what else could be left to do on chinese democracy??

[D]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

Probably squaring away figures with the band members *Royalties etc etc*

Mixing is not an easy thing either.

U figure they probably have close to 60-70 tracks a song and fine tuning those to get them as good as possible is gonna take awhile, Id say 6 to 8 weeks.

SO if the album was finished in March, Mixing would be done by May or so and right now I say they are waiting for the Europe portion of the tour to be over and they will then plan a US tour/release.

[Ali]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

Probably squaring away figures with the band members *Royalties etc etc*

Mixing is not an easy thing either.

U figure they probably have close to 60-70 tracks a song and fine tuning those to get them as good as possible is gonna take awhile, Id say 6 to 8 weeks.

SO if the album was finished in March, Mixing would be done by May or so and right now I say they are waiting for the Europe portion of the tour to be over and they will then plan a US tour/release.

I think those are all certainly factors.  I also think, like LittleFly said, there is some kind of tug of war going on with the label with regards to the band's recording contract.  Merck alluded to this in his response to Axl's open letter last December.  I'd be willing to be that isn't a situation that can be resolved easily.

Ali

[D]

They could be fighting over points on the record.

Maybe the label feels where they spent so much money that they should get a higher percentage of the gross from CD's sold.

[guns_n_motley]

They could be fighting over points on the record.

Maybe the label feels where they spent so much money that they should get a higher percentage of the gross from CD's sold.

bands dont even make much from cds anyhow. Most big bands like aerosmith etc. only get about 1-2$ from a 13$ cd

problem is that the record label is probably signed with GNR for a certain # of albums. and with the time its taken for CD probably would want to not have to deal with them anymore.

[D]

The label could be tired of GNR

I mean in today's musical landscape, why pay 13 million and take 10 years for one of your artists to release an album when u can get some wannabe rapper or R and B princess to sell u 5 million albums and it cost peanuts to make and little to no hassle to release.

Also they can take advantage of artists like that and keep most of the cash.

[Apollon]

"could it be the weight that I carried on
like a broken record for that long..."

Everytime I listen to this part of I.R.S. I know that's not easy for Axl to release CD...

Honestly, I think that not much is left to do on CD, and hopefully it will be handed over to the record company in july...

[agropolus]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

I know a great strategy for the album not to leak: RELEASE IT! 

[Ali]

They could be fighting over points on the record.

Maybe the label feels where they spent so much money that they should get a higher percentage of the gross from CD's sold.

I just have this feeling that they are most certainly fighting for points on the record.  Nothing to go by other than what Merck said, but I just would be willing to bet that is happening or has happened and that playing the record label the demos is a way of saying, "Hey, listen to this.  We deserve to at least have a discussion about our royalty rate."

I'm sure the label wants as much back on their investment as is possible.

Ali

[Axl4Prez2004]

"could it be the weight that I carried on
like a broken record for that long..."

Everytime I listen to this part of I.R.S. I know that's not easy for Axl to release CD...

Honestly, I think that not much is left to do on CD, and hopefully it will be handed over to the record company in july...

^I have thought the exact same thing every time I hear IRS.

As for the thread, see D's post for the right answer.  D, you hit the nail on the head in my eyes. 

My ultimate hope would be some sort of tie-in with NFL kickoff festivities in September...and if that can't happen, Black Friday after Thanksgiving...I just hope it's out before 2008, because I know I'll be the idiot who starts the annual, "Will GNR be performing at the Super Bowl?" thread.   

[AxlsMainMan]

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday there were only "13 Tuesdays left."

[downzy56]

The obvious answer, or the option I'd put money on, is issues with the record company.  It's been alluded too many times by Axl and those surrounding the band that many things needed to be negotiated or re-negotiated.  Remember GNR still has a contract for, I believe, seven albums with Geffen.  If you include every GNR album (AFD, LIes, UY1&2, SI, Live Ear, and GH), that's seven, meaning the original contract has been completed and a new one is needed.  That's if some of those albums counted; some times live cds and greatest hits are not counted in what the artist owes the label.  If not, then Axl might be holding Chinese Democracy over the heads of the studio execs trying to get a sweeter deal.

Last year Axl said that 26-28 of 32 songs were done.  We also heard that there was some mixing going on during the summer of 2006.  If most of the songs were mixed last year, that only leaves a handful to be mixed this year.  Having started the process in late Feb early March, one could conclude that the creative/mixing process is finished.  Mastering only takes a week, maybe two tops (really, could be done in a couple of days, it's not a big process).  With a September release floating around the internet and online stores, it seems that everyone that has anything to do with this album is keeping quiet until everything is settled with the record company.  Eventually the band will run out of places that has seen this setlist and has had a stop on the Chinese Democracy World Tour (some places have already had 3 stops).  If the legalities and promotional work can be put to rest any time soon, hopefully we'll see something by late summer, early fall.

That's my two cents at least.

Cheers,

Andrew

[guns_n_motley]

i have a feeling that may be the case.

of course the record label wants to put out chinese democracy to recoup some of the costs, so they wouldnt drop GNR now. But im sure axl fears that once cd is out/promoted etc. they will drop him...

[downzy56]

i have a feeling that may be the case.

of course the record label wants to put out chinese democracy to recoup some of the costs, so they wouldnt drop GNR now. But im sure axl fears that once cd is out/promoted etc. they will drop him...

Hence the delays due to record negotiations.  Kind of like an athlete wanting to sign a long-term deal and ownership wanting to keep contracts to a shorter term. 

[DoubleTalkingJive]

I am sure the album is recorded, mixed and finished.   They/He just has to release it already.    Could be a video holding it up, deciding on a single, how they are going to promote, etc.

Course one always hopes that it's this year.

[stolat]

Just fork out the money and go to the concerts - you can hear it live then and there. Interactive too - your screaming and cheering become part of the music.......

[American Hellhound]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

I really hope the fear of this album leaking is not the reason for the hold up.

If this is the reason, then I think we're in for a helluva looooong wait, cos I don't think there's anyway of avoiding the leak.

[stolat]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

I really hope the fear of this album leaking is not the reason for the hold up.

If this is the reason, then I think we're in for a helluva looooong wait, cos I don't think there's anyway of avoiding the leak.

In the world of conspiracy theories, yes, the leaks may have contributed.

Yes, there is a way of avoiding them - don't do it! If enough people make a stand against then, then there won't be any demand.

[American Hellhound]

I think they are waiting for the right time to release it going through proper marketing strategies, probably trying to figure out a good strategy for the album not to leak.

I really hope the fear of this album leaking is not the reason for the hold up.

If this is the reason, then I think we're in for a helluva looooong wait, cos I don't think there's anyway of avoiding the leak.

Yes, there is a way of avoiding them - don't do it! If enough people make a stand against then, then there won't be any demand.

In theory, sure. I completely agree.

Can you really ever see this happening though?

I highly doubt it.

[gcluskey]

 We already have over an hour's worth of material from Chinese Democracy in various recording stages available to us online. This is a first for GnR to have this much material available to fans before an actual album release. There's no excuse for whining about not having an album...someone in management must be purposely letting this stuff out

[GUNNER]

What else could be left?

Maybe some more leaks, so they won't need do release de album anymore...