Labrinth Says He’s Done With the Industry: “F*** Columbia. Double F*** ‘Euphoria’”
#Labrinth #music industry #Columbia Records #Euphoria #departure
📌 Key Takeaways
- Labrinth announces he is leaving the music industry.
- He expresses strong criticism towards Columbia Records.
- He also voices significant dissatisfaction with the show 'Euphoria'.
- His statements indicate a complete break from his current professional engagements.
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
Artist Departure, Industry Criticism
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This news matters because Labrinth is a critically acclaimed artist whose departure signals deeper issues within the music industry regarding artist treatment and creative control. It affects his fans who may lose access to new music, the production teams behind 'Euphoria' who relied on his distinctive sound, and Columbia Records which loses a talented artist. The public criticism may also influence other artists' decisions about industry partnerships and encourage discussions about artist rights versus corporate interests in entertainment.
Context & Background
- Labrinth (Timothy McKenzie) is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer who gained mainstream recognition in the early 2010s with hits like 'Earthquake' and 'Beneath Your Beautiful'.
- He achieved significant commercial success through his work on HBO's 'Euphoria', creating the show's atmospheric soundtrack including the Emmy-winning song 'All For Us' featuring Zendaya.
- Columbia Records is one of the 'Big Three' major record labels (alongside Warner and Universal) with a history dating back to 1887, known for artists like Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, and Adele.
- Artist-label conflicts have been common throughout music history, with notable examples including Prince changing his name to protest Warner Bros. and Taylor Swift's public disputes over master recordings.
What Happens Next
Industry observers will watch whether Labrinth follows through with his departure or negotiates new terms with Columbia. The 'Euphoria' production team may need to find alternative composers for Season 3 if he refuses to participate. Other artists may publicly support or echo his sentiments, potentially sparking broader conversations about artist-label relationships. Labrinth might pursue independent releases or collaborations outside traditional industry structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
While specific details aren't provided in the statement, such strong language typically indicates disputes over creative control, financial arrangements, or contractual obligations that artists often face with major labels.
If Labrinth refuses to work on the show, producers would need to find a new composer, potentially altering the distinctive musical identity that became integral to the series' atmosphere and emotional impact.
While possible, the explicit language suggests genuine frustration; however, music industry conflicts sometimes resolve privately despite public statements, so his actual career path remains uncertain.
Extremely common - most major artists have experienced conflicts over royalties, creative freedom, or contract terms, though public declarations this explicit are less frequent.
He could release music independently through platforms like Bandcamp, start his own label, focus on production work for other artists, or explore sync licensing for films/TV outside major label deals.