Professor Green has criticised EMI’s handling of his recent releases – and jumped headfirst into the Universal acquisition debate.
Writing on Twitter earlier today, Green – real name Stephen Manderson – said that the second single from album At Your Inconvenience, Never Be A Right Time (2012, No.35) had been “rushed” by his label, EMI imprint Virgin Records.
He also claimed that the video for follow-up single Remedy (2012, No.18) was “ a month late” and that he is now seeing “similar problems with the [new single] Avalon video unfold”.
“How would you feel if a company taking 25% of your earnings weren't doing their jobs properly?,” he asked his 1.2m followers. “Would you pay someone not doing their job?
"Why would your own record label hinder you? Answers on a postcard."
As Pro Green’s ire began to pick up, his attention turned towards the proposed £1.2bn buyout of EMI by Universal: “If everyone at EMI is quaking in their shoes about their jobs because of the Universal situ, why not do your jobs properly? Simple solution?”
Certain individuals at EMI were marked out for praise – with Green admitting that “there are a lot of people who are amazing at their jobs @ EMI and even more frustrating is the shit they have to endure for having an artists best interests at heart.”
A&R director of Virgin Glynn Aikins was called “on the ball” by the artist.
Meanwhile, Josh Franceschi from band You Me At Six replied to Green by saying there were “only a few good eggs” at the label – including publicist Phoebe Sinclar.
However, not everyone at EMI was applauded. A clearly angered Green promised his fans “the real” and posted the below series of revelatory tweets, clearly referencing a '360' deal with the label:
“A live gig = 10% to agent, costs and expenses, 20% management commission then 25% to a label who hardly even come to gigs let alone help.
“If everyone at EMI is quaking in their shoes about their jobs because of the Universal situ, why not do your jobs properly? Simple solution?
“A lot of artists feel the same but we all just bend over... Fuck that.
“You can't chat to me about work, I used to pay my band with money I made from club PA's because I wanted to put on a proper show.
“Just to reiterate something for the stupid, my problem isn't that they take that money, it's that there are people not working for it.
“It is a liberty but piracy forever changed the industry so it's adapting... We need labels, labels need artists. We all need to do our JOBS!”
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