in place and a new year approaches."

Since 2001 there are lot of rumours and a lot of people talkin' about Guns N' Roses and I always believed in every single rumour. But no more.

If the band members doesn't speak, if Axl don't say anything I can't believe anything because for me is only rumours and rumours...

Sad but true.

There's a reason for that, they're in big trouble.   I'm sure Dave's in it to make a buck.  It's a business not a charity.  Until something is done to steady the decline and turn it back around, we're in safe mode, what makes a buck.  Try not to puke--lol.

I bet you can?t say all that in Spanish.. :hihi:

No, seriously, it seems that talent is not important, music biz only focuses in the so-called " one-song-artists" to get the quick money and they don?t pay much attention to the ones that have talent and are good. Now a days it is easier for a one-song-artist to be successfull than to an established musician, atleast in my country.

he should go the NIN way.

I don't think its speculation at all.


Everyone has said how Axl wanted the album released and its the Label thats holding it up.


well, If u have this huge layoff and shake up at a record label, Any release during this period will not get the attention and promotion it deserves.

So there is no way Axl is gonna work this hard to have some shit like a label layoff to fuck it up.


Once the label gets back on solid ground, CD will come out.

I'm not saying this to dis you, but I sincerely hope you're wrong on this. If we're waiting for the label (let alone any label) to get back on solid ground before CD comes out, then we're never getting the album.

 I think you have to give some credit to a respectable and successful company like Geffen for so many years to now go through a merger which is definitely a bad thing, they already know what they have to do because I am sure they've had tons of meetings on it, they just have to do it with less people, I am sure the big wigs over there already have plans in place for the missing people.   I really don't think that it's as doom and gloom as some people are saying as far as the major artists are concerned, it's more doom and gloom for the people that lost their jobs, they will keep their big business intact.