Bon Jovi - It"s My Life
Usher has reached the end of hiscontract withRCA Records, sources tell Billboard, leaving behind a relationship that dates back 22 years towhen he first signed with LaFace andArista Records. (The Sony Musiclabel declined comment.)
His musical output during that time has been fruitful: Usher"s2001album8701sold 4.8 million units, according to Nielsen Music, whilehis next three releases (2004s Confessions, 2008s Looking for Myself and 2010s Raymond v.Raymond)all sold over a million copies each, with Confessions moving an astonishing 10.3 million on its own.His latest,Hard II Love,however, only registered38,000 equivalent album units in its first week --with 28,000 of that in traditional album sales -- goodfor atop five debut on the Billboard 200, buta significant drop-off from the opening of his last album, 2012s Looking 4 Myself, which bowed with 128,000 sold in its first week.
Cynics might say that releasing the final album of a long-term contractfeelsmore like anobligation than a creativeachievement. If so,it wouldn"t be the first time. Here are five examples of artists who bid adieu to their labels in not-so-subtle ways.
Bon Jovi,Burning Bridges (2015)
In 2015, Bon Jovi seemingly bid farewellto theirthen-32-year relationship with Island/Universal Music Group. The subsequent "fan album" Burning Bridgeswas a direct hit with not only the title but the bland, brown wrapping paper design -- not to mention "We Don"t Run," with the lyric,"After 30 years of loyalty, they let you dig your grave." Jon Bon Jovi stuck to his guns-- and his integrity -- as he came to a new agreement this spring, on his own terms. "The legacy mattered and the future was bright, he told fans at concert promoting the forthcoming album, This House is Not for Sale, at a listening party in New Jersey on Oct. 1. There was no way I was going to walk away from that.
Prince,Chaos and Disorder (1996)
Prince famously pulled this trick to get out of his deal with Warner Bros. by first changing his name to an unpronounceablesymbol. His next move in the escape plan was the release of Chaos and Disorder, and odds and sods collection of recent leftovers that fulfilled the contract. He then emerged with the aptly titled triple-disc albumEmancipation.
Van Morrison
After having pop hits with songs like "Brown Eyed Girl," Morrison wanted to do more experimental music, but his label, Bang Records, wasn"t having it. When Morrison later looked to jump ship to Warner Bros. Records, he realized he owedmore music toBang, with royalties owed for exactly one year after the contract was up. What to do? He strapped on an old, out-of-tune guitar and banged out 30 songs in one session with titles like "The Big Royalty Check," "Blow in Your Nose" and "I Want a Danish." The record was deemed "unfit for release," and he broke ties. Just check out "Twist and Shake" --there are hardly any lyrics.
Ben Folds, "One Down"
Before Ben Folds became a successful recording artist, he signed a publishing deal he came to regret. The contractspecified number of songs per year -- deal terms he couldn"t keep up with once he had label and touring commitments to uphold. To meet the obligations of his contract, he wrote a song called "One Down and 3.6 to Go," with the lyrics: "Ben, just make up junk and turn it in."
David Bowie, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
Following his Berlin trilogy of albums -- Low, Heroesand Lodger -- Bowie was looking to end his relationship with RCA Records. The records weren"t successful commercially, and Bowie believed his double live album, Stage, counted as two albums. When it didn"t, he turned in his lastalbum,Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps),a critical and commercial success with the hits "Ashes to Ashes"and "Fashion."
Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526643/usher-bon-jovi-van-morrison-record-deal
