The whole United-Kingdom-Music-Not-Being-Released-In-The-Unites-States ordeal.

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The whole United-Kingdom-Music-Not-Being-Released-In-The-Unites-States ordeal.

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June 11, 2012

Re: The whole United-Kingdom-Music-Not-Being-Released-In-The-Unites-States ordeal.

Dear Sirs,

Here’s the thing (we started out friends), I love your blog and I talk about it all the time and I follow you on twitter and all that good stuff, but I’m starting to get really pissed off. Here’s why:

This blog has showed me some AMAZING music like Amanda Mair, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande (even if she did pull a Jessie J with her album), Olly Murs, The Wanted, and Cheryl Cole. Showing me all this music opened the door for me to explore more British music (I do realize Amanda Mair is NOT British and that Siva from The Wanted is NOT British either) and I now consider myself a devout fan of Girls Aloud, Sugababes, One Direction, etc (you know all of the RULL GOOD British stuff). But the problem is, most of this music is never released in the US.

This is a problem. It obviously created a a big piracy problem on my part, which then filled my computer with viruses (along really good songs as well) and a dependency on piracy websites which, due to the recent piracy SOPA rubbish, have been shut down. Now I have become isolated from British music not released in the US. This makes me terribly sad.

Sure, The Wanted and One Direction are taking over on this side of the pond too, but it’s not quite the same. Having “The Wanted EP” just doesn’t feel as exciting as having Marina & The Diamonds’ (which I love to death but failed to mention earlier) debut album imported from the UK before it was released in the US. It just felt so good opening it up and thinking that I was holding something special.

But anyway, the point is: ALL THIS GOOD MUSIC IS OUT, but I can’t download it. At least not in some way that’s not a youtube-to-mp3 website. Olly Murs? Gotta wait for his release in the US. Example? Not even here. Cheryl Cole? NOTHING (this is a crime, tbh). Nadine Coyle? She’s slacking, only “Sweetest High” is on iTunes (and it’s quite rubbish). Aiden Grimshaw? Not even here (but let’s give him time to flourish, so nevermind that).

I’m sick and tired of having to wait for months or even years for brilliant UK music to reach the US. It’s exhausting! Can you believe that the most recent Girls Aloud album released here is “What Will The Neighbours Say?”? Seriously. I know you folk up in Popjustice have somewhat of a status over there so this is what I want you to do: talk to all British labels, have them release all of their music in the US digitally, have champagne to celebrate. It’s no big deal, really.

I’d also like a badge, but considering I live in another country and what with shipping costs and all, I’ll do without it. I just want a little bit of acknowledgement. But the badge would be nice. But whatever. Or if you really feel for me you could send me “Electra Heart,” but it’s whatevs.

The only thing keeping me from suicide is the fact that we totally stole The Dolly Rockers. This is what helps me sleep at night as I listen to Lana Del Rey.

Thank you for inspiring this music-loving teen from states.

Love from Jaime Garcia (Bakersfield, California)

We've tried talking to labels about this in the past. They start banging on about how there might be a chance that a band could promote their material abroad at some point in the future, so they don't want to lose any sales by making stuff available too early. They talk about how international labels don't want the hassle of releasing too many extra things. They make all sorts of excuses.

It's annoying, but you can sort of see the first point: unless you're a big international artist already (like Katy Perry or whoever) the idea of floating a release out there when the act can't promote it in each country is, in many instances, as good as consigning the release to the pop dustbin.

Thing is, though, it's obvious Girls Aloud (to go with your example) will never release 'Chemistry' with a big push in America. The record was six years ago, for a start. Chances are the band will never try to break America again. That moment has long since passed. So why can't someone at Universal just tick some boxes in an online form or whatever it is they do and make their entire catalogue available in America? There is literally nothing to lose. Or is there something to lose?

We don't know - we'll try to find out for you. In the meantime, there's a badge on its way.