Artists vs their own record labels: Wiley, Amanda Palmer and more
When artists bite the hands that feed them!
- Wiley vs iTunes: The most recent falling out, Wiley leaked his own album this week ahead of the April 1 release date that was planned for it. Posting on Twitter he explained that there was a mistake on the album and that if iTunes wouldn't correct it he'd leak the album. Which he did. It's thought the dispute might've concerned tracklisting.
Labels, managers and distributors have been a necessary evil for musicians since the industry began. These are the people trying to bleed money out of art, and as such their interests often conflict with what the artists themselves have in mind.
For a long time there was little musicians could do. They needed the machinations of the music industry to get their music out there, and if the label said "jump," then the artist had little choice but to ask how high. Then the internet happened, giving musicians direct access to their fanbase and an easy way to get one over on their labels.
Most recently Wiley has fallen out with iTunes, who apparently refused to let him correct an error on his album ahead of its release. So he corrected it and released it himself, for free. But he's by no means the first - and certainly won't be the last - artist to get into a barney with their label.
Gigwise looks at ten of the most incendiary feuds between artists and the industry big wigs holding the purse strings...
