Roadrunner Records Closed

Question from Stephen Payne (swpayne@blueyonder.co.uk) : Hi Dig I'm reading amongst dismay what's happening to Roadrunner U.K. / Worldwide. Can you lot delight laissez passer us your receive got every bit to what is probable to hap to the bands on the label? I was nether the impression that Roadrunner was massive. Will labels similar Earache alive on? thank you lot Stephen
from swpayne@blueyonder.co.uk

Answer: Th 26th Apr 2012 volition become downwards every bit the solar daytime the global metallic scene went into stupor every bit Roadrunner Records closed its doors  inwards the U.K. together with European Union later beingness absorbed into its raise companionship Warner Music Group.

 For over xxx years since Dutch native Cees Wessels (pictured) founded RR every bit an Indie label inwards the early on 80s, Roadrunner Records led the agency together with shaped the tastes of every metalhead across the globe (including myself). Behind the scenes, the successful careers of the metallic artists  nosotros all know together with beloved was achieved mainly because of the unseen dry soil forces of staffers (A&R, Marketing,  Distribution, Promotion, Touring, Videos, Accounts etc)  toiling away inwards diverse RR offices- many of whom dedicated their working lives to promoting metallic - but were sadly permit become yesterday every bit Warners Music Group closed the RR offices across Europe together with UK. Dozens of staffers were made forthwith redundant, presumably every bit component of cost cutting/ consolidation measures.

RR ceased to move a truthful Independent inwards 2006 every bit the founder sold the bulk of his company to WMG, together with yesteryear the cease of 2010 Warners had completed the buy-out, to assume 100% ownership. Consolidation was inevitable ever since WMG took sole control, because RR only couldn't determine its ain destiny whatsoever more. The July 2011  $3.3 Billion purchase of WMG itself yesteryear the chemical/media grouping Access Industries added around other top-level hierarchy together with no incertitude spurred this decision.

I don't intend the bands contracts amongst Roadrunner volition move affected, records volition even then move released, distro'd, together with promoted every bit normal, a few of the really fundamental staffers volition likely remain. Though around bands similar Slipknot (see Clowns tilt above) together with Trivium receive got taken the shake-up  badly together with went populace to present their back upwards for the staffers who receive got been left jobless yesteryear the business office closures.  Its a rare matter for bands to publicly appreciate the workers behind the scenes,  gotta applaud Clown together with Matt Heafy for taking such a  stance.

I'd speculate that the determination made yesteryear WMG execs to shutter the UK/EU offices together with dramatically downsize the USA HQ  has been prompted yesteryear concerns over falling profits at the grouping every bit a whole inwards tough trading conditions. Sales-wise, Roadrunner is massive, yesteryear far the biggest Metal label inwards the globe -  dwarfing Earache together with fifty-fifty the German linguistic communication powerhouses besides - but what everyone overlooks is that Metal is most a niche genre when compared to the gargantuan sales of Pop/ R&B together with Electronic music which dominates the airwaves together with TV channels.  Metal acts sell concert tickets together with pack out summertime festivals, but  traditionally sell nil singles for example. Even on albums, Metal lags behind Pop-  Nickelback's "Here And Now" (RR/WMG) has sold 150,000 copies to engagement inwards the UK,  which is decent, but pales inwards comparing amongst say, Bruno Mars' 1.5 ane 1000 one thousand selling "Doo Wops together with Holligans " (Elektra/WMG)- that seat out is to a greater extent than inwards the ballpark of what these Major labels are used to dealing with.

 Europe is also a tough  house to produce draw organisation currently, due to recession together with rampant downloading which has decimated profits inwards the recorded music biz. Compared to USA, Europe has e'er been a tricky territory to operate inwards anyway, at that spot are unlike laws, something similar 25 languages together with a unlike civilisation every 200/400 miles or then inwards every direction. Pan-European operations come upwards amongst a hefty toll tag.

To respond your question-- cutting dorsum on staffers doesn't necessarily hateful a cull of bands volition follow. Fans won't receive got to worry- I approximate the bulk of bands will  move on to tape together with move released on the RR imprint label of Warners  -much similar Elektra together with Atlantic  was absorbed earlier it inwards the 1970s. On a solar daytime to solar daytime reason WMG staffers will  receive got on the back-office functions,  spell most of the marketing & advertisement functions volition inevitably transfer to WMG staffers instead. The execs volition opportunity on the fact that Warners produce receive got a history of promoting million-selling radio-friendly Rock acts similar Linkin Park together with Green Day- but does that hateful they tin promote the likes of  Dream Theater,  Opeth or Machine Head too?  Time volition tell if they are right.

As the onetime adage says:  "It's the Music Business - 10% Music, 90% Business."

I wishing all those affected yesteryear the cutbacks the really best of luck.