WILLIAMS TO WITHHOLD NEW ALBUM FROM EMI IN PROTEST

Last updated: Friday, January 11, 2008

WILLIAMS TO WITHHOLD NEW ALBUM FROM EMI IN PROTEST

British singer ROBBIE WILLIAMS has vowed to withhold his new album from record label EMI in protest over redundancies at the company.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

The Angels singer's eighth album was slated for a September (08) release, but the date could be under threat following the $6.4 billion (GBP3.2 million) takeover of EMI by private equity company Terra Firma in August last year (07) - and subsequent job cuts within the firm.

Tim Clark, Williams' manager, insists the star is close to considering leaving his $160 million (GBP80 million) deal with EMI.

He says, "The question is, 'Should Robbie deliver the new album he is due to release to EMI?'

"We have to say the answer is 'No'. We have no idea how EMI will market and promote the album. They do not have anyone in the digital sphere capable of doing the job required. All we know is they are going to decimate their staff.

"EMI can sue or pay up his contract. Robbie needs to know what services EMI can provide to an artist of his standing."

And Williams is not the only EMI-signed artist threatening to pull his releases from the label - Coldplay could also follow suit, after they admitted their upset at the departure of former EMI U.K. boss Tony Wadsworth.

Dave Holmes, Coldplay's manager, says, "Tony was a lot of reason a lot of bands signed to EMI. Artists want to work with music people, not finance guys.

"Why would you want to release an album with a record company in the middle of massive lay-offs? Coldplay have a lot of options. They are in no hurry to deliver their new album."

Coldplay's last album, X+Y, was released in 2005, with new LP Prospekt slated for a 2008 release.

Source: WENN

| Friday, January 11, 2008

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WILLIAMS TO WITHHOLD NEW ALBUM FROM EMI IN PROTEST

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