HT alumnus Rudi Greenberg wrote a preview of a Nels Cline Singers concert in Washington, D.C. for the local express night out website that featured an interview with guitarist Nels Cline. The article, which was published yesterday afternoon, may have been about Nels’ solo band, but when Rudi started shaking the Wilco tree he shook loose a pearl of information that made major headlines in the blogosphere.
[Photo by Charles Harris]
Rudi was discussing Wilco’s marathon Spring Tour shows and asked Cline if we could expect more of those three-hour sets. Cline’s response revealed that Tweedy et al are striking out on their own and starting a record label.
Greenberg wisely followed up and got more details out of the axe man…
» CLINE: Yeah, I don’t know the name of it. Jeff was basically not wanting to be on a record label for a while — he didn’t renew his contract with Nonesuch — so we’re striking out on our own, our own label. There might be a 7-inch or something, a little souvenir when we do this Mass MoCA [Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Ma.] I’m not sure, really. Basically, Jeff and [Wilco manager] Tony Margherita are the masterminds, so I’m just cruising with what they want to do.
Pitchfork caught wind of the Rudi’s profile today and published a story of its own that featured confirmation from Wilco’s publicist, although the rep “did not confirm that the band will definitely be releasing future albums on their own, though it is a possibility.” As soon as Pitchfork posted its article word spread like wild fire and we’re proud to see that all the major publications linked to Rudi’s article.
Wilco’s last album, Wilco (The Album), sold 271,000 albums – not exactly the biggest number in the world. But don’t be fooled, Wilco is a big loss for Nonesuch. The label provided the “happily ever after” ending to the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot debacle after fellow Warner imprint Reprise dropped the band in 2001. Many large acts with loyal followings are finding they don’t need the marketing muscle and distribution that the big boys provide. Will Wilco follow in the footsteps of Radiohead, Phish and the Black Crowes by starting its own label? We’ll keep you posted with any further developments.
