Motown Records has weathered major changes in the last year, not the least of which include the exit of chairwoman and CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam in November, and is now is planning a restructuring that will bring it back into the fold of Capitol Music Group. With that, layoffs have been initiated, Variety has confirmed, with some 19 staffers being impacted.
Representatives for Motown/CMG declined to discuss personnel matters.
In a statement issued on Thursday, first published by Billboard and obtained by Variety, a Motown spokesperson said: "As Motown returns to the Capitol family, certain positions that had been created when we became a stand-alone label have since become duplicative. These employees are leaving the company and our People, Inclusion and Culture department is helping them find new opportunities — either within or outside of UMG."
Motown is home to such top-selling rap, hip-hop and R&B acts as Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Migos, City Girls, Erykah Badu, Brandy and Ne-Yo. It was started in 1958 by Berry Gordy and went on to shape the sound of popular music throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and influence practically everything that came after. While it started as a standalone label, it's had several corporate parents within Universal Music Group. Its latest iteration took shape in 2014, when Habtemariam took on the dual role of president of Motown along with her executive position at Universal Music Publishing Group. That same year, UMG dissolved the Island Def Jam Music Group and moved Motown to Los Angeles to operate out of the Capitol Tower.
Habtemariam's leadership led to the signing of Motown's partnership with Atlanta-based Quality Control, which brought Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls and others to the label. Quality Control was recently acquired by HYBE America in a $300 million-plus deal though its recordings remain within the UMG family.
Motown joins several media and music companies that have announced layoffs in the past few months. Among them, Showtime, Amazon, Vox Media and Disney have begun to trim jobs as a reaction to the economic global climate, and the challenges plaguing several sectors of the market
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/motown-records-layoffs-capitol-reintegration-1235526061/#article-comments
:melmel:
this would happen right after she signed with them. I wonder if it's too late for her to back out...
I just want music. I don't even think Brandy cares for sales, promotion or being a visual mainstream artist. Just throw stuff on Sound cloud and call it a day.
Hopefully the music isn't negatively impacted in any way
Brandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
The most important thing is Brandy having the label support/resources. If this restructuring doesn't impact that then it's not a big deal imo.
I do wish she stayed indie, but I guess she wasn't feeling it.
Quote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 12:22:17 AMI don't even think Brandy cares for sales, promotion or being a visual mainstream artist.
Maybe not being mainstream but she definitely cares about sales and commercial success.
Quote from: Nine on February 18, 2023, 12:55:58 AMQuote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 12:22:17 AMI don't even think Brandy cares for sales, promotion or being a visual mainstream artist.
Maybe not being mainstream but she definitely cares about sales and commercial success.
True. I think she cares and when the results aren't great then she stops pushing the project. But the bad single choices ruin any chance of success before it can take off.
Ch... :melmel:
Where is that gif of cissy Houston sighing on stage behind Whitney...
Hoping for the best.
It's always something whew lord :dead:
No wayyyy
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
Quote from: Buy The Stars✨ on February 18, 2023, 02:23:25 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
Brandy only stops at 2 singles because at that point she's not seeing the commercial success she wants, so she gives up. I don't see Capitol allowing her to quit an era at 2 singles. They'll at least make her put out 3.
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 02:32:18 PMQuote from: Buy The Stars✨ on February 18, 2023, 02:23:25 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
Brandy only stops at 2 singles because at that point she's not seeing the commercial success she wants, so she gives up. I don't see Capitol allowing her to quit an era at 2 singles. They'll at least make her put out 3.
I feel you but we said the same thing with "human" and "two eleven" and it just hasn't happened
Honestly Brandy doesn't need an album. Just release dope singles and visuals. The concept of an album gets her caught up and she misses so much time. After hearing The Wave and a couple other one off singles she did during that time. Brandy could've released visuals for those and been just fine.
Plus it's easier to push a single instead of an era
I just read an article about a songwriter for B7 who only got 4000 dollars. :uhh: I honestly don't blame Bran for pursuing her acting career, the music industry is so difficult...it felt like more of a mixtape to me and era was very short. I do hope she will have another chance with a good budget and visuals with Motown (and budget for songwriters and producers who deserve to get paid), but this news is very sad.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pop-songwriters-industry-broke-1234662448/
Quote from: Annie on February 18, 2023, 03:38:59 PMI just read an article about a songwriter for B7 who only got 4000 dollars. :uhh: I honestly don't blame Bran for pursuing her acting career, the music industry is so difficult...it felt like more of a mixtape to me and era was very short. I do hope she will have another chance with a good budget and visuals with Motown (and budget for songwriters and producers who deserve to get paid), but this news is very sad.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pop-songwriters-industry-broke-1234662448/
I know royalties are based on sales and streams and B7 didn't do that great, but $4000 income for the whole album...
:guys:
Quote from: Annie on February 18, 2023, 03:38:59 PMI just read an article about a songwriter for B7 who only got 4000 dollars. :uhh: I honestly don't blame Bran for pursuing her acting career, the music industry is so difficult...it felt like more of a mixtape to me and era was very short. I do hope she will have another chance with a good budget and visuals with Motown (and budget for songwriters and producers who deserve to get paid), but this news is very sad.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pop-songwriters-industry-broke-1234662448/
Publishing not amounting to the same as it was back in the day is why a lot of songwriters have been selling. Darkchild, Bieber, Sting, Stevie Nicks, Justin Timberlake, Dr. Dre, and so many over the past 3 years have been selling their publishing. It's like a monthly thing where articles come out regarding songwriters selling their publishing. I believe Spotify only pays like a penny a stream or something like that.
Brandy still owns her's and I don't see her ever selling that.
Quote from: Annie on February 18, 2023, 03:38:59 PMI just read an article about a songwriter for B7 who only got 4000 dollars. :uhh: I honestly don't blame Bran for pursuing her acting career, the music industry is so difficult...it felt like more of a mixtape to me and era was very short. I do hope she will have another chance with a good budget and visuals with Motown (and budget for songwriters and producers who deserve to get paid), but this news is very sad.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pop-songwriters-industry-broke-1234662448/
Oh Kaydence....she did a studio bootcamp with Brandy in July. Glad there's no hard feelings but that sucks...
Not sure what's stopping Brandy from just releasing music as she wishes without the constraints of an album. So many creative ways to go about being indie and creating your own niche.
Once Ethiopia stepped down, I was just like I can't...
Wishing the best for Brandy... her only missing component is having fresh creative direction for her projects. She should invest in these new Black creative agencies ran by artists like Saint Heron (Solange) or pgLang (Kendrick) to handle her visuals, packaging, and marketing for the next era
Quote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 04:10:45 PMNot sure what's stopping Brandy from just releasing music as she wishes without the constraints of an album. So many creative ways to go about being indie and creating your own niche.
This would have been the best solution since she's now booking multiple acting roles in a year. Between pre-production, filming, and promo for movies she won't be able to do full promo for an album.
Maybe she only has a 1 album deal with Capitol maybe her team can convince her to go back indie. Her cousin has the connects to creative ppl. His other client Metro Boomin's cartoon rollout for his current album was really cool. Metro Boomin's marketing is also on point.
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 04:41:43 PMQuote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 04:10:45 PMNot sure what's stopping Brandy from just releasing music as she wishes without the constraints of an album. So many creative ways to go about being indie and creating your own niche.
This would have been the best solution since she's now booking multiple acting roles in a year. Between pre-production, filming, and promo for movies she won't be able to do full promo for an album.
Maybe she only has a 1 album deal with Capitol maybe her team can convince her to go back indie. Her cousin has the connects to creative ppl. His other client Metro Boomin's cartoon rollout for his current album was really cool. Metro Boomin's marketing is also on point.
!!!
I like that Ryan has other mainstream artists so he can apply his learnings and resources from them to Brandy
This industry is vicious.
Quote from: Lazarus on February 18, 2023, 04:52:04 PM
This industry is vivacious.
bvvvvvcccc did u mean vicious bby
Quote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 04:38:11 PMOnce Ethiopia stepped down, I was just like I can't...
Wishing the best for Brandy... her only missing component is having fresh creative direction for her projects. She should invest in these new Black creative agencies ran by artists like Saint Heron (Solange) or pgLang (Kendrick) to handle her visuals, packaging, and marketing for the next era
She needs a marketing company so bad. Her cousin's other client Metro Boomin has one which is one of the reasons he is everywhere. I hope she let's Ryan this year hire them for her or another agency. 'The Front Room' is too big of an opportunity to not have a marketing company who would have her face everywhere.
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 05:00:13 PMQuote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 04:38:11 PMOnce Ethiopia stepped down, I was just like I can't...
Wishing the best for Brandy... her only missing component is having fresh creative direction for her projects. She should invest in these new Black creative agencies ran by artists like Saint Heron (Solange) or pgLang (Kendrick) to handle her visuals, packaging, and marketing for the next era
She needs a marketing company so bad. Her cousin's other client Metro Boomin has one which is one of the reasons he is everywhere. I hope she let's Ryan this year hire them for her or another agency. 'The Front Room' is too big of an opportunity to not have a marketing company who would have her face everywhere.
Facts!!! All her team has to do is send an RFP to all the dope agencies and let them pitch her the best ideas for her budget
Quote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 05:07:33 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 05:00:13 PMQuote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 04:38:11 PMOnce Ethiopia stepped down, I was just like I can't...
Wishing the best for Brandy... her only missing component is having fresh creative direction for her projects. She should invest in these new Black creative agencies ran by artists like Saint Heron (Solange) or pgLang (Kendrick) to handle her visuals, packaging, and marketing for the next era
She needs a marketing company so bad. Her cousin's other client Metro Boomin has one which is one of the reasons he is everywhere. I hope she let's Ryan this year hire them for her or another agency. 'The Front Room' is too big of an opportunity to not have a marketing company who would have her face everywhere.
Facts!!! All her team has to do is send an RFP to all the dope agencies and let them pitch her the best ideas for her budget
I was kind of jealous when Ryan started posting Metro's promo pics and visuals :kii: why can't that be his cousin. I'm going to be highly upset if Bran doesn't let Ryan get her a creative/brand/marketing company for the A24 promo run. Michelle Yeoh's marketing team had her on so many covers last year and even now as the award season is almost over.
Ryan has the connects for everyone she needs.
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 05:38:49 PMQuote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 05:07:33 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 05:00:13 PMQuote from: Harlem on February 18, 2023, 04:38:11 PMOnce Ethiopia stepped down, I was just like I can't...
Wishing the best for Brandy... her only missing component is having fresh creative direction for her projects. She should invest in these new Black creative agencies ran by artists like Saint Heron (Solange) or pgLang (Kendrick) to handle her visuals, packaging, and marketing for the next era
She needs a marketing company so bad. Her cousin's other client Metro Boomin has one which is one of the reasons he is everywhere. I hope she let's Ryan this year hire them for her or another agency. 'The Front Room' is too big of an opportunity to not have a marketing company who would have her face everywhere.
Facts!!! All her team has to do is send an RFP to all the dope agencies and let them pitch her the best ideas for her budget
I was kind of jealous when Ryan started posting Metro's promo pics and visuals :kii: why can't that be his cousin. I'm going to be highly upset if Bran doesn't let Ryan get her a creative/brand/marketing company for the A24 promo run. Michelle Yeoh's marketing team had her on so many covers last year and even now as the award season is almost over.
Ryan has the connects for everyone she needs.
Yeah honestly she just has to trust him and let Frank Gatson go. If Brandy wants to work with a legend bring in Fatima Robinson instead
Quote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 04:10:45 PMNot sure what's stopping Brandy from just releasing music as she wishes without the constraints of an album. So many creative ways to go about being indie and creating your own niche.
!!!
The girl has a studio in her house. She could easily be creating & pumping out music just for the hell of it.
Chile.. Where is Sy'rai music? Lol she is probably growing leaps and bounds behind the scenes
But if she anything like her mom, most of it staying on that hard drive :melmel:
Quote from: Kalifornia. on February 18, 2023, 08:32:17 PMQuote from: NEW MOON on February 18, 2023, 04:10:45 PMNot sure what's stopping Brandy from just releasing music as she wishes without the constraints of an album. So many creative ways to go about being indie and creating your own niche.
!!!
The girl has a studio in her house. She could easily be creating & pumping out music just for the hell of it.
She's an artist and she's sensitive about her shit okay?
Quote from: Buy The Stars✨ on February 18, 2023, 02:23:25 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
She did 4 singles for B7
Quote from: Eh... on February 19, 2023, 12:23:36 PMQuote from: Buy The Stars✨ on February 18, 2023, 02:23:25 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
She did 4 singles for B7
Only two got videos. No Tomorrow Pt. 2 was lackluster and she promised a video for that.
Quote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
u know damn well it didnt happen since...afrodisiac ... :melmel:
at this point even a 2 single era is fine when it comes to brandy :letsmessfag: it's been her standard for last 3 albums.. so..
Quote from: GYNandTONIC on February 18, 2023, 02:41:15 PMHonestly Brandy doesn't need an album. Just release dope singles and visuals. The concept of an album gets her caught up and she misses so much time. After hearing The Wave and a couple other one off singles she did during that time. Brandy could've released visuals for those and been just fine.
Plus it's easier to push a single instead of an era
aaaand she coulda even released da damn B7 deluxe version with new songs used as single (w/ or w/o videos) to keep that project alive!
Quote from: AfroJisiac on February 19, 2023, 02:19:19 PMQuote from: GYNandTONIC on February 18, 2023, 02:41:15 PMHonestly Brandy doesn't need an album. Just release dope singles and visuals. The concept of an album gets her caught up and she misses so much time. After hearing The Wave and a couple other one off singles she did during that time. Brandy could've released visuals for those and been just fine.
Plus it's easier to push a single instead of an era
aaaand she coulda even released da damn B7 deluxe version with new songs used as single (w/ or w/o videos) to keep that project alive!
I mean at this point, Bran might as well go the Jazmine route and give us live performances of her singles with amazing production sets as her visuals
Quote from: Eh... on February 19, 2023, 12:23:36 PMQuote from: Buy The Stars✨ on February 18, 2023, 02:23:25 PMQuote from: Summertime on February 18, 2023, 12:34:35 AMBrandy should have stayed indie. She was doing fine. All she needed to do is stay committed to an era by releasing at least 3 or 4 singles an album and offering dope merch.
Brandy hasn't released 3 or 4 singles since nsn. Y'all really trippin at this point if you even think of getting 3 or 4 singles this late in her life
She did 4 singles for B7
what were the 4 singles and 4 videos to go with them ?
Love Again - was already released in 2019, I guess it was a single but no video. Two lyric videos, definitely a missed opportunity.
https://youtu.be/PD9U9mQLFTw
Baby Mama and Borderline had videos. Official singles.
She performed No Tomorrow and Say Something. I thought Tomorrow Part II was going to be a single, no video (I personally prefer the original).
Rather Be is the last song she promoted for B7, Colors version:
Next Brandy album :2030
Is the woman who signed Brandy and took pics with her still there?
Quote from: BrandonBranlee on February 20, 2023, 01:32:35 PMIs the woman who signed Brandy and took pics with her still there?
No, Ethiopia who was the CEO is leaving. She announced her departure in Dec 2022.
I wasn't too excited when her deal was announced tbh. Labels are becoming more and more redundant and Brandy is never the priority when it's time to promote anyway.
I wouldn't mind if she recorded an album with covers of old songs. Just drop something for the fans and keep it simple.
Quote from: Annie on February 20, 2023, 03:39:24 PMI wouldn't mind if she recorded an album with covers of old songs. Just drop something for the fans and keep it simple.
I was just thinking she should do this for all her underrated songs that never got to be singles. WYTM, DYK, I Tried, etc.
Quote from: NEW MOON on February 20, 2023, 04:26:48 PMQuote from: Annie on February 20, 2023, 03:39:24 PMI wouldn't mind if she recorded an album with covers of old songs. Just drop something for the fans and keep it simple.
I was just thinking she should do this for all her underrated songs that never got to be singles. WYTM, DYK, I Tried, etc.
This would be cool. And a lot more features, she was in her bag last year.
Quote from: Summertime on February 20, 2023, 01:40:19 PMQuote from: BrandonBranlee on February 20, 2023, 01:32:35 PMIs the woman who signed Brandy and took pics with her still there?
No, Ethiopia who was the CEO is leaving. She announced her departure in Dec 2022.
Oh boy.