MAX CAVALERA Talks About The Change In Guard At ROADRUNNER RECORDS!

As previously reported, ROADRUNNER RECORDS may be closing all of their European Offices! And we have been informed that major changes are taking place at their U.S. offices. Here is a statement from MAX CAVALERA (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY & CAVALERA CONSPIRACY) regarding this punch in the stomach to our Heavy Music family!



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Roadrunner Records

ROADRUNNER RECORDS' Founder/CEO Cees Wessels Resigns - Statement Available!

As previously reported, ROADRUNNER RECORDS may be closing all of their European Offices, Ed Christman of Billboard.biz has filed the following update:

"In a changing of the guard at Roadrunner Records, founder/CEO Cees Wessels is leaving the label 17 months after the completion of its sale to the Warner Music Group. Concurrent with his departure, approximately 36 staffers worldwide were let go today (April 26th), sources tell Billboard.biz. The exact number was unclear at press time.

"Concurrent with his departure, the label is being realigned so that it will utilize the Warner Music Group for back-office and other support capabilities while retaining frontline label functions like A&R, marketing, promotion and publicity.

"In the U.S., Roadrunner will continue to operate as a standalone frontline label, although 16 staffers in the States are losing their jobs.

"Internationally, Roadrunner's staff will continue to carry out some label functions, such as marketing, promo and publicity. Other responsibilities, principally support functions, will be carried out by Warner Music teams, which means that 20 staffers will lose their jobs.

"Roadrunner, which continues to be a strong brand in rock music, will continue to have personnel in every territory it does currently, with the exception of the Netherlands office, which is being shuttered. Wessels founded the label in the Netherlands in 1980.

"Longtime label President Jonas Nachsin, who has served in that role since 1999, will remain on staff."

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Roadrunner Records

The Music Industry Takes A Punch To The Stomach; Roadrunner Records Closes International Offices!

Wow! Here is some evidence that the music business is broken, and might never be put back together again like Humpty Dumpty! In 2010, ROADRUNNER RECORDS got bought out by the Warner Music Group and as we all know this always means that the employees are the ones that will take the punch to the stomach via either salary reductions or by simply put: being "fired". While there had already been someone layoffs at ROADRUNNER RECORDS, today the hammer went down hard on their UK and Canadian employees.

According to various sources, ROADRUNNER RECORDS is closing their UK and Canadian offices. Apparently, their German office will face the same destiny. What about their U.S. team? Well, there are rumors that some staff members have been dismissed ever since WMG took over ROADRUNNER. The label has obviously been very quiet about this extreme situation! So far the only "statement" regarding this matter was this Twit by @ROADRUNNER_UK:

"What a day..."

Here is what TRIVIUM's front man Matt Heafy Twitted regarding this sad truth:

“I wish I knew who or what to blame specifically, and chew off it’s heads – but Roadrunner records just fired some of their best employees,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s corporate greed or it’s due to the fact that no one puts value in physical art and that piracy created a domino effect, but our friends who are being tossed away so quickly by the label are now out of jobs. These people helped bands get where they are today. Wanna defend piracy? Do what you do for me and 10,000 others for free. Whatever your trade is – give me that for free or you’re a jerk. The real issue aside from whatever caused it is that in an industry NEEDING loyal people – higher-ups in their cushy desks wrote them off. Regardless of your stance, we all work for a living. I do what I do to pay RENT. If I wanted millions, I’d be in pop music. And the real fact of the matter is that I am pissed off at my GREEDY record label for canning my friends who helped build our band. My heart goes out to my friends who have been delivered this awful news today. You helped us get where we are. You’re in our thoughts. Truth is: I love Roadrunner. I'm upset with what happened to the people I care about. Roadrunner helped build the Metal that I love. And to address the other topic from my heat of battle. Technology is required in life. Technology in music reaches far beyond the physical.. In most places of the world, it's all bootlegged – there isn't officially a music market – people need to download music, or not even get it. The times are changing. Yes. Completely true. But the main thing is that we need to treat people like we want to be treated… Of course I'll be emotional when it has to do with people I love and care and respect for helping me. If I blew up on the wrong parties… Then I apologize. But. The main point is that people need to remember, Internet aside-we are dealing with human beings. I feel for my friends. It wasn't ROADRUNNER canning people. It's the "company" who "owns" it. Long live ROADRUNNER (the memory of something that once was great).”

To this Dez Fafara (DevilDriver/COAL CHAMBER) added:

"For you RR closing offices may be about your favorite BAND but in reality it's about the PEOPLE WHO MADE YOU AWARE OF YOUR FAVORITE BAND that worked at RR! From the Girl answering the phone to the ART department to the A&R who FOUND your favorite band in some small club and WORKED to sign them! To the PRESS persons who work day and night to get your favorite BAND in Mags on websites etc so they became visible and had a Shot at making their dreams come true! So while you want to worry and it's alright to do so for YOUR FAVORITE RR BAND/you should stop and take a moment to think about all the jobs lost, families out of work and band that will be getting dropped. You should TAKE THE TIME TO THANK IN WRITING ALL THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT BELIEVED IN YOUR FAVORITE BAND BEFORE YOU EVEN HEARD THEIR NAMES …."

While METAL BLADE RECORDS' CEO Brian Slagel stated:


"Sad to see the closing of our friends at Roadrunner in Europe and the UK. What happened today to Roadrunner is one of the biggest reasons I never sold to a major. When we started 30 years ago we worked with Roadrunner. They distributed our stuff in Europe and we did their stuff in the USA. Sad day. We always had a great relationship with everyone at Roadrunner from Cees Wessels on down. Great label, sorry to see so many out of work. The music business changes all the time. Please support the bands and labels you like. Thanks!"


Related links:
Roadrunner Records

The State of the Music Industry

We recently found out that SoundScan had the lowest numbers in history! SoundScan, for those of you who don't know, was created by Nielsen Media in order to track the number of record sales. This is how the Billboard Charts gathers the statistics they use to create their famous music charts. It is also how record labels keep track of the records they are pushing. You may be asking yourself how does this affect the artists, the fans and the record labels.

The way the record industry works has changed drastically since the Digital Music era took over in the late 90's. Before the Digital era, people were forced to buy music, and people would listen to the radio or watch MTV to find about new artists. People would also go to a record store to buy some music. You would also give music to others through music vouchers. And going to a concert was always a big deal. What happened to all of this?

When Compact Disc technology was introduced in the 80's it was seen as a huge step up, since it meant that more data could be stored in a smaller device. The technology also gave the user the power to browse through the tracks of a CD in a quick and efficient manner. This was all very positive until the technology got ahead of itself and all of a sudden you could burn your own CD's. Exchanging music is a great way to find new artists, and many of us would create mix tapes for our friends in order to teach team about new artists. The problem with CD burning is that people started abusing the technology, specially once the file sharing websites like Napster became the way most people got their music. In other words, the need to purchase music or to listen to the radio or watch MTV, became irrelevant.

Around the end of the 90's the record industry saw a big decline in sales, but were still able to keep record sales at a decent level. Mainly because the generation of the 90's was used to buying music and going to concerts. So even though free music was available, people were still investing money in the music industry. Then it all went downhill at the turn of the century with the introduction of MP3 players, since it became very easy to store a lot of music in a small device. At that time the record industry took a Mike Tyson punch to the stomach and hasn't been able to recover.


You may be wondering what happened to Tower Records, Virgin Megastore and all the big record stores that helped the music industry prevail for so long. They all had to close down because people were not buying music. Before Virgin Megastore closed in Union Square here in New York City, you would see people wandering the store, looking at music and rarely would you see people buying records. Part of it has to do with the economic crisis, the other part has to do with file sharing, but the key factor is that record prices had to go up in order for the music industry to stay afloat. So what now?

The record labels are on a bind because if people don't support the artists they need to push, then the record sales are low and they have no money to break new bands. This is why record labels nowadays have to compromise when signing new talent. Roadrunner Records for example has been signing established acts such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd and The Steve Miller Band in order to prevail. As we all know Roadrunner Records had a huge influence on the Heavy Music scene in the 90's and signed bands such as Slipknot, Fear Factory, Sepultura and Machine Head. While they would like to sign new bands, the market place is closing the doors to new bands. Why?

Thanks to the Digital era it became too easy to create a record with Pro Tools and to distribute it to the world through websites like My Space. As a result, there are way too many mediocre bands and people are getting used to it. This is sad because people are not caring about the quality of the music as much as they should. So when a new record comes out, people have either heard it already thanks to the internet or they simply shut it off since they expect another mediocre record. So why won't mainstream radio and TV stations help the music industry like they did in the 90's? Well, since there is no demand from the public for new artists, they can't afford to play new artists. What can be done?

It is imperative for people to become more aware of the consequences that getting music for free has and not attending concerts have on the entire music industry. The artists who are looking for a break need to apply the old school philosophy of getting on the road and playing anywhere they can, specially when labels are looking for a band that will bring in revenue from the get go. The fans need to buy music and merchandise, and also attend concerts. Otherwise, the big labels will have to shut down and the concert tickets will get more expensive since there will be less bands around. And with the economic crisis in effect, then the labels will have to drop bands or simply shut down. It is a domino effect and it is killing the music industry. And really hurting the underground Heavy Music scene.

Related links:
Billboard Charts