by
Warner shareholders are expected to generate around $4bn from the sale of shares following a $2.6bn buyout of the company from Time Warner at the end of 2003.
In a statement issued by their management company The Firm, the band said:
"Linkin Park has been responsible for approximately 10% of the entire Warner Music Group's record sales, selling over 35 million records worldwide in just five years. After reading numerous and daily articles about how WMG executives and corporate raiders have ridden the coattails of the creative community to extract massive rewards, Linkin Park has become increasingly offended and discouraged."
"The new owners of the Warner Music Group will be reaping a windfall of $1.4 billion from their $2.6 billion purchase a mere 18 months ago if their planned IPO moves forward. Linkin Park, their biggest act, will get nothing."
The band concluded their words by saying that they now wanted to leave the company:
"The band now wants off WMG and is weighing all of their options on how to best get new music to their fans. Possible avenues include relying more on touring, merchandising and endorsements, rather than leaving their future in the hands of a weakened WMG."
Be it far from us to contribute some opinions to this factually-based story, but... Jesus christ! you corporate fucks! Join the major label, take the major money, and then pretend that you're having your artistic licence quashed and that you care... you want another slice of the big record pie, you fat bastards. Go away.
Anyway, it doesn't matter, no-one will buy your next record, cos like you, it will stink.
Your mums.
