While releasing one singular copy of an album for a bazillion dollars is certainly one way to go about the business of being a non-starving recording artist… it appears as though the good, enterprising folks who work for the small business venture known collectively as Wu-Tang Clan (RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna, respectively) may have hit upon a new and revolutionary business model: instead of trying to sell just the ONE RECORD, maybe make a BUNCH of COPIES of it and sell LOTS of those! For a cheaper price! To more people! In more places!
To this end, Wu-Tang have announced that they’ll be signing to the Warner Bros. label and (finally) releasing their “highly anticipated 20th anniversary album A Better Tomorrow,” as, you know, a whole BUNCH of COPIES on December 2!
“Wu-Tang Clan is excited to join the Warner family of esteemed artists,” the group said in a statement. “After 20 years in the business with different label outlets, we are delighted to be amongst a team of industry professionals who understand our unique artistry and will help spread it to the masses unadulterated […] RZA and his brother Divine CEO of Wu-Tang felt synergy with executive/producer Rob Cavallo and Cameron Strang and decided Warner Bros. would be a suitable home for their brand and band and a great place to carry on the Wu-Tang saga.” Yes! Masses! Yes! This idea is just crazy enough to work!
But don’t just take the group’s word for it. In a recent conversation with Billboard, Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Cameron Strang emphatically delivered these pretty EPIC-sounding statements about this whole highly experimental situation:
Wu-Tang Clan is responsible for creating a deep discography of iconic rap music, spawning incredibly successful careers for each of the group’s individual members, and launching Wu-Tang into a full-fledged brand beyond their music. Two decades on, they remain a major force in hip hop. I speak for everyone on our team when I say how thrilled we are to be the new home for one of hip hop’s most influential groups. This is an exciting day in the history of Warner Bros. Records, and we can’t wait to contribute to the next phase of their careers.
Ooh, I’m tingly just thinking about the possibilities! Radical as it may be, this idea has some potential, my friends! Hey, here’s some older shit of theirs while we wait.
• Wu-Tang Clan: http://www.wutang-corp.com
• Warner Bros.: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com
More about: Wu-Tang Clan
