I smell a rat!!!

[thethrillfactor]

Columbia Records Drops Nellie McKay

Nellie McKay performs at the 5th Annual Jammy Awards in New York in this Tuesday, April 26, 2005 file photo. McKay has been dropped by Columbia Records after a dispute over her sophomore album, "Pretty Little Head," turned ugly. JOHN SMOCKFrom Associated Press
January 03, 2006 6:23 PM EST
NEW YORK - Nellie McKay has been dropped by Columbia Records after a dispute over her sophomore album, "Pretty Little Head," turned ugly.

The singer-songwriter, whose 2004 album, "Get Away From Me," was a breakout hit, said Columbia decided not to distribute her new album, which had been set for release Tuesday. McKay had pressed for a 23-song, 65-minute version, while Columbia wanted a 16-song, 48-minute cut.


"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why - they kept the coffeepot, I got the dog," the 21-year-old McKay said in a statement. "All that matters to me is that I can continue to make irritating music which will baffle and enrage."

Calls by The Associated Press to Columbia Records, which is owned by Sony BMG, weren't immediately returned Tuesday.

The split was first reported by Billboard magazine, which said that at recent shows, McKay had given the personal e-mail address of Columbia chairman Will Botwin to fans, encouraging them to urge the release of the album's longer version.

"I thought we had resolved things favorably," McKay told The New York Times for Tuesday editions. "We were just finalizing the artwork."

Botwin, however, left the company and was replaced by former Epic Records chairman Steve Barnett. At a New York concert following the executive change, McKay dedicated a song to Botwin and said the way he was forced out was unfair.

Soon after, McKay was told her album wouldn't be released by Columbia in any form.

"Pretty Little Head" had already been supplied to the press, drawing very positive reviews from Spin and Blender magazines.

McKay has contributed six new songs to the soundtrack of the recently released Rob Reiner film, "Rumor Has It..."

She will co-star with Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper and Ana Gasteyer in the musical "The Threepenny Opera," opening on Broadway in March.

---

On the Net:

http://www.nelliemckay.com


Would they really drop her because of seven songs?


16 songs as compared to 23?


Or was there something else that they are not talking about?

As she says "I can continue to make irritating music which will baffle and enrage."

Sounds like some record execs got pissed to me.

[joelpatterson]

Geez... either way, my heart just bleeds for her

[themaidsroom]

they have not had much recent experience with releasing 2nd records..........






- jack

[bunnerabb]

"All that matters to me is that I can continue to make irritating music which will baffle and enrage."

Boy have you hit the zeitgeist jackpot, toots.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by themaidsroom

they have not had much recent experience with releasing 2nd records..........

That's funny.

Does anyone remember the term 'option'?

Heeh!!!!

[howard]

I do - It's in most contracts!

[s00p3rm4n]

She's wonderful. I saw her in concert a few weeks back in Los Angeles.

So ridiculous that this happened. She was quite encouraged and happy about the album coming out, too! She really pressed for the extra songs - making the point that (which I agree with) songs added after the album's sent to the press will discourage pirating the advances, or add incentive to buy the album.

This is quite discouraging to me. Her first album was on year-end best-of lists all over the place when it came out! I hope she retains rights to the album... someone will pick her up again, I don't doubt that for a second.

This is just like Atlantic dropping Jon Brion before his first album... piece of shite corporate hacks. They listen to cash registers, not music.

[Curve Dominant]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Columbia Records Drops Nellie McKay...

She will co-star with Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper and Ana Gasteyer in the musical "The Threepenny Opera," opening on Broadway in March.

That was the real issue.

When a label puts out an artist's album, they want the artist to be out in the world touring and promoting the album. Not sequestered in a Broadway theater for months on end, doing a musical (which the label has zero investment in).

That's ultimately what pissed off Columbia.

All the rest about the track listing and giving out label execs' personal contact info at gigs just made her look even more of a loose cannon. Columbia had every right to drop her.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by s00p3rm4n

piece of shite corporate hacks. They listen to cash registers, not music.

Not to start a flame war but...

Of course they listen to the cash registers not the music, that is exactly what they are supposed to do. To put it another way, the bottom line is the bottom line They are a for profit company not a nonprofit giving away their products for free. Like it or not it is called capitalism.

Now this is not to say that they know what sells, that is an all together different argument.

They know that "good music" sells and their job is to sell music, I don't have any problem with that. The real complaint that I have with them (outside of their artist contracts and such) is not that they make money, it's that they just don't have a clue what "good music" is in the first place. Too often the "majors" (if there is such a thing anymore) make mistakes and release crap while missing the "good music" right on their doorstep.

The mistake is not the fault of the cash register the mistake is in bad judgment.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Curve Dominant

That was the real issue.

When a label puts out an artist's album, they want the artist to be out in the world touring and promoting the album. Not sequestered in a Broadway theater for months on end, doing a musical (which the label has zero investment in).

That's ultimately what pissed off Columbia.

All the rest about the track listing and giving out label execs' personal contact info at gigs just made her look even more of a loose cannon. Columbia had every right to drop her.

She can do both.

I first met Ricky Martin when he was doing Les Mis and he was still promoting his hits all over the world(he was a big pop star abroad).

And at the time he was the supposed to be the next big thing(before La Vida Loca).

And yeah it was a bitch to do 2 different things at once, but he did it anyway.

Anything can be done or worked out in this business.

[doug_hti]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Columbia Records Drops Nellie McKay

Nellie McKay performs at the 5th Annual Jammy Awards in New York in this Tuesday, April 26, 2005 file photo. McKay has been dropped by Columbia Records after a dispute over her sophomore album, "Pretty Little Head," turned ugly. JOHN SMOCKFrom Associated Press
January 03, 2006 6:23 PM EST
NEW YORK - Nellie McKay has been dropped by Columbia Records after a dispute over her sophomore album, "Pretty Little Head," turned ugly.

The singer-songwriter, whose 2004 album, "Get Away From Me," was a breakout hit, said Columbia decided not to distribute her new album, which had been set for release Tuesday. McKay had pressed for a 23-song, 65-minute version, while Columbia wanted a 16-song, 48-minute cut.


"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why - they kept the coffeepot, I got the dog," the 21-year-old McKay said in a statement. "All that matters to me is that I can continue to make irritating music which will baffle and enrage."

Calls by The Associated Press to Columbia Records, which is owned by Sony BMG, weren't immediately returned Tuesday.

The split was first reported by Billboard magazine, which said that at recent shows, McKay had given the personal e-mail address of Columbia chairman Will Botwin to fans, encouraging them to urge the release of the album's longer version.

"I thought we had resolved things favorably," McKay told The New York Times for Tuesday editions. "We were just finalizing the artwork."

Botwin, however, left the company and was replaced by former Epic Records chairman Steve Barnett. At a New York concert following the executive change, McKay dedicated a song to Botwin and said the way he was forced out was unfair.

Soon after, McKay was told her album wouldn't be released by Columbia in any form.

"Pretty Little Head" had already been supplied to the press, drawing very positive reviews from Spin and Blender magazines.

McKay has contributed six new songs to the soundtrack of the recently released Rob Reiner film, "Rumor Has It..."

She will co-star with Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper and Ana Gasteyer in the musical "The Threepenny Opera," opening on Broadway in March.

---

On the Net:

http://www.nelliemckay.com


Would they really drop her because of seven songs?


16 songs as compared to 23?


Or was there something else that they are not talking about?

As she says "I can continue to make irritating music which will baffle and enrage."

Sounds like some record execs got pissed to me.

Thrill, Botwin got pushed out last month and supposedly was one of the main scapegoats for the SONY/BMG copy protection CD problems.

you lose the A&R that champions you and things usually get tough

[indie]

Originally Posted by doug_hti

you lose the A&R that champions you and things usually get tough

Ain't that the truth!! That's what happened to my band when Donnie Ienner left!!

Micah

[themaidsroom]

does anyone know if she gets to walk with the record ?

i heard her on npr last week.....she was really good




- jack

[SiliconAudioLab]

Ok ok - I know I'm outta the loop but what is a:

"sophomore album" ?

A tenth grade albu-u-u-u-u-m-mm?? The second album? And her next would the "Junior album" and after that the "Senior album"? Seriously.

[AdamJay]

...and people ask Difranco why she declined Columbia.... and Atlantic..... and Geffen....

[Berolzheimer]

Originally Posted by SiliconAudioLab

Ok ok - I know I'm outta the loop but what is a:

"sophomore album" ?

A tenth grade albu-u-u-u-u-m-mm?? The second album? And her next would the "Junior album" and after that the "Senior album"? Seriously.

It's a common colloquialism meaning the second one, as the sophomore year of high school or college is referred to as the sophomore year.

[James Lugo]

After over a decade in Hollywood I've learned one thing and that is: nothing is ever as it appears or what they say in the press.

The second album could suck and the people putting their jobs on the line may have gotten cold feet. It could have been a million things. Last year my buddy had a big deal, touring as an opener for a flagship band, the record was great with big session guys on it. He was cooking. He was wined and dined by the biggest program director in the country. The morning he and his label had an appointment to sign the radio deal and fork over the loot the label called him and backed out of the radio deal and dropped him. They called him that morning. That's the music business. It's happened to me.

That's why I'm still amazed at anyone who breaks in the music biz. People say 'Britney sucks she can't sing, she an autotuners nightmare'. I don't feel that way, she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

She can do both.

I first met Ricky Martin when he was doing Les Mis and he was still promoting his hits all over the world(he was a big pop star abroad).

And at the time he was the supposed to be the next big thing(before La Vida Loca).

And yeah it was a bitch to do 2 different things at once, but he did it anyway.

What, a concert in a different part of the world every Monday night, then back to the Big Apple in time for Tuesday's curtain? I don't think so. If you're not really working on Broadway you're just hanging out on Broadway.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

People say 'Britney sucks she can't sing, she an autotuners nightmare'. I don't feel that way, she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

but remember she was on tv at a young age at had some recognition, ( i would assume ) and she's not bad to look at to boot.

[StoneinaPond]

Originally Posted by pan60

...and she's not bad to look at to boot.

Give the man some glasses!!!!!!!

Between looking at her and boots, I'll take the boots. Especially some ECCOs.

[beyarecords]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

People say 'Britney sucks she can't sing, she an autotuners nightmare'. I don't feel that way, she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

And that means what exactly?! The music business is all about how sexable/depraved/generaly f&8ked up they think you are and nothing to do with talent. And if you think that britney has an iota of talent go and listen to a Shirley Bassey, Artha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson or an Esther Phillips track!

Beya

[True North]

Originally Posted by beyarecords

And that means what exactly?! The music business is all about how sexable/depraved/generaly f&8ked up they think you are and nothing to do with talent. And if you think that britney has an iota of talent go and listen to a Shirley Bassey, Artha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson or an Esther Phillips track!

Beya

I think James was just appreciating Britney's business acumen more than her talent. Point is regardless of what you or anyone else may think of Britney or her ilk she has managed to 'make it' for extended period of time. As we all know success doesen't always mean talent.

For instance, I grew up despising Madonna but you know what that chick is 47 years old and still shaking her ass and selling boat loads of records. Does it mean that she is what most would call artistically talented, not really. But she clearly has an eye for what will sell and how to maintain her career. As anyone who has tried to 'make it' will attest to, it is a mother f'er getting there.

I still can't Madonna's music, but I now have an appreciation and respect for what she has accomplished in what is typically a really, really tough business! That may be of interest to you and it may not but that is where I think James was coming from. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the distribution of music, no matter how much integrity the artist has, is still a business. Some are a little more hands on than others but I can guarantee you someone is always looking out for the bottom line regardless of the artist.

[beyarecords]

Originally Posted by True North

I think James was just appreciating Britney's business acumen more than her talent.

2 minutes from now, I was going to say 10 years!, I will remember not a jot about her business acumen or her so called music. I don't care how many truck loads of the rubbish she sold, she never got a penny from me. My business acumen dictates that when I enter into an agreement to purchase someones music I also have to get something out of it, and I ain't never got anything out of the britney, simon cowell (pop idol) nonsense that has infested the airwaves for so long now.

Beya

[fairweatherfrie]

Nellie is a great girl with the strangest (coolest) sense of humor you'll ever see. It's a shame it had to end like this. Her personality probably had over 50% to do with the whole ordeal. If you don't get her personality, it's easy to think that she's snubbing you. She pissed off some execs surely with her attitude. Amazing artist.

[bongo]

Originally Posted by fairweatherfrie

It's a shame it had to end like this.

It's not over yet. She's releasing a new album in September with a picture taken in my studio on the cover!

[pan60]

way cool!

[midigod]

Originally Posted by beyarecords

I don't care how many truck loads of the rubbish she sold, she never got a penny from me.
Beya

That's great that you don't like it, but you're apparently missing the point. The point is that millions of people have given her (and her team) their money, which she continues to spend any way she likes. That's business acumen. Whether your money is in her pocket or not is not the point of the discussion.

Craig

[HIGHENDONLY]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

After over a decade in Hollywood I've learned one thing and that is: nothing is ever as it appears or what they say in the press.

The second album could suck and the people putting their jobs on the line may have gotten cold feet. It could have been a million things. Last year my buddy had a big deal, touring as an opener for a flagship band, the record was great with big session guys on it. He was cooking. He was wined and dined by the biggest program director in the country. The morning he and his label had an appointment to sign the radio deal and fork over the loot the label called him and backed out of the radio deal and dropped him. They called him that morning. That's the music business. It's happened to me.

That's why I'm still amazed at anyone who breaks in the music biz. People say 'Britney sucks she can't sing, she an autotuners nightmare'. I don't feel that way, she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

Yea i think actors run the music biz, they are so good at making something sound soo good and showing a strong liking towards you, than at the last min they don't want you..Your like HUH

[beyarecords]

Hi James,

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

how about revealing a little more cleavage, and while you're at it how about putting on some tighter trousers, maybe?!

Well, when in Rome.....and all that, of course for those that wish to be 'keeping up with the Joneses' that is !!

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

After over a decade in Hollywood I've learned one thing and that is: nothing is ever as it appears or what they say in the press.

The second album could suck and the people putting their jobs on the line may have gotten cold feet. It could have been a million things. Last year my buddy had a big deal, touring as an opener for a flagship band, the record was great with big session guys on it. He was cooking. He was wined and dined by the biggest program director in the country. The morning he and his label had an appointment to sign the radio deal and fork over the loot the label called him and backed out of the radio deal and dropped him. They called him that morning. That's the music business. It's happened to me.

That's why I'm still amazed at anyone who breaks in the music biz. People say 'Britney sucks she can't sing, she an autotuners nightmare'. I don't feel that way, she's been on top for a while and that is something I could never accomplish.

One thing you're assuming that I just don't buy, and that is that most of the mooks at any record label these days are actually qualified. My experience with record label
execs and A&R people were most of them didnt have a clue.