Depeche Mode next band to dump label for Radiohead-like approach ? - news, torrent, wikipedia, free MP3, download, lyrics
Depeche Mode next band to dump label for Radiohead-like approach ?

Posted on 01 Jan, 2008 - Bookmark at del.icio.us


If we have to believe a recent Billboard/Reuters news article, EMI is about to loose another big fish along the Radiohead like no-label-street, namely UK synthpop legends Depeche Mode. According to the article Depeche Mode is one of 10 acts which are possibly going to dump their label for a different approach in releasing music. Not that the band has never tried the direct approach before; for their most recent 'Playing The Angel' tour, they released a limited set of almost 50 live 2CD's recorded at tens of cities worldwide giving fans the opportunity to purchase the concert they attended directly via the Mute subcompany Live Here Now. Knowing the very close relationship with Mute label founder Daniel Miller it is sure that the band was quite involved in the whole project.

But what makes Billboard/Reuters decide that the band would soon dump EMI/Mute ? According to the article Depeche Mode no longer need a major label in their corner as the band can still fill arenas and land new tracks on DJ playlists without the support of radio. The writer of the piece however seems to forget that Depeche Mode always had a very privileged relationship with Mute labelowner Daniel Miller which resulted in 50/50 deals where the band was as much responsible as the label when it came to investment and return. It is pretty uncertain that Depeche Mode would give up all this just for the sake of having to run all of the risk alone. However, all depends on the position of Daniel Miller, and as far as we know he is still involved in how Mute is being run, for now that is.

A storm in a glass of water? Time will tell.

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I think that it might be a good wake-up call to a lot of record labels if mammoth acts start packing up and leaving.

i agree, just the thought of buying online pisses me off. i want to go to a store and buy my cds.

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That's how I am too! And I think that in a lot of ways (youtube, myspace, etc. etc.), the openness and directness available via the internet is already being really misused and that the entire space is already oversaturated.

the Mode are amazing...Sounds like an interesting plan to me

mode are amazing, always have been.

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Radiohead signed a new deal...sure, it's different and benefits them more, but it's not like they eliminated the label system altogether.

if they aren't selling a lot of product through the record company why not try a new approach.

Didn't they try something with self-distribution in the mid-90s as well? I might be getting mixed up.

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His last request was a bulletproof vest or a god

i'm not sure about dm?

i know the cure talked about it in the late 90's and early 2000....they have decided to go with suretones on a record by record basis but use their own funds to support tours, etc. the good thing is that in the end, the income if the bands and not shared with tehe label. it's not like they sold tons of records anyways...it's just easier to have a label with distribution behind them then to do it entirely yourself

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Yeh, after reading up I think I was wrong

I still don't get how labels put pressure on established acts though? Unless they've been given some massive advance you surely don't have much leverage. I mean, I know it happens, I just seems to defy logic these days.

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His last request was a bulletproof vest or a god

Outside of tripe like Exciter. In the midst of the reunion craze, they could really do with getting Alan Wilder back.

I also am conflicted.

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"She blackens my name in the press and makes me think abortion is an excellent idea"

Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

"I escaped somehow. Let's go"

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

does depeche mode get any better than that violator album?

i bought that during my faggy synth phase (2005 if you want to know) and found it all flimsy and for the kids. not bad but not good either. maybe if one of the tracks came on in a bar and i was in the right mood, i could get into it. sort of like portishead, except portishead are a lot better. but who wants to hear all of dummy in one go?

edit: people fuck to it probably. i forgot about that. i wouldn't be able to stop laughing if i had to listen to that shit while having sex.
i'm so glad for xtube, because it's shown me that most average person sex is tacky and poorly coordinated. i had it in my head that fuck scenes from wb shows were realistic and always felt bad because i rarely even have time to put clean sheets on my bed. never mind establishing a felicityesque ambiance.

exciter wasn't great but the tour was. as for a "reunion" - i don't care...the last album is one of the best the put out since violator.

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if i went to a depeche mode show as surly pet shop boys fan looking for a fight would i have many takers?

^ hahaha

no, i'm sure most dm fans are psb fans.

one thing i'll say...dm are 1000x better live than psb.

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i agree, but only because psb suck live.

and it's all neil's fault. he's all about opera and theater and spectacle but too cheap to do it right.

things would be different if the passive hedonist was calling the shots. i think he has more of a locker room aesthetic, and the songs would all be fast & loud with none of that ballad shit (although some of them are good).

and no costumes, no sets. lights and smoke could be negotiable.