The major-label debut by the Gossip, the bluespunk-cum-disco outfit that launched (for better or worse) Beth Ditto into the UK’s celebrity stratosphere, is finally coming out, after many magazine covers and unfortunate dalliances with Perez Hilton. Music For Men comes out in England June 22, but US fans of the band will have to wait if they want to legally acquire the record from a non-Amazon UK source—until October. Say what?
In an age where more records’ release dates are being pushed up because of leaks, holding back an album for that long—yet making it available as an import—seems like a suicide move, particularly when the band in question is one whose core audience is the overly online-savvy indie world. Is this idea an attempt to make the Gossip seem retro? Or to try the not-really-working-right-now strategy of making buzz across the Atlantic translate to Stateside success? Perhaps Rick Rubin’s parting edict as he left Columbia Records (the band’s new label) was “just take your business cues from the plot of The Producers,” and people took it seriously.
Ditto, however, will probably be fine, thanks to the UK’s endless supply of TV shows for people who were famous in the recent past. So who wants to start the countdown for her move into the Celebrity Big Brother UK house?
The Gossip Get Romantic on October Release [Spin]
[Cover via Pitchfork]
@mackro: Maybe the U.S. release will feature “exclusive bonus tracks”? (remember that old trick?)
@mackro: Unless they assume said fan base will ‘acquire’ the album upon release, and plan on selling Ms Ditto and crew to a broader American audience in the fall. I mean, she’ll get a spot on “Ellen” for sure.
@mackro: Unless they assume said fan base will ‘acquire’ the album upon release, and plan on selling Ms Ditto and crew to a broader American audience in the fall. I mean, she’ll get a spot on “Ellen” for sure.
@mackro: Unless they assume said fan base will ‘acquire’ the album upon release, and plan on selling Ms Ditto and crew to a broader American audience in the fall. I mean, she’ll get a spot on “Ellen” for sure.
@mackro: Unless they assume said fan base will ‘acquire’ the album upon release, and plan on selling Ms Ditto and crew to a broader American audience in the fall. I mean, she’ll get a spot on “Ellen” for sure.
@mackro: Unless they assume said fan base will ‘acquire’ the album upon release, and plan on selling Ms Ditto and crew to a broader American audience in the fall. I mean, she’ll get a spot on “Ellen” for sure.
@2ironic4u: aren’t b-sides and bonus tracks what free downloading is for? /l1meWyrrD00D
@T’Challa: I wish the best for the Gossip. But since when does PR have to take six months to release something?
However, this could be just a personal issue regarding the band members w.r.t timing for a U.S. tour, maybe — in which case, I hadn’t considered that, all is forgiven, etc.
It’s probably because of major labels interlabel pissing matches. Turning around release schedules is like driving a bus on ice sometimes. This makes no sense to me whatsoever, though.
THIS DECADE NEEDS A POSTMORTEM. BOOK IT.
(for far more important reasons than this, but still)
It did work for Lady GaGa (somehow) and I think that’s what they’re aiming for again. GaGa’s album came out in Europe and Canada months before it was released in the US, despite the fact that she was hyped stateside at the time. Also, GaGa and Beth Ditto are firmly entrenched with the gays/clubby hipsters, so the appeal might be similar.
@bcapirigi: I think it worked for Ms. Gaga because she kinda came out of nowhere and didn’t have an established fan base. The Gossip are already well established for a decade, especially within the latter half. An already rabid fan base in the U.S. being forced to wait four months for something already legitimately released elsewhere is going to get this album the same day or so as the first country to release it — and that’s assuming no leak either. I think this is the misstep being highlighted.
When did Rick Rubin leave Columbia?
…and what’s a record store?
hey idiots- it’s going to be available LEGALLY on the US itunes at the same time as it’s released in the UK. Get it right before you write a bullshit article with misinformation.