10/10/2007
R.E.M. Likes Current Industry Business Model
Yesterday, as the music world waited in rapt anticipation for the release of Radiohead’s new album, a statement was made that comes off as strangely bizarre in the context of Radiohead’s new and potentially industry changing business model: R.E.M. announced it would debut “Until the Day is Done,” a new song from its upcoming 2008 album, on CNN’s popular news program Anderson Cooper 360º. What’s seemingly even a little stranger is that this will be the second time that R.E.M. has premiered work on the news network. In 2002, the band aired their network-news-program-themed video “Bad Day” for the first time on AC 360º.
Ok. A network-news-show-esque video premiered on a network news show kinda makes sense. I can see the appeal in that. “Until the Day is Done” also has ties to the show as it’s featured in an upcoming CNN environmental documentary Planet In Peril which is hosted by Anderson Cooper.
On top of that, CNN and R.E.M.’s record label, Warner Bros. Records Inc., were both owned by mega-media conglomerate AOL Time Warner until March of 2004, when a group of private investors purchased Warner Music Group, owners of Warner Bros. Records. However, close ties remain between AOL Time Warner and Warner Music Group, and AOL Time Warner might still retain partial ownership due to trademark licensing issues.
So, wow. Talk about juxtaposition with the new Radiohead D.I.Y. It seems that the R.E.M., who grew out of the Athen’s post-punk D.I.Y. scene, have become decidedly un-D.I.Y. Not that it wasn’t already clear that this band was corporate, but talk about extremism. Whoring yourself out on network news isn’t exactly cool in this day and age. Didn’t Michael Stipe realize that there is a salary cap on bands these days?
Read more about R.E.M.'s upcoming performance.
Visit R.E.M.'s offical site.
Posted by Brad on 10/10/2007 6:15 PM in Rock, Editorial
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