2017 Arcade Fire LP

I have heard (take it with a grain of salt obviously) that key members had been dying to leave Merge at the earliest opportunity and that the relationship between Merge and said members was not particularly...good. (Notice Merge were not thanked in their Grammy speech.)

10 years in, many millions of dollars at stake, I could totally see someone bristling and wanting a change. Like I noted above, even Spoon is off Merge now, back to Matador, the label that way back when first signed them before they left, disastrously, for a major label. The question remains, though, at this point what can a major label offer them that Merge could not? Maybe Merge itself was the problem, not the services it provided.

If a band's needs exceed a label's resources, both parties get frustrated.

Sure, but again, I've been wondering out loud what a major label can offer Arcade Fire that Merge cannot. Obviously money seems like the number one culprit, but I really can't conceive of a major label offering more favorable terms than whatever the band gets on Merge. As for promotion, distribution, that sort of thing, I really don't feel like Merge has been lacking. At least, I don't see how anybody could make those claims, considering the band's sales, sell out tours, that sort of thing. They will never be lacking for success. Could be just old fashioned irreconcilable differences.

*makes an overt throat-clearing sound*

http://alchemisteating.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/566x642xglass-of-water.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Ku3oLTsPTw.jpg

I actually don't know the reasons behind the new move but "irreconcilable differences" and/or "they didn't mention Merge on a speech" are not the reason. I've been to Merge offices and know their staff and know what they're capable of, and the same with Columbia. "Money" is not it, Columbia is a big label with staff and connections, Merge is a small label that otherwise puts out Caribou records. Idk, we're talking about the difference between a staff of twenty and a staff of hundreds. It's not just about who offers more money

It also might have something to do with Live Nation but I don't follow that side of the business because it makes me feel shitty

I referenced the speech only as a potential indicator of discontent, not the cause/source of ~beef~ or w/ever

I do understand the confusion, I mean the last three albums on Merge were all released in all possible formats, in multiple editions, with distribution everywhere (though I guess there was major label help with that?), with elaborate artwork and marketing campaigns, what I have to assume were substantial recording budgets, etc. In terms of actual, material differences, it's not really clear to me either where the advantage lies.

"Reflektor" was helped by a major, and sold less than "The Suburbs" (which itself has sold significantly more than "Funeral").

xpost I trust your opinion more than most, but still can't figure this out (as far as armchair weekend distraction goes). Staff of dozens, staff of hundreds - they can't really become more popular a draw as a live act, I don't see them selling significantly more records. So I think it has to be about money, at least indirectly, which means it could very well be about Live Nation, like one of those 360 deals. (Though of course a 360 deal gone bad is one of their cheeky ironic marketing narratives this time around. It's all getting a bit meta.)

Band moving from one well run label run to another well run label does not seem like a topic worth this much speculation. YMMV.

Arcade Fire signing with SST would be entertaining.

They are the most successful indie band working right now and possibly the most successful indie band of all time (?). I think speculating how and why indie lost one of its most iconic bands to the major labels is worthy of discussion and speculation.

zpost

Band moving from one well run label run to another well run label does not seem like a topic worth this much speculation. YMMV.

I'm interested in this not really because of the specific band, more as just general trivia on the state of the industry

wrote speculating/speculation twice please ignore.

I mean it wouldn't be the first time an indie label jumps to a major label. There's quite a few important rock albums that came from indie bands jumping ship: Nevermind, Goo, Dookie, The Downward Spiral, The Moon & Antarctica, Elephant, Fever to Tell...

Imagine if Nirvana, Green Day, Sonic Youth and Nine Inch Nails had remained on an indie label back then? They wouldn't be 1/10 as popular as they are now. The internets changed the rules of the game so that's why I'm curious about the change of heart, it seemed like the correct move in the past 15 years or so was to move from a major label contract to an indie or self owned one.

Most of those major label jumps came after one or two independent releases, not four highly successful releases that have collectively sold millions. As noted, not sure what Merge has not been able to do that a major could do better.

Yes that's my point, I think, seems at this point that having AF in your label benefits more the label than the band.

Think of the Magnetic Fields. Granted, Merritt is a weird grump, but Merge managed fine with a high-concept triple CD that seemed much harder to market than the Arcade Fire. But then he left anyway.

maybe an "indies vs majors in the 2010s" thread would be appropriate

Arcade Fire signing with SST would be entertaining.

I remember Thurston Moore explaining the reason for Sonic Youth signing to Geffen as "being able to pay the rent is pretty cool."

Arcade Fire should buy SST.

Signs Of Life is really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UymXRxJPOQo

This whole album is a very welcome change for them.

god there are definitely ways to use Regine's voice well but that is not it, yikes

had the same thought

They should have just linked to this thread instead.

http://www.stereoyum.com/072217/arcade-fire-premature-evaluation-everything-now/review/#

Yes they should've. That's a mediocre idea educated very, very poorly.

With this piece, we’re inaugurating a new feature—a review before the review before the review of a new album.

Too long, didn't not not read.

"Clever"

That's a mediocre idea educated very, very poorly.

otm

so this is some experimental/editorial marketing thing where they designed a bunch of sites to comment on the nature of the promotional cycle or something

Can't see the post-forest for the post-trees

it's really...like...idk I consider it unseemly to, as part of one's PR, complain about absolutely everybody giving you ink

Referring to what yesca is saying above... from the perspective of what I see and understand as a music retailer in the UK there's still a truly massive difference between being on, say, Merge and being on a major label. The distribution reach and marketing power of the majors in particular is huge in comparison to even the biggest indie labels. It's issues of both pure spending power and also industry infrastructure. Albums through Sony/Uni/Warners are on another level in terms of wide-ranging commercial potential in comparison to even a hugely successful band on a hugely successful indie label. To me it still feels like a world of difference between the two. I can absolutely understand a band as successful as Arcade Fire still feeling like there's further they can go, if their ambition is to be even bigger again.

Not that I necessarily agree with said move, but I can certainly understand why a band or artist may do it.

I do understand the confusion, I mean the last three albums on Merge were all released in all possible formats, in multiple editions, with distribution everywhere (though I guess there was major label help with that?), with elaborate artwork and marketing campaigns, what I have to assume were substantial recording budgets, etc. In terms of actual, material differences, it's not really clear to me either where the advantage lies.

i'd *love love love* to read a detailed piece on the differences (dollars, tactics, reach, whatever) between the release and promotion of Reflektor and this new one. someone do that.

totally different digital teams

this is like their attempt at 90s U2 irony isn't it, but it's way more Pop than Achtung Baby

You'll be able to buy the new one in Sainsburys.

they put out a fake story about filing legal claims on the Millennial Whoop, this is all so corny and unbecoming of a big famous successful band

They are being so ironic they have found a way for me not to want to hear a new album by a band I like.

this is like their attempt at 90s U2 irony isn't it, but it's way more Pop than Achtung Baby

I recall people saying that about their last album as well. But it could be that this is the Pop to that album's Achtung Baby, albeit a very weak Achtung Baby.

this is from january but lol

http://www.billlboard.co/articles/news/7865084/arcade-fire-suing-artists-millennial-whoop/

Legal representation for Arcade Fire has confirmed that the “Everything Now” hitmakers have filed a series of intellectual property and copyright lawsuits this week. In what could be a precedent-setting decision, the band has left it up to a judge to determine whether or not they invented the so-called Millennial Whoop.

“After careful and sometimes agonizing consideration,” says Jared Fleming, Arcade Fire’s longtime lawyer, “the band contends their signature ‘Wa-oh-wa-oh’ sequence has been plagiarized by several top acts, and therefore seeks fair and just compensation.” Arcade Fire claim that artists from Katy Perry to Fall Out Boy owe their success in part to their wrongful use of the euphoric snippet. Proof, they say, comes in the form of their 2004 hit “Wake Up,” which showcases the rousing sequence, which the band created in the summer of 2002 in a church in Montreal that served as their rehearsal studio. A video of the precise creative process has been submitted as evidence along with their legal actions.

i'm sorry, it is fake news. a friend posted it and i was fooled by the convincing fake billboard.co website

For fake news to work tho they need to be credible which this totally is.

"A video of the precise creative process has been submitted as evidence along with their legal actions." is pretty funny, i can't believe i read that and still suspended disbelief!

just imagining the creative process that leads to whoa-ing

Chemistry is probably the worst song they've ever done