The (semi-reliable) Daily Star claims: *COLDPLAY is the next big-name act expected to join the mounting EMI exodus. The quartet’s upcoming fourth album could be their last proper studio effort for the struggling label, who has seen Sir Paul McCartney and Radiohead leave in the past year. Chris Martin & co. can fulfill their current five-album deal with EMI/Parlophone by issuing a Best Of collection in ’09, thus making the act free agents. A source close to the band said: “There’s so much uncertainty in the record industry right now. The boys don’t necessarily need a label anymore. They aren’t even considering putting pen to paper on any type of new contract until they see what happens.”*

MP3: Coldplay – Clocks

The (semi-reliable) Daily Star claims: *COLDPLAY is the next big-name act expected to join the mounting EMI exodus. The quartet’s upcoming fourth album could be their last proper studio effort for the struggling label, who has seen Sir Paul McCartney and Radiohead leave in the past year. Chris Martin & co. can fulfill their current five-album deal with EMI/Parlophone by issuing a Best Of collection in ’09, thus making the act free agents. A source close to the band said: “There’s so much uncertainty in the record industry right now. The boys don’t necessarily need a label anymore. They aren’t even considering putting pen to paper on any type of new contract until they see what happens.”*

MP3: Coldplay – Clocks

Here’s an explanation, via Contact Music: *Country legend DOLLY PARTON will release her next album on her own label after landing a new deal to become the only signing to Dolly Records. The new company will be managed by the singer’s longtime manager Danny Nozell. He claims the new album will be released in February (08) and it will be “the first mainstream country record Dolly has done in 17 years.”

Nozell tells Billboard.com, “She’s a free agent right now so we decided to go around to the majors to at least see what kind of distribution deals they were bringing in, and didn’t see anything I was interested in. “To be honest, we have the finances the major labels have, and I put together a marketing plan that was way more extensive than any major has brought to me.” A distribution deal is reportedly in the works with iTunes for digital sales, and the first single from the album, Better Get To Livin’, will be released to radio next month (Sep07).*

MP3: Dolly Parton – Islands In The Stream (feat. Kenny Rogers) [via Lawrence PC]

The last time we checked in with Thursday, they were label-less and loving it, following a dispute with major label, Island, back in March. Now, four months later, the screamo originators are back on their toes, teaming up with Victory – their former (indie) label that released the band’s stunning debut LP, Full Collapse back in ’01.

A new CD/DVD package is set for release this October featuring ‘live performances, backstage footage, interviews, making-of featurettes and a photo gallery—all of it spanning the breadth of the band’s decade-long career. The audio companion will feature three brand new songs accompanied by a selection of live cuts and b-sides.’

For official statements from Victory’s head and the band itself, head over to this article over at CMJ.com. Let’s hope this is a harbinger for a return to form for the quintet. Their early work is still breathtaking after all these years.

MP3: Thursday – Cross Out The Eyes

“We’re partnering with MTV2, and the focus is going to be Wal-Marts, big box stores, red states, and TV advertising– to really go beyond… We don’t really expect indie rock stores to support this record. It’s for the casual fan.”

Oh my. That quote is from Vice’s Adam Shore regarding a rumored upcoming compilation featuring some indie-rock giants including (but not limited to): Bloc Party, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Silversun Pickups, M. Ward and more. Word is that Vice, Matador, Sub Pop and other indie labels will take part in the series of ‘best-of’-type indie collections, targeted towards the OC compilation-loving folks, that will probably start seeing the light of day this summer. Hmm.

Read the rest of the story and quotes from EW.com over at Pitchfork.

MP3: M. Ward – Magic Trick (via The Muso)

B-fork is reporting that The Gossip, Kill Rock Stars pride and joy, have signed to Columbia’s new subdivision, Music With A Twist. For those unfamiliar with Music With A Twist, it will be the first ‘major music label dedicated to LGBT artists’. For those familiar with Kill Rock Stars, this isn’t the first time such fate has fallen on their shoulders (Elliott Smith & The Decemberists amongst others have signed to major labels after massive success through the indie).

So far, the only other album/artist currently out on Music With A Twist’s roster is the new, lackluster, L Word soundtrack. However, a compilation, which will serve as a sort of harbinger for what to expect from La Twist throughout ’07, will be released April 17th and will feature The Gossip’s single ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’.

In related news, The Gossip is on the cover of NME this week looking fabulous.

MP3: The Gossip – Are U That Somebody? (Aaliyah cover)

Sans record label, that is. Brooklyn Vegan is the first to officially report what we’ve all been hearing for some time now, Capitol Records will be dropping employees and bands from the label, left, right and sideways.

The first batch of bands likely to be free agents include but are not limited to: Fischerspooner, The Dandy Warhols, Shout Out Louds & The Vines. Well, at least one band in there had it coming for quite some time now (you can take a guess who I’m referring to and you’d probably be correct). Other artists up for grabs include Morningwood, Doves, Moby & The Decemberists (full roster HERE!). Yikes!

MP3s: Fischerspooner – Emerge + The Dandy Warhols – We Used To Be Friends

I would have never guessed these two were buddy buddy but regardless, the two have just partnered to start up Masses Music, the record label. No word yet on what genre of artists the label will feature but Heath & Ben already have one musician who’s signed on.

Her name is Grace Woodroofe (whose MySpace page was JUST taken down today, hmmm) and that’s about all the concrete info we have at the moment. Some more scattered details here.

Does anybody have high hopes for this collaborative effort?

MP3: Ben Harper – Steal My Kisses

And that’s all I’m going to say about this:

The White Stripes are back in the studio and gearing up for the release of their new album. After recently signing a record deal with Warner Bros., the band are ready to launch new music in the States. In January, a fall out with North American label V2, which released the rock band’s albums in the U.S., forced Jack and Meg to find a new record label.

The new music deal has the band under contract to release one album. A release date for the album, which is the follow up to 2005′s “Get Behind Me Satan,” has yet to be determined. (via All Headline News)

MP3: The White Stripes – The Big Three Killed My Baby

And that’s all I’m going to say about this:

The White Stripes are back in the studio and gearing up for the release of their new album. After recently signing a record deal with Warner Bros., the band are ready to launch new music in the States. In January, a fall out with North American label V2, which released the rock band’s albums in the U.S., forced Jack and Meg to find a new record label.

The new music deal has the band under contract to release one album. A release date for the album, which is the follow up to 2005′s “Get Behind Me Satan,” has yet to be determined. (via All Headline News)

MP3: The White Stripes – The Big Three Killed My Baby