Live and Epic Records Part Ways, Band removed from Website Options

[SJN1279]

It seems that Live have finally parted ways with Epic Records. While the information isn't confirmed, Live can be no longer be found on the artist page at Epic Records found here:

http://www.epicrecords.com/artists.html?letter=l

To me this is great news, because Epic never supported and terribly mismanaged promotion of Live's latest album, Songs from Black Mountain. They sent Ed on a long promo tour but cut it short two months before the album was finally released. Couple that with frequent album delays, and disjointed touring in the US, Epic ruined any chance for Live to garner sales with their latest album. Throwing them on Red Ink and not capitalizing on an American Idol appearance was the final straw for me as a fan.

Now as let's hope the band sticks together and finds a new label that will show Live more support than they received from the band killer known as Epic Records.

[sandkind]

wow, agree that epic royally sux

[Good_Pain]

This could be a huge move for +LIVE+ and its fans. Epic royally screwed the boys, who could perform before millions on one of America's most popular TV shows and not sell more albums. Poor promotion led to the demise of a potentially great album and I hope that some how this works out for the best for Ed, Chad G, Chad T, and Pat.

[tswart1]

So what now? I doubt they can get a deal now. That epic deal was like inviting an old man to baseball spring training. Show me what you got in a one month period and we'll give you a real deal.

They probably need to write some good stuff and pay for it out of their own pocket.

[CRH]

I don't think that is so accurate to say that Live cannot get a record deal. A band with 4 platinum albums, regardless of a current lack of sales, will have no problem getting a deal. It probably won't be with a major label or for more than an album, but it will not be an issue.

Better Than Ezra was dropped by Elektra after they released "How Does Your Garden Grow." 2 albums later, they released "Before the Robots" on Artemis records. It was their best selling album since "Friction, Baby" in 1996.

I'm not saying this is the case for Live, but it can be done. It would also serve Live better I think. Album sales really don't need to be a focus of theirs now. Being on a small label would allow them to record on their own time and tour the way they have been doing since before V came out.

[Pokey]

Maybe they'll do a Morrissey .. go 7 years without a record deal and finance 2 tours out of their own pockets, then finally find a record lable that'll promote the hell out of them. It was a spin out being in London's train tube and seeing 10foot posters for his new album up all over the busiest spots of the city when 3years prior people had forgotten him. Of course the difference is Live would have to lift their game musically .. whilst I agree they got a pretty raw deal when it came to Epic, the album did nothing to sell itself .. it was balls. If Epic had promoted the hell out of it, the sales may have been much better but only from the mindless drones who are buying whatever is promoted to them as being what they have to have (see most pop music). That would have done wonders for Live's sales but besides putting more money in their pockets I fail to see the good it'd have done.

This could be the best thing for Live, a new start. No lable, a failure of a last record and a real chance for them to take a look at themselves.
I'm not a doom merchant in the sense that I think they'll break up .. everyone who says "I hope they just stay together" is wasting their time thinking that. They all seem to have interests outside of Live, which is good .. but given their background I can't see them breaking up any time soon. Hopefully this will promt them to take time and take stock and remember what sort of a band they can be, find a new lable who is willing to promote them and come back with some kick ass material.

Yes, I came dream.

[Gertjan]

So what now? I doubt they can get a deal now. That epic deal was like inviting an old man to baseball spring training. Show me what you got in a one month period and we'll give you a real deal.

Well, iirc Live had written the songs for SFBM, booked and payed for the recording out of their own pockets. Sony picked it up and signed them, but after various changes in management at Epic/Sony they were put on a side track.

[Heather]

My greatest hope would be that they would go Indie. They would have more artistic freedom, if that is indeed what they want because after hearing SFBM I'm not so sure, but they would need to work really hard to promote themselves or hire a promotion team to do it for them. I'm just not sure at this point that they would want to work that hard. Like someone else said they all seem to have interests outside of Live and its almost like the band is not their main focus anymore. I also agree that its not about album sales anymore but about getting the music that you really want to create out there to your real fans. I guess they have to decide how they want to go about doing that and if its really that important to them. You certainly don't need a record label deal to get your music out there and to do a decent tour. In fact I would think that if they did it on their own and sold a bunch of records it would be even more satisfying to them. If they were paying for everything out of their own pockets they would want to be sure they are really putting a quality cd out there, otherwise what would be the point?

[Lively Chick]

^ I agree with Heather

[+Ed+]

Deumn I wonder wtf Epic are at. They have done terrible with the last albums by LIVE, Oasis and Audioslave, putting the songwriters from the bands on acoustic promo tours that never really worked...I doube tho LIVE will now release an album in 3 years

[aLIVEinNORWAY]

What do we want? Live to sell millions of records again, and suddenly everyone is a Live fan, and when you talk to people in concerts and mention MJ an TC they don't have a clue what you talking abbout. Or do we want Live to be"ours" band. That we are the people that know about this great band, that now one ellls knows about. I'm not sure. Of course it's a better chans for the band to stay togheter if they start to sell millions again.
Here in Norway I just know about one other Live fan, and that was the guy that said that I had to listen to TC. For all my friends Live is just J.I's (me) fav band. It works fine with me. I don't need Live to get to the top of the charts again, it would be nice for Live, and of course I think they deserves it. But as long they keep giving out cd's, and I got this fab site,Live4evil, Bootlegheaven and other great sites it workes for me.

This post has been edited by aLIVEinNORWAY: Feb 19 2007, 5:24 am

[Hoodstock]

What do we want? Live to sell millions of records again, and suddenly everyone is a Live fan, and when you talk to people in concerts and mention MJ an TC they don't have a clue what you talking abbout.

Sorry, but that anti-mainstream and the band is a sell out argument doesn't work with me. Sure I want the band to sell millions. I want to hear them on the radio every time I turn it on and I would love to share my favorite band with millions. That would mean that they are putting out great stuff and possibly more stuff at a greater pace.

Don't be selfish. Live is not your band. Their music is for the people!

[SinfulEyes]

Sorry, but that anti-mainstream and the band is a sell out argument doesn't work with me. Sure I want the band to sell millions. I want to hear them on the radio every time I turn it on and I would love to share my favorite band with millions. That would mean that they are putting out great stuff and possibly more stuff at a greater pace.

Don't be selfish. Live is not your band. Their music is for the people!

Hi I am new here!

I agree Hoodstock. If Live develops some level of success then they are much more likely to continue writing and releasing albums AND tour. If they struggle with getting a label and start being inactive, guess what? They're much more likely to stop doign what they're doing.

Is that what you want Norway guy?

[Heather]

Sorry, but that anti-mainstream and the band is a sell out argument doesn't work with me. Sure I want the band to sell millions. I want to hear them on the radio every time I turn it on and I would love to share my favorite band with millions. That would mean that they are putting out great stuff and possibly more stuff at a greater pace.

Don't be selfish. Live is not your band. Their music is for the people!

I'm kind of confused by your comment. It would seem that you are saying that if a band gets a ton of radio play and they have a lot of fans it automatically means they are putting out good music. Have you listened to the radio recently? In order to have a lot of airplay you have to be a cookie cutter band that appeals to the masses and has a record label that will pay off the radio stations to get their music played. Radio isn't what it used to be. Just because a band is getting airplay it doesn't mean that they are putting out good music. In fact these days I think it is quite the opposite. All of the good bands are the ones that are being ignored by record labels and that you would rarely ever hear on the radio. Is that the way I want it to be or the way it should be? No. But sadly that is the way that it is.

I'd much rather have Live be "my band" than to have them making the kind of music that appeals to everyone, because that kind of music sucks, in my opinion . But I've had this arguement a million times. I'm shutting up now.

This post has been edited by Heather: Feb 19 2007, 12:01 pm

[Heather]

Hi I am new here!

I agree Hoodstock. If Live develops some level of success then they are much more likely to continue writing and releasing albums AND tour. If they struggle with getting a label and start being inactive, guess what? They're much more likely to stop doign what they're doing.

Is that what you want Norway guy?

There are tons of bands out there that are still putting out music and doing extensive tours without the help of any record label. They continue to have strong fan bases that support them because they are still putting quality music out there. You don't need to have huge record sales in order to continue on as a band. Like I said before, I guess it just depends on how hard they would want to work at it.