Fleetwood Mac and Warner Bros.

[Bandon]

So I know FM has its own distribution company, but what's there status with Warner Bros.? I mean we now know Stevie is meeting a contractual obligation with Warner/Reprise. My thought is if FM was still connected to WB they would have allowed Stevie to put off her solo album until the new FM LP and tour.Basically what should be a highly successful lp and tour with Christine. So I assume there is no FM Warners partnership. Any thoughts?

[ViscountViktor]

On the Warner Bros website there is no mention of Fleetwood Mac in their artists section, which lists all their artists, so I assume they are not with them.

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by Bandon

So I know FM has its own distribution company, but what's there status with Warner Bros.? I mean we now know Stevie is meeting a contractual obligation with Warner/Reprise. My thought is if FM was still connected to WB they would have allowed Stevie to put off her solo album until the new FM LP and tour.Basically what should be a highly successful lp and tour with Christine. So I assume there is no FM Warners partnership. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure what Fleetwood Mac's status with Warner/Reprise is, so I can only speculate. I think the Stevie Nicks owes Warner/Reprise one more album under her contract, thus, the quickie recording sessions for "24 Karat Gold".

I do not think Fleetwood Mac is currently under contract with ANY record label, considering the last EP was released without a label to ITunes. During the recording of "Say You Will", The Mac were negotiating a possible deal with Interscope Records, but decided to go with Warner/Reprise. So, I know, at that time, they didn't necessarily have a deal with Warner.

So, I think what record label that the next Fleetwood Mac album is released under is anybody's guess. Due to their iconic status and the return of Chris, they will have NO PROBLEM finding a number of major labels that are willing to court them. My guess is that they will return to Warner/Reprise since that label holds the rights to most of their catalog. Once again, I have no documentation and this is ALL SPECULATION.

[louielouie2000]

I tend to think you're right. If FM were still under contract with Warner Bros, I can imagine Warner Bros would highly encourage Stevie to jettison recording a solo album in favor of a Mac one. This is because the Mac tends to sell at least 50% better than Stevie does solo. Plus, Warner Bros has a much larger Mac back catalogue they can capitalize on vs Stevie's solo career. When established artists like Fleetwood Mac release new albums, their old albums tend to see a spike in sales at the same time. Especially with Christine back in the fold, Warner Bros would highly encourage a new Mac album vs a Stevie solo one. My guess is the band probably hasn't chosen a record label yet. But I could be wrong... maybe Warner Bros wants both albums out quickly to offset costs & for them to bolster each other's success.

[Bandon]

Exactly. The way it's playing out is that FM and WB aren't collaborating and WB is pressing Steve's solo to capitalize on the Christine-FM tour and lp talk.

[Bandon]

I hate to be a Debbie downer..but there be a chance that FM could strike a deal with Warners during the next few months and end up pushing Steve's solo release until after the FM release. I sure hope not. Am I thinking too much?

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by Bandon

I hate to be a Debbie downer..but there be a chance that FM could strike a deal with Warners during the next few months and end up pushing Steve's solo release until after the FM release. I sure hope not. Am I thinking too much?

Interesting theory, Bandon. I could also see this happening. We have no confirmed release date for "24 Karat Gold", and I think she has recorded substantially more than 12 songs for that record. They could just give some of those songs to The Mac, sign a deal and get the record out by next Spring for a second round of touring.

[BlueDenimLamp]

Originally Posted by Bandon

I hate to be a Debbie downer..but there be a chance that FM could strike a deal with Warners during the next few months and end up pushing Steve's solo release until after the FM release. I sure hope not. Am I thinking too much?

Originally Posted by WatchChain

Interesting theory, Bandon. I could also see this happening. We have no confirmed release date for "24 Karat Gold", and I think she has recorded substantially more than 12 songs for that record. They could just give some of those songs to The Mac, sign a deal and get the record out by next Spring for a second round of touring.

Seriously...What are you two smoking???
Why would WB shelve a record for an artist they have a contract with (Stevie) that has been recorded, mixed, mastered and is simply waiting for whatever loose ends that need to be tied up before being pressed packaged and distributed with a projected drop date of October... It seems FM has no contract, and a record that is no where near being finished and ready for release so why would WB turn it's back on a sure thing in favor of something that doesn't even exist yet...Not to mention the fact that Stevie has been working at warp speed to get things done BEFORE the FM tour...Can WB and FM really afford to piss her off by shelving her record??? I think not...If FM/WB want Stevie on board with a new FM record they had better keep her happy or else she'll drag her feet again when it comes to a new FM record for another couple of years...This is FM's last shot at recording so they had better not blow it...Tour and new record in 2015 then 2 or 3 years off and a "farewell" tour 2018...
I hate to be a "Debbie downer" but has anyone done the math on all this??? Christine turns 71 in a few days and if FM were to be still touring in August of 2018 she would be 75 and Stevie will be 70...

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I tend to think you're right. If FM were still under contract with Warner Bros, I can imagine Warner Bros would highly encourage Stevie to jettison recording a solo album in favor of a Mac one. This is because the Mac tends to sell at least 50% better than Stevie does solo. Plus, Warner Bros has a much larger Mac back catalogue they can capitalize on vs Stevie's solo career. When established artists like Fleetwood Mac release new albums, their old albums tend to see a spike in sales at the same time. Especially with Christine back in the fold, Warner Bros would highly encourage a new Mac album vs a Stevie solo one. My guess is the band probably hasn't chosen a record label yet. But I could be wrong... maybe Warner Bros wants both albums out quickly to offset costs & for them to bolster each other's success.

I think that used to be the case. But if you compare TISL and SYW, Fleetwood Mac sold only 25% better than Stevie. In general, Fleetwood Mac's back catalog, namely Rumours, will sell better than Stevie's back catalog. But as far as new material, Stevie will sell just as much as Fleetwood Mac, so it's probably logistically easier to manage one artist rather than five (which Fleetwood Mac essentially is). That's probably why WB is more interested in releasing 24 Karat Gold at this point.

[PenguinHead]

When Stevie scheduled to make her solo album, no one expected Christine to pop back into the band. I don't believe she is under any obligation, regardless of any ties to Warners, to drop her plans just because Fleetwood Mac comes calling. Nor should she.

I hope, between the pending release of her new album and the upcoming Mac tour (and subsequent album), the cross promotion will benefit both of them. I am wondering how Stevie will find time to promote her album. Once she gets off the road with Fleetwood Mac, they have an album to finish. I can't imagine how she could squeeze in a large scale solo tour.

[michelej1]

[FM's back catalog is mentioned in the article as being lucrative for WB]

News Talk, 8 Dec 2016 Joseph Conroy

http://www.newstalk.com/Warner-Music...aming-pays-off

Warner Music announces its strongest growth in eight years as streaming pays off

Warner Music Group has reported its highest earnings in 8 years - as it reports that income from paid-subscription music services is starting to boost its bottom-line.

Total revenue grew by 9.4% and was up 13.1% in constant currency for the full year - growing to $3.2bn for its full fiscal year.

"We’ve had another excellent year, in which we posted strong financial results and outperformed the industry," said Steve Cooper, Warner Music Group’s CEO.

"This fiscal year marked our highest total revenue in eight years and our highest OIBDA in a decade. We’re creating great momentum by investing in a flow of fantastic new music, expanding our presence around the globe and embracing new business models early. Given our extraordinary roster of recording artists and songwriters and the strength of our operators around the world, we’re excited by the possibilities in 2017 and beyond," he continued.

Top selling artists including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Bruno Mars are signed to Warner labels - it also owns lucrative back catalogues including those of Prince and Fleetwood Mac.

The company is the world's third largest music firm - trailing Universal and Sony.

During 2016 it was the first of the 'big three' to announce that streaming has become its largest revenue stream - surpassing physical sales and downloads.

Its digital revenue rose by 21% to $1.5bn in the 12 months to September.

These results come days after Apple Music announced it now has over 20 million paying users - while Spotify passed the milestone of 40 million paying users earlier in this year.