Chinese Democracy release to be retailer exclusive ?

[AxlVanHagar]

Interesting. May be true, more and more bands seem to be going this route. If true it's a smart business move considering the album has cost the record label around 14 million bucks.

Billboard.com:

The June leak of nine allegedly "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album's release could be imminent. That's because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes -- either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Guns N' Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.

Most recently, it became known that AC/DC's next album will come out exclusively through Wal-Mart. Merchants were particularly incensed that the deal was apparently struck with the blessing of Columbia.


It's unclear who initiated the Guns N' Roses exclusive negotiations -- Front Line or Interscope, the band's label.

Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn't be reached for comment by deadline. A Wal-Mart representative says the chain couldn't confirm this fall's exclusives. Best Buy representatives couldn't be reached for comment by deadline.

[Rockbandfan23467]

The Album's never gonna come out anyway.

Didn't Dr. Pepper once say that they'd give a free Dr. Pepper to everyone in America except Slash if Chinese Demorcracy came out this year?

[DarkSide247]

The Album's never gonna come out anyway.

Didn't Dr. Pepper once say that they'd give a free Dr. Pepper to everyone in America except Slash if Chinese Demorcracy came out this year?
Yep, they did.

That would be funny, receiving a Dr. Pepper in the mail or something. o_>

Anyways, I hope it's released at Best Buy. Hate buying CD's at Wal-Mart.

[Quinarvy]

The Album's never gonna come out anyway.

Didn't Dr. Pepper once say that they'd give a free Dr. Pepper to everyone in America except Slash if Chinese Demorcracy came out this year?

Or BucketHead. But Axl said he'd share his with BucketHead.

[polishdog90]

I want my free Dr.Pepper!

[Hungryfreak]

I want to start a group to have people send their free Dr. Peppers to Slash, haha.

[stevo796]

so, um , if the album is costing so much my, why keep it lying on the shelves because I'm positive it will sell really well reguardless if its a good album or not(but from what I've heard it is a great album). They would brobably make the 14 million back in a couple of months.

[Mystlyfe77]

Just like democracy in China, this album isn't ever coming.

[AxlVanHagar]

so, um , if the album is costing so much my, why keep it lying on the shelves because I'm positive it will sell really well reguardless if its a good album or not(but from what I've heard it is a great album). They would brobably make the 14 million back in a couple of months.

Well Eddie Trunk summed it up best talking about it on his radio show. Quote "There is so much money tied up in this record that in todays business it will be virtually impossible to be profitable, meaning the label might want to sell it off but can not find a buyer since nobody buys CDs anymore."

Trunk said that back in January after the first reports that the album had been turned into the record label and now this story is about reatil exclusive is floating around. Makes sense. And he's right. With record sales such as they are and the new profit structures it will be virtually impossible for them to recoup production costs by conventional record sales.

Also if I'm not mistaken the 13 - 14 million dollar price tag was before the label pulled it's funding and financial backing for the album. At somepoint they told Axl that if he wanted to continue to work on it he was footing the bill for any further costs involved so Axl has a ton of his own money sunk into this thing.

Geffen has confirmed they have the album and were negotiating with Axl about it's release with one hang up being Axl wanting a rather large advance which the label did not want to do. Wait and see I guess.

[Gatorguy91]

Just like democracy in China, this album isn't ever coming.

Would have said it like this:

Chinese Democracy Is never going to happen.

Yes, Both. (as in the album and actual chinese democracy.)

[FrogKid28]

Just like democracy in China, this album isn't ever coming.

GENIUS! :D

[Rockbandfan23467]

I think Chinese Democracy will happen before Chinese Democracy.

[Alright_Computer]

^No, Chinese Democracy will be before Chinese Democracy. It's pretty obvious.

[Runesmith]

This is kind of an esoteric question...but if Wal Mart wins the bidding war, does this mean it will be impossible to obtain an uncensored copy of Chinese Democracy? As far as I know, Wal Mart still refuses to stock albums with explicit lyrics. And, of course, I'm just assuming Chinese Democracy will follow the same somewhat blunt lyrical vein as AFD.

[AxlVanHagar]

This is kind of an esoteric question...but if Wal Mart wins the bidding war, does this mean it will be impossible to obtain an uncensored copy of Chinese Democracy? As far as I know, Wal Mart still refuses to stock albums with explicit lyrics. And, of course, I'm just assuming Chinese Democracy will follow the same somewhat blunt lyrical vein as AFD.

I was wonderig the same thing. I think because of that Best Buy would have the edge in any negotians. And Best Buy likes to have some sort of exclusive or bonus disc with this kind of thing and rumor has it Axl is looking to get his re-recorded version of Appetite For Destruction out there and that could be the opportunity he needs. Wait and see I guess.

[Quinarvy]

Axl is looking to get his re-recorded version of Appetite For Destruction out there and that could be the opportunity he needs. Wait and see I guess.

His WHAT?!?!

Ok, who wants to play Slap-a-Axl

[AxlVanHagar]

His WHAT?!?!

Ok, who wants to play Slap-a-Axl

LMAO! You hadn't heard about that? Axl had the new lineup of Gn'R re-record Appetite several years ago. The lineup with Buckethead if memory serves. Gn"r is always getting hit up for songs to be included in video games, movies , commercials etc. One of the things that Duff and Slash sued Axl over was the fact that he kept turning those offers down to avoid paying rotalties to them. To circumvent that he hit the studio and re-did the album. That Adam Sandler flick from a few years ago with Sweet Child O'Mine in it was the re-recorded version. Can't recall the name of the film atm.

Gn'R isn't the only band guilty of this. Twisted Sister did with Stay Hungry, though at least it was the original band all together on that one. Ozzy did it on Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman. He had the original bass and drum tracks removed and redone by Rob Trujillo and Mike Bordin to avoid paying royalties to the original band members Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake. KISS also has recently done it as well replacing Ace Frehley's and Peter Criss' parts with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer for a new greatest hits CD the track listing is as follows
1. DEUCE
2. DETROIT ROCK CITY
3. SHOUT IT OUT LOUD
4. HOTTER THAN HELL
5. CALLING DR.LOVE
6. LOVE GUN
7. I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU
8 .HEAVEN'S ON FIRE
9. LICK IT UP
10. I LOVE IT LOUD
11. FOREVER
12. CHRISTINE SIXTEEN
13. DO YOU LOVE ME
14. BLACK DIAMOND
15. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE

[Quinarvy]

Ugh, if I ever meet Axl he's getting a swift kick to the nuts.