New Great Article that answers the solo album question!

[Kelly]

Holy Crap...I replied to Curtie without reading the last three pages. Stevie is now selling out??

WTH...how can you sell out when you have devoted your entire life your music? She has put out quite a few solo albums...maybe she wants to change her life in certain ways? She has to record forever or she is selling out? Maybe she wants her final album to be with the Mac..personally I think that will be her last big tour. I said several months ago that I sense a change in Stevie...as in she is moving into other areas of her life. Maybe she will write poetry books or coffee table books or do a soundtrack here and there or do her little fantasy Rhiannon movie. The interviewer is the one who brought up radio sales. That is not the reason Stevie isnt doing another studio album. To call her a sellout because maybe she is tired or otherwise happy not sitting in the studio and wants to use her creativity in different ways is sad.

PS..of course she wants to retire to a fabulous life and the touring is all about the money. She makes no money off studio albums but has put them out anyway! After all that she has gone through, she deserves to live a nice life. She has always worked hard.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

It's a sad thought isn't it? I mean Parallel Lines probably sells more copies each year than the last Blondie album did.

Curse didn't set the world on fire in terms of album sales, but it's a perfect example of real artists not giving a **** about sales and just making the kind of music they want to make, and they're already compiling material for their next album. Honestly, these veteran artists know they aren't going to sell millions of records, they accept it, and move on to record the kind of music that satisfies them. If the big labels don't want them, they either create their own or go to a smaller one. Stevie? Who knows what goes on in that chick's head.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Holy Crap...I replied to Curtie without reading the last three pages. Stevie is now selling out??

WTH...how can you sell out when you have devoted your entire life your music? She has put out quite a few solo albums...maybe she wants to change her life in certain ways? She has to record forever or she is selling out? Maybe she wants her final album to be with the Mac..personally I think that will be her last big tour. I said several months ago that I sense a change in Stevie...as in she is moving into other areas of her life. Maybe she will write poetry books or coffee table books or do a soundtrack here and there or do her little fantasy Rhiannon movie. The interviewer is the one who brought up radio sales. That is not the reason Stevie isnt doing another studio album. To call her a sellout because maybe she is tired or otherwise happy not sitting in the studio and wants to use her creativity in different ways is sad.

PS..of course she wants to retire to a fabulous life and the touring is all about the money. She makes no money off studio albums but has put them out anyway! After all that she has gone through, she deserves to live a nice life. She has always worked hard.

If Stevie wants to retire or do other things I totally respect that. It's just the thought that she doesn't want to record another album because of the sales aspect. I still love her to death but that makes me sad more than anything.

[Johnny Stew]

After 35 years of entertaining audiences, some might say that Nicks owes her fans little more than to show up, sing her hits and go home.

Mr. Baron has obviously never visited the Ledge.

The news that Stevie may not record another solo album is extremely disappointing one way or the other, but my personal take on it is not that Stevie feels she has to be commercially successful to be artistically successful, but rather that the albums have to make money in order for her to be able to continue recording. When you're signed with a big label, you can't afford musicians and studio time if you're not somehow turning a profit.

Sparky has the right idea about recording albums at a lower cost for an independent label, and then actually making more money on less copies sold.
Unfortunately though, I believe Stevie is still bound to her 3-album deal with Warner Bros. (which would have two left on it, of course), so she can't exactly go and record an album for Sanctuary. She'd have to either fulfill her deal with WB, and take a major loss because of lower sales. Or buy herself out of her contract and take a big loss that way.

Seems like a Catch-22, but I hope she finds a way around it, because I think she still has a lot to say.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Holy Crap...I replied to Curtie without reading the last three pages. Stevie is now selling out??

WTH...how can you sell out when you have devoted your entire life your music? She has put out quite a few solo albums...maybe she wants to change her life in certain ways? She has to record forever or she is selling out? Maybe she wants her final album to be with the Mac..personally I think that will be her last big tour. I said several months ago that I sense a change in Stevie...as in she is moving into other areas of her life. Maybe she will write poetry books or coffee table books or do a soundtrack here and there or do her little fantasy Rhiannon movie. The interviewer is the one who brought up radio sales. That is not the reason Stevie isnt doing another studio album. To call her a sellout because maybe she is tired or otherwise happy not sitting in the studio and wants to use her creativity in different ways is sad.

PS..of course she wants to retire to a fabulous life and the touring is all about the money. She makes no money off studio albums but has put them out anyway! After all that she has gone through, she deserves to live a nice life. She has always worked hard.

Although I don't agree with everything you said, I, too, think people are flipping out and judging quite a bit in this thread. Besides, we don't even know what she's really going to do, anyway.

[Nightbird17]

Originally Posted by dissention

Curse didn't set the world on fire in terms of album sales, but it's a perfect example of real artists not giving a **** about sales and just making the kind of music they want to make, and they're already compiling material for their next album. Honestly, these veteran artists know they aren't going to sell millions of records, they accept it, and move on to record the kind of music that satisfies them. If the big labels don't want them, they either create their own or go to a smaller one. Stevie? Who knows what goes on in that chick's head.

Exactly....a perfect example....Curse and Debbie Rock

[Nikolaj]

I'm only on Page 3 of reading everyone's reactions, but my thought is that Stevie was indicating she could go in and record a solo cd tomorrow, but does not know if she could get it released by a major label. I assume she still is under contract to Reprise and/or Warner Brothers, but then again, perhaps not. For example, totally different genre of music, but Donna Summer is under contract to either Universal or Sony, i forget which- but the contract is only for her catalog material, which has meant about 4 'greatest hits' releases from her in the past year with maybe one or 2 new tracks on each one, or 'previously unavailable on cd' tracks added to the mix of hits.
I think even if an artist sells platinum, or close to it, it's not enough for the major labels and people like Stevie and Fleetwood Mac DO quietly get dropped. Whoever had the idea of her going to a smaller specialty label; it was a good one. The major labels seem to require 5 million + to stay behind an artist. I personally miss singles, which are all but extinct. I wish Stevie could put out a live 'Rock and Roll' cover backed with a live 'Fall From Grace'--

Rambling...if Reprise was disappointed that TISL peaked first week at #5 then declined quickly, they can only blame themselves for pushing 'Every Day' on VH1 and making Stevie sing it on Rosie, Letterman, etc.-- (and yes i do recall 'Fall From Grace' being sung on the Blockbuster Awards before the cd was released)-- but, according to Lisa Marie Presley, at least, once a cd is released these days, the label requires that ONLY the lead song be performed during tv promotion rather than trying to get audiences interested in other songs on the cd. So if the particular song doesn't become a hit, its tough luck for the artist. And not many people were set on fire by 'Every Day'-- yet of course 'POTU' hit #1 on the Dance Charts and sold ok as a maxi-single- I just think Stevie's comments reflected that it is hard to get major label support these days, after her experiences with TISL and 'Say You Will-- because 'Peacekeeper' was pretty much the Fleetwood Mac version of 'Every Day'- "after a long time away, here's the new Fleetwood Mac song and isn't it bland"-- whoever is choosing their lead songs to go to radio is INSANE- "Miranda" or "Everybody Finds Out" would have given
'Say You Will' legs, but like TISL, it peaked first week and declined steadily.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

I'm only on Page 3 of reading everyone's reactions, but my thought is that Stevie was indicating she could go in and record a solo cd tomorrow, but does not know if she could get it released by a major label. I assume she still is under contract to Reprise and/or Warner Brothers, but then again, perhaps not. For example, totally different genre of music, but Donna Summer is under contract to either Universal or Sony, i forget which- but the contract is only for her catalog material, which has meant about 4 'greatest hits' releases from her in the past year with maybe one or 2 new tracks on each one, or 'previously unavailable on cd' tracks added to the mix of hits.
I think even if an artist sells platinum, or close to it, it's not enough for the major labels and people like Stevie and Fleetwood Mac DO quietly get dropped. Whoever had the idea of her going to a smaller specialty label; it was a good one. The major labels seem to require 5 million + to stay behind an artist. I personally miss singles, which are all but extinct. I wish Stevie could put out a live 'Rock and Roll' cover backed with a live 'Fall From Grace'--

Rambling...if Reprise was disappointed that TISL peaked first week at #5 then declined quickly, they can only blame themselves for pushing 'Every Day' on VH1 and making Stevie sing it on Rosie, Letterman, etc.-- (and yes i do recall 'Fall From Grace' being sung on the Blockbuster Awards before the cd was released)-- but, according to Lisa Marie Presley, at least, once a cd is released these days, the label requires that ONLY the lead song be performed during tv promotion rather than trying to get audiences interested in other songs on the cd. So if the particular song doesn't become a hit, its tough luck for the artist. And not many people were set on fire by 'Every Day'-- yet of course 'POTU' hit #1 on the Dance Charts and sold ok as a maxi-single- I just think Stevie's comments reflected that it is hard to get major label support these days, after her experiences with TISL and 'Say You Will-- because 'Peacemaker' was pretty much the Fleetwood Mac version of 'Every Day'- "after a long time away, here's the new Fleetwood Mac song and isn't it bland"-- whoever is choosing their lead songs to go to radio is INSANE- "Miranda" or "Everybody Finds Out" would have given
'Say You Will' legs, but like TISL, it peaked first week and declined steadily.

Great post, ITA.

[bikerchic]

Originally Posted by amber

I, too, think people are flipping out and judging quite a bit in this thread.

Us Ledgies....flipping out, jumping to conclusions.....nevahhhh

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by dissention

Curse didn't set the world on fire in terms of album sales, but it's a perfect example of real artists not giving a **** about sales and just making the kind of music they want to make, and they're already compiling material for their next album. Honestly, these veteran artists know they aren't going to sell millions of records, they accept it, and move on to record the kind of music that satisfies them. If the big labels don't want them, they either create their own or go to a smaller one. Stevie? Who knows what goes on in that chick's head.

But then Blondie didn't still have a contract with a big label, that they were beholden to. Correct?

Neither did Bowie, or Lauper, or Heart, or any of the others that are now currently on independent labels.

That "greatest hits" set that was rumoured for Stevie earlier this year would have been one more step towards fulfilling her contract quickly, so she could move on to another label, and we all saw what kind of reaction that received.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Mr. Baron has obviously never visited the Ledge.

The news that Stevie may not record another solo album is extremely disappointing one way or the other, but my personal take on it is not that Stevie feels she has to be commercially successful to be artistically successful, but rather that the albums have to make money in order for her to be able to continue recording. When you're signed with a big label, you can't afford musicians and studio time if you're not somehow turning a profit.

Sparky has the right idea about recording albums at a lower cost for an independent label, and then actually making more money on less copies sold.
Unfortunately though, I believe Stevie is still bound to her 3-album deal with Warner Bros. (which would have two left on it, of course), so she can't exactly go and record an album for Sanctuary. She'd have to either fulfill her deal with WB, and take a major loss because of lower sales. Or buy herself out of her contract and take a big loss that way.

Seems like a Catch-22, but I hope she finds a way around it, because I think she still has a lot to say.

Well that sounds possible. I just hate the thought of her not wanting to make another album because it won't be as big as Bella Donna.
Remember that Annie Nightingale interview where she talked about having many pressures from the record company. I guess that's still true today.

I have a way for her to get out of her two album contract though: it's called an outtakes album, part one and two

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

Rambling...if Reprise was disappointed that TISL peaked first week at #5 then declined quickly, they can only blame themselves for pushing 'Every Day' on VH1 and making Stevie sing it on Rosie, Letterman, etc.-- (and yes i do recall 'Fall From Grace' being sung on the Blockbuster Awards before the cd was released)-- but, according to Lisa Marie Presley, at least, once a cd is released these days, the label requires that ONLY the lead song be performed during tv promotion rather than trying to get audiences interested in other songs on the cd. So if the particular song doesn't become a hit, its tough luck for the artist. And not many people were set on fire by 'Every Day'-- yet of course 'POTU' hit #1 on the Dance Charts and sold ok as a maxi-single- I just think Stevie's comments reflected that it is hard to get major label support these days, after her experiences with TISL and 'Say You Will-- because 'Peacemaker' was pretty much the Fleetwood Mac version of 'Every Day'- "after a long time away, here's the new Fleetwood Mac song and isn't it bland"-- whoever is choosing their lead songs to go to radio is INSANE- "Miranda" or "Everybody Finds Out" would have given
'Say You Will' legs, but like TISL, it peaked first week and declined steadily.

I disagree when it comes to Say You Will, it had phenomenal promotion and label support. TISL? Yeah, they fudged up big time with Every Day. What a blunder that was.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by amber

Although I don't agree with everything you said, I, too, think people are flipping out and judging quite a bit in this thread. Besides, we don't even know what she's really going to do, anyway.

I don't know, it sure is a hell of a lot more enjoyable than yet another Survivor thread.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

But then Blondie didn't still have a contract with a big label, that they were beholden to. Correct?

Neither did Bowie, or Lauper, or Heart, or any of the others that are now currently on independent labels.

That "greatest hits" set that was rumoured for Stevie earlier this year would have been one more step towards fulfilling her contract quickly, so she could move on to another label, and we all saw what kind of reaction that received.

Bowie did, with Virgin. After he bought out his contract and his Virgin releases, he created Iso and got Sony to distribute.

I don't buy this "beholden to a big label" business. Miss Nicks knew going in that her albums weren't going to be hot sellers, how could she not? Yet she signed a three album deal, anyway. Doesn't make much sense to me.

[glitter_fades]

Originally Posted by Kelly

Holy Crap...I replied to Curtie without reading the last three pages. Stevie is now selling out??

WTH...how can you sell out when you have devoted your entire life your music? She has put out quite a few solo albums...maybe she wants to change her life in certain ways? She has to record forever or she is selling out? Maybe she wants her final album to be with the Mac..personally I think that will be her last big tour. I said several months ago that I sense a change in Stevie...as in she is moving into other areas of her life. Maybe she will write poetry books or coffee table books or do a soundtrack here and there or do her little fantasy Rhiannon movie. The interviewer is the one who brought up radio sales. That is not the reason Stevie isnt doing another studio album. To call her a sellout because maybe she is tired or otherwise happy not sitting in the studio and wants to use her creativity in different ways is sad.

PS..of course she wants to retire to a fabulous life and the touring is all about the money. She makes no money off studio albums but has put them out anyway! After all that she has gone through, she deserves to live a nice life. She has always worked hard.

I can see why some fans think she's being a sellout, but I don't think so. You're probably on to something when you say she doesn't want to explain why she likely won't do another solo record. Could it be possible Stevie wants to do other things? She's devoted her entire life to the music business and her fans. The way fans are reacting to her hints at not recording solo anymore, is it any wonder she might be gun shy about saying the real reason? Maybe she IS tired and doesn't want to do this anymore? I'd love more music, too, but the woman deserves to do whatever the hell she wants to do at this point in her life. If she doesn't record again she doesn't deserve to be lambasted. She's given enough already (and has been handsomely paid for it.) ON EDIT PER DAVID.