Robbie Williams ‘goes on strike’
Robbie Williams will refuse to make another album for his record label EMI, according to a report.
The singer is still under contract with EMI, but is unhappy after the label was taken over by private equity firmTerra Firma, his manager has told The Times. Tim Clark told the paper Williams would not deliver a new album because he had no idea how the label would handle it. Radiohead and Sir Paul McCartney have already left EMI, with reports that Coldplay and Kylie Minogue may follow.
EMI’s UK chief executive – who signed many of the label’s current stars – also left the company on Tuesday after 25 years. Mr Clark told The Times: “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.”
He accused Terra Firma boss Guy Hands of acting like a “plantation owner” who had stumbled into the music industry via a “vanity purchase”.
“EMI can sue or pay up his contract,” Mr Clark said. “Robbie needs to know what services EMI can provide to an artist of his standing.” A spokeswoman for Williams told the BBC News website: “They’re Tim’s words given in an interview to The Times and no further comment is being made.” EMI did not return a request for a comment.
Online plan
Williams has sold almost 47 million albums around the world since leaving Take That in 1995, making him one of EMI’s most successful artists.
The star recently told fans there “might not be a proper album out this year and there definitely won’t be a tour any time soon”. “I might just put the B-sides to the next album out first online. Then put an album out in 2009,” he said.
Williams signed a four-album deal with EMI in 2002, reported at the time to be worth £80m. His last album Rudebox was released in 2006 but its sales failed to live up to the high standards of his previous best-sellers. ( news.bbc.co.uk )