Sony Music Fully Supports Bring Me The Horizon
Sony believes Bring Me The Horizon’s new album, That’s The Spirit (out on 11 September), will be the latest staging post on a journey to becoming “the biggest rock band in the world”.
It will be their second album with the major, appearing on RCA in the UK and Columbia in the US. Their previous record, Sempiternal, reached number three in the UK and 11 in the States.
“They’re one of those bands I love because they can go out and build a career almost under the radar”, said Mark Collen, SVP international operations at Sony Music UK. “We’re building an arena band here. We believe that they have the potential to be the biggest rock band in the world – and they’re going to be around for a very, very long time.”
RCA boss Colin Barlow, who signed the band to Sony, said: “It’s a classic artist development situation, and they are few and far between these days. They’re transitioning from a band with a loyal fan base to being one the pre-eminent rock bands in the world; they are on the cusp of being massive
“When I took over RCA my plan was to invest in artists I believed in and who would stand the test of time and that’s why this was and is such an important signing for me, and one that sends a signal to other artists.
“This is one of the most ambitious sounding records I’ve ever worked on. It’ll be top five in the US for certain, top three at least in the UK – and platinum rather than gold. It’ll sell over a million worldwide.”
At management company, Raw Power, Craig Jennings added: “There are many different ways to release an album these days, and that’s great. But I do think that having a major label globally committed is still the best option for a band like this at this stage of their career. This feels like a once-in-a-career moment, a game changing moment.”
Sony Music UK Chairman and CEO Jason Iley said: “Bring Me The Horizon are a classic band – who have put in the hard yards of performing and recording to build up a loyal and growing fan base across the globe. With this album, we have the opportunity to help take them to the next level they deserve to reach. That is our aim.”
In the US, That’s The Spirit is actually the first BMTH record to be delivered by Sony. Sempiternal was the last release covered by a licensing deal with Epitaph Records in the territory.
Matt Ash, Stateside head of Raw Power, said: “This was an international build from the start and Bring Me have toured relentlessly [13 tours in eight years, covering 42/50 States]. The US has never ever been an afterthought. The enthusiasm of the Columbia team is key, coupled with the fact that we’ve never had the resources of this size label before. It feels like a game-changing moment.”
Columbia’s chairman, Rob Stringer, added: “To be able to work with a young rock band who have worked so hard and thoughtfully to build a big fan base in the US is a huge opportunity for Columbia. Bands like BMTH are rare these days!”
Source: Music Week
Image credit: Creative Content
