In news set to shock many people, Modular recording artist Muscles has been dumped from the NeverEverLand festival. Also, unconfirmed reports suggest that he has perhaps been dropped by the label itoo.
According to a post on his website today, the outspoken artist hits out at both his record label and its two current heads of the table, Cut Copy and The Presets. He also reports that NeverEverLand is not selling well and compares it to the poorly attended Global Gathering Festival held last week at the same Melbourne venue:
"Muscles Nevereverland 2008 - CANCELLED! For all you Muscles fans out there, I will make it up to you. People who know me personally know that I'm honest and keep my promises.
My record label calls my mobile phone last week and says, "We're downsizing and can't afford to have 'Muscles' on our Nevereverland 2008 lineup anymore".
For everyone who bought tickets to come and see Muscles, call up Ticketmaster/Ticketek to receive a refund. They apparently are not selling many tickets, I feel sorry for them. Like I feel sorry for a blind three-legged conjoined-twin kitten. There will be lots of room to dance, and probably be less attendance than Global Gathering last week (with Mark Ronson and Kraftwerk).
And two of my favourite artists are playing, Hercules and Love Affair and The Whitest Boy Alive. So if you're not sick of seeing Cut Copy and The Presets play every festival the past 2 years, just go, It's only $99!"
It appears this might be the nail in the coffin for the relationship between Muscles and Modular records, the label that put him on the scene. Though perhaps there were signs: in a full page Nevereverland street press ad last week Muscles is nowhere to be seen.
But if things have soured, they've soured quickly. In the same street press magazine, Muscles is quoted as saying:
"I previewed my album to my record label last Friday" he beams excitedly, "and they were like, 'If this doesn't go gold within the first week...' and that just took a whole load off my brain.
In stark contrast, a new entry on the Muscles Wikipedia page under the timeline heading "Parting ways with Modular plus Second Album" states:
"Muscles cancelled his 2008 UK/Europe tour and festival dates to workon a follow up album in Melbourne. Currently there is a worldwide majorlabel bidding war on who will be releasing the follow-up, after Modularamicably parted ways with Muscles in November 2008."
Crickey. But seriously who knows exactly what's going on. No official report has been made yet by either labels involved in this "major label bidding war" or even Modular for that reason.
In the meantime, Nevereverland soldiers on without him, on the following dates:
NEVEREVERLAND 2009 - MODULAR RECORDS 10th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, December 13 - Hordern and surrounds, Sydney, NSW
Sunday, December 14 - Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, December 20 - Brisbane Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday, December 21 - Members Equity Stadium, Perth, WA
http://www.blogger.com/www.musclesmusic.net
http://www.blogger.com/www.nevereverland.com.au
Today Modular actually released something on their site...www.modularpeople.com.au saying that "Muscles is signed to Modular Recordings and his services are still required under that agreement. He was offered a spot at NEVEREVERLAND which still stands and whether he chooses to play or not is his decision. Obviously we would like him to be part of our 10 year celebrations and hope he turns up to perform".....So i dont know what he's bitching off about..?? confused much.
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