Here is a thoughtful post form one of the Manson forums:
"This is the worst news you could bring me, concerning Manson. While everyone is hearing the voiced optimism in the quotes, no one is paying attention to the reality of the situation.
Interscope has had 8 years to learn how to promote Mansons first array of masterpieces, and they failed in that time. 4 years, to drive sales, make limited editions, do promotions, get airplay. They did not.
Now he is no longer a salaried employee of the label, this makes it even less likely that they will promote his music, that is of course, unless he were to pass on. (which I hope not)
I can’t predict the sucess of Manson past today, because history gives us great examples of artists who faced the same predicament, and were either sucessful, a la Mariah Carey, Radiohead, Tori Amos, Morrissey. Or who have failed miserably, Courtney Love, Boy George, Third Eye Blind.
What we can all assume, is that a corporation like Interscope, weighed the sales, I think the information we recieve is 90,000 physical records. That still translates to dollars, by the way, and lacks the inclusion of digital sales from iTunes, etc. Profit is profit, if someone is selling something, it is Interscopes responsibility to be dutiful in their obligation to the artists…and from what I can hear over the years, they simply aren’t.
This isn’t a bad stroke of pen against Manson, to be dropped from a label. This is corporate policy of limiting liabilities. Manson has genius, and has a lawsuit against him which is soon to be decided. As his employer Interscope probably took serious to the limited returns on their high liability client.
Artists like Manson, who have cult followings, can find sucess resigning, to other labels, Warner Bros, Def Jam, Island, Virgin. Madonna has been dropped, and she sells about as many records worldwide now days as Manson does.
If Manson chooses against a major label, he would be on newer terrority, that has very few sucessful figures to pen an analysis from. While it’s true Trent Reznor released independently, and Radiohead, and Tori Amos, have as well. All of those artists above, are seeing very small returns, two of those acts are no longer touring, and it’s quite obvious, managing a band, finances, and promotion, doesn’t do wonders for the creative output of these bands. Sorry Ghost IV fans…but Nine Inch Nails bid farewell about 11 months after the release of that album.
It would be bad tabloid fodder for anyone to jab at Manson for such a decision, or Interscopes decision. This sort of thing has happened to almost every single 90s band, that many of us love. And very few of those artists are still making music, with their new found label freedom.
I guess I’m lacking the blind optimism required for digesting such a foul taste. To hear " An artist is selling this many records" and this is why we’re dropping them. Is such bad business, it makes you wonder, are record companies in a losing game? They’ve lost 75% of their share of the market to digital supliers legal and illegal. And now they are complaining about the few sales they are getting from their veteran acts.
Pish Posh, Interscope. My hopes are with Manson to do his homework, and seriously consider Virgin Atlantic, who have been a very sucessful safe zone for revitalizing 90s acts. If I’m not mistaken in Europe and the rest of the world MCA are who currently distributes Manson anyway. Their sales worldwide, and promotionals in France as of late for Manson, are at least working there.
Interscope is just a dying label. It’ll be a merger waiting to happen.
For Manson once the liability of the lawsuit passes, he now has the freedom to choose how to continue. More power to him should he choose the Aerosmith route…less power to him for following in Trents shoes yet again, if he so chooses."