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Posted: 03.09.2002
Maladroit
Even if you're not a Weezer fan, the behind-the-scenes goings-on related to the (now very much in question) release of their next CD 'Maladroit' really highlights the power of the internet. From unreleased weezer for the masses:

"Toward the end of December 2001 Weezer entered the studio to begin work on their fourth LP. The album began to take shape as Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell, Scott Shriner, the newly acquired bassist, and Patrick Wilson started work on a multitude of demos. In an unprecedented move for such an accomplished and prolific band as Weezer, following the daily band recordings, Weezer.com, the official web site, would host full, unedited MP3s of the session.

Each day, Weezer.com would include a report about Weezer-related happenings, including pictures of the band playing, with the Audio/Visual section soon receiving a fresh update of music, sometimes more than ten songs at once! Each song could be downloaded in its entirety, though, of course, their quality was not quite of an album; they were merely demos and had not been through the mixing and mastering process.

Toward the end of January, the band wrapped up the basic recording sessions and prepared to start the mixing process. Most fans assumed we would not hear from the demo tracks until the official release of 'Maladroit', tentatively scheduled, at the time, for a release on April 30th. Amazingly, Weezer.com began offering mixed versions of the tracks on its web site on a regular basis. Sometimes there would be several different versions of a mixed track as the band read over feedback from fans on the Weezer fan sites and message boards and made subsequent tweaks.

While all this was happening, radio stations began downloading the demos and mixes from Weezer.com and playing them on national programs. College radio stations proved to be the most prominent, but several popular national stations, such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Y100, started looping demos on their playlist regularly. This is when Interscope, Weezer's record label, began to take notice.

On February 19th, 2002, Weezer.com updated with word that 'Dope Nose' was officially added to the playlists at 106.7 KROQ, Los Angeles and 94.7 The Zone, Chicago. This was significant for several reasons. One, 'Dope Nose' had absolutely no promotion other than a link being to the MP3 being on Weezer.com. Interscope had no involvement. The band had not encouraged fans to request any of the demos on radio stations. Two, 106.7 KROQ is the largest radio station in the entire United States. Making it onto their air space is impressive enough, but an unfinished track with no promotion making it onto the official song rotation is unprecedented. This is where Interscope stepped in.

Following the announcement on February 19th, the Audio/Visual section of Weezer.com was shut down by Interscope. All that was left on the page was a black background with red lettering that stated: 'audio/visual page page shut down'."

Then on March 1st, Weezer.com was updated to say: "Yesterday, at Interscope's insistance, Rivers Cuomo had to write a letter to all the radio stations that he had previously sent the 'Maladroit' promo CD to, asking them to hold off promoting the tracks on the CD until the record company was ready to service the 'Dope Nose' single. With so many radio stations having shown immediate support of the songs, the band is now crossing their fingers that the fantastic wave of support at radio is not cast into confusion..."

On March 7th, Weezer.com once again addressed the issue: "Unfortunately, even as all the reports of radio success come in, the album itself seems to be no closer to coming out, as relations have become further strained with the record company. Now that 'Dope Nose' is taking off, Intersope has begun to show a decided interest in the band's new creation, 'Maladroit'. Now it seems that Interscope wants to claim ownership and take possession of the 'Maladroit' master tapes that Weezer created, produced and paid for independent of any record company aid. It's going to be difficult for them to turn over the tapes which they worked so hard on..."

What big record companies fail to realize in this day and age -- with programs like Limewire and Audio Galaxy at every fan's -- and every radio station's -- fingertips, is that they no longer have end-all be-all control over the artists on their labels. Most Weezer fans, myself included, already have 'Maladroit' on CD. And we have it on CD because the band allowed us to have it. I didn't download anything to be a 'music pirate' and I fully intend to give the band (and their mafia-style label) my money when (if?) 'Maladroit' is finally released. But a forced-letter by a hardball record company isn't stopping anything. Billboard has just made 'Dope Nose' a No. 25 debut on the publication's Modern Rock Tracks Audience chart this week! The single is the number one request in cities like Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco, Dallas, and Boston -- and all stations are airing the requested song.

If you'd like to get involved and sign an online petition asking Interscope to "free Maladroit", you can do so here. This one is definitely going to be interesting to watch unfold. I just hope it unfolds in Weezer (and their fans') favors...



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Thanks *sweetie* for all the love :) on my blog. Have a fabu weekend.

¤ ¤ credit: felicia | 03.09.02 at 07:47 AM | link--this ¤ ¤

Over 2600 signatures on that so far! Record companies give me a horrible taste in my mouth. They accuse us of 'stealing' from the artists by downloading mp3's, but why is it that the average artists get under a quarter for each CD sold? Where's all that money going? Oh yea, the record company. Just think, if U2 sells 5,000,000 copies of their new CD and they get .25 for each one, they get $1,250,000. Sure that's a lot of money. If the CD itself costs $17, you knock out the .25 each for the artist, that leaves $83,750,000 for the record company! You can't tell me that's not unbalenced as hell, and flat out wrong. Those who create the music should keep a MAJORITY of the money. RIAA is an organization that should be abolished, or at least combated by an organazion of Recording ARTISTS of America so ARTISTS rights can be taken back from the companies that stole them so long ago.

¤ ¤ credit: jesse | 03.09.02 at 08:03 AM | link--this ¤ ¤

What do you expect from a lable whose Senior Vice-President is Fred Durst?

¤ ¤ credit: michele | 03.09.02 at 11:25 AM | link--this ¤ ¤

A very good point! :-)

¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 03.09.02 at 02:29 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

label. not lable. but you knew that.

this is me being anal.

¤ ¤ credit: michele | 03.09.02 at 04:15 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

A band like u2 i'm sure gets more then .25 a disc, they're too powerful to not. The average group, though, probably only gets that much.

I've downloaded the weezer mp3's, but i don't really dig them. its too bland, unemotional. where's the heart of the blue album. sure, its a hard thing to live up to, but put some effort into it.

besides, if you read their website, they're already recording another album. sheesh.

¤ ¤ credit: Mike | 03.11.02 at 11:35 AM | link--this ¤ ¤




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