EMI Shuts Down Stateside Offices

Staffers at EMI Records in New York had their fears confirmed yesterday morning as they learned the U.S. label was being shut down immediately, with the loss of 120-130 jobs. The closure followed a review of EMI's U.S. operation by Ken Berry, the new worldwide president of EMI Recorded Music. The fate of EMI's roster remains uncertain; some of the acts are expected to shift to Virgin or Capitol. Jon Secada already has moved to Virgin, as have Blessid Union of Souls. Other acts on EMI include D'Angelo, Sinead O'Connor, Patti Rothberg, Queensryche, the artist formerly known as Prince, and new signee Luther Vandross.

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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