The final verdict on Death Grips fate has now been delivered, with their major label Epic Records handing down the swift judgment that the band and the label will no longer maintain a professional relationship.
Epic Records announced in a statement that the decision will be “effective immediately” and that motions are now in play that will act to “dissolve our relationship with Death Grips”. Executives from the label exhibit no bad feelings towards the band but admit that “when marketing and publicity stunts trump the actual music, we must remind ourselves of our core values.”
The drama started when Death Grips posted their latest album No Love Deep Web on their official Facebook for’ free download. The move was in direct contrast to the label’s plans for the album’s release, which included proper distribution and, well, not a free album. Since then, Death Grips, not ones to be restricted by the motives of others (which questions why they signed to a major label anyway, but that’s neither here nor there) have launched an all-out war against the label, only yesterday posting private emails between them and label execs.
Death Grips have since deleted their Twitter, though are still keen to perform at the upcoming Pitchfork Music Festival. There is no news yet on whether this will impact on the band’s scheduled Aussie performances at both Big Day Out and MONA FOMA next year. Fingers crossed they still make it. Check out the full statement below via Pitchfork.
Epic Records is a music first company that breaks new artists. That is our mission and our mandate. Unfortunately, when marketing and publicity stunts trump the actual music, we must remind ourselves of our core values. To that end, effective immediately, we are working to dissolve our relationship with Death Grips. We wish them well.
