Janet Jackson escapes Island! Good thing?

Pop star Janet Jackson has joined the ranks of big-name artists who have split from their major-label homes.

Although Jackson's freedom looks as though it's being framed as a desire by the artist to strike out on some Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails-like business maneuvering, the breakup between Jackson and Island Def Jam comes just months after her recent effort, "Discipline," failed to connect in the marketplace.

Jackson linked with Island Def Jam for the release of "Discipline," which Billboard reports has sold a total of 415,000 copies in the U.S. since its release last February, or 75,000 less than Metallica shifted in one week for "Death Magnetic."

Billboard also has a statement from Jackson's camp, which notes that the artist "will [now] have autonomy over her career, without the restrictions of a label system," implying that the star intends to go it alone, or at least pair with someone outside a traditional label, a la Madonna and touring behemoth Live Nation (yet note that the New York Post's Brian Garrity recently reported that such new-model deals may actually look quite a bit like traditional label deals, in which the tour promoter would look to a major to offer back-end functions).

The rest of Jackson's statement to the trade touches on vague new-media corporate-speak, citing Jackson as an artist who sets trends and declaring her "one of the first superstar artists to have the individual freedom" to turn to "iTunes, mobile carriers and other diverse and innovative channels," which is already standard operating procedure for major, indie and non-label-affiliated artists the world over.

But Jackson's split with IDJ was foretold a few months ago, when she accused her label of failing to properly promote "Discipline" in an interview with SOHH.com. And before starting her current tour, Jackson talked openly about her label situation being up in the air.

But would the label have mattered? Would a better working of "iTunes, mobile carries and other diverse and innovative channels" really made made a difference in "Discipline", whatever any of that means? After all, first single "Feedback" was released to plenty of hype, but it turned Jackson into an anonymous pop star, with heavily-affected vocals and techno-funk that failed to sound as new or different as, say, anything from Rihanna. And is it IDJ's fault the public is less interested in Janet than a Chris Brown?   

Photo: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[JOE]

I think the label was to blame, It's a really good album I bought the first day it came out. The label didn't gave it a chance.

[Non_ya_bizniz]

Yes the lable was not promoting the project properly."Feedback" was a top 20 hit all because of Downloads..why wasnt radio playing the song people obivously loved it if it reached itunes top 10 yet it got little to no air play.that is a problem.Also Janet didnt perform feedback until the week the album dropped...WTH?? why wasnt she allowed to perform when the single first dropped.No radio play + No TV performance = NO ONE KNOWS YOU HAVE AN ALBUM OUT. Janet deserves better and i hope she finds a lable that understands that. Everyone i know that listens to Discipline says "WOW hot album when did Janet release a new album?" now thats not right.

[Rick]

It was an ok album. Mind all of u, i have been a Janet fan from back in the day, like CONTROL. This album lacks her artistic abilities and feels like she just put it out there to have an album out. Its not as heart felt as, lets say, Velvet Rope.

[Joseph Hoare]

Sad really. Feedback was the # 2 selling single in the US but not even in the top 100 in airplay. What does that say? She did not get support from the lable and the album, though not her best, was good. She deserved better and there was soooo much potential here.

[trex]

ok--- there are some important things to point out. #1 -- her boyfriend is president at IDJ --- where was he when janet was saying IDJ wont supporting the album (i mean, the prez isnt everything, but WTF was he doing??). He was an Executive Producer on the album so he was definitely involved on the Discipline project. Something is amiss here or his presidential position at IDJ has little to no influence.
#2 -- is it a coincidence or is there a correlation between janet's last 3 albums, which all bombed relatively speaking, and jermaine dupri's contribution to these projects? He has had involvement (exec producer) since Damita Jo, and that was the beginning of her declining album sales.

My point- Jermaine, as talented as he is, should keep his involvement with Janet only personal and let Janet get back to 'doing her thing'independent of him. Love is blind i know, but perhaps a new perspective without him, will allow Janet to get back to the creative, innovative, refreshing Janet we've come to love.

[Alejandro]

The label definitely had something to do with it.
I remember going to buy the album at Best Buy on the first day it came out in Rhode Island. Seeing that Janet was no longer with Virgin, she was going to be having a signing of autographs at Best Buy who was sponsoring the event in NYC.
Much to my surprise, I go to best buy and the album is not even there! No poster, not in the "new releases" it wasn't any where. I had to buy it at Newberry Comics.

Not saying "Discipline" was amaazing, but it was a solid album that clearly lacked the support of the label.

[JJway]

i definitely think janets album was hot stuff but the label did not do its work at all, i think janet was doing the promotion herself which is hard work when the music industry is being taken over by talentless artists like rhianna and chris brown, i mean they are not setting trends, janet and mariah always have set trends but too much their labels dont give me credit, esp in janets favour, Janet u need to go at it alone and show those talentless artists the way to go....by the way janets tour is selling out so no way does that mean shes past her time...love ya janet.

[TROY]

I THINK THAT THE LABEL WAS AT FAULT. AS YOU SAY, "FEEDBACK" WAS RELEASED TO MUCH HYPE AND I WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT THE LABEL DID NOT OFFICIALLY RELEAASE THE SONG UNTIL A MONTH AFTER IT SURFACED ON THE INTERNET. IF "FEEDBACK" HAD BEEN RELEASED IMMEDIATELY TO THE MARKETPLACE, THE MUSIC BUYING PUBLIC WOULD HAVE JUMPED ON IT AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A NUMBER ONE SINGLE. INSTEAD, THE LABEL RELEASE IT IN JANUARY, 2008, 4 WEEKS AFTER THE SINGLE WAS LEAKED. BY THEN, THE PUBLIS HAD HEARD IT SO MUCH THAT IT HAD LOST INTEREST AS BY THEN IT WAS JUST ANOTHER SONG ON THE RADIO.

[db]

Totally agree that the record label did not do their job. It seemed as if they signed her and her name was supposed to do the rest. These are different times and a different generation, they should have put more effort in promoting Janet. Now the responsibility is in her hands. I hope she surrounds herself with intellegent people who can help put her back where she belongs. Best wishes for Janet!

[Jason]

I think whether the label was behind her album or not, the poor sales are due to the fact that it was mediocre at best. There were 2 good tracks and the rest were her tired interludes and weak ballads. You want better album sales, Janet? Try something new!

[mark agnew]

I went into three major record shops in the UK to buy janets album on release date, could'nt find one copy and was told they'd have it toward the end of the next month. Went into Borders and they had three copies of the album at the back under J for jackson. No promo stand or nothing what does this tell u. I paid £15.99 for the album. Virtually every other new release album was on sale for £8.77

[timbo]

I agree with one of the post that JD should keep his relationship personal as far as Janet is concerend. Every since he has taken over her music , its all went downhill. I think she needs to get back with Jimmy and Terry and some other producers and put out a funky album.

[Kermit]

Where do you start? Janet Jackson used to be one of those compelling artists that you cared about. I loved her unique voice and the layers of poetry in her lyric writing. Sometimes the music was cutting edge even if it was a bit over produced from time to time. She lost me after Velvet Rope.
There were good songs in each of her next albums, but like a Prince album- that would be like one great song- Enjoy for example on 20 YO or What's Your Name on Discipline but most of the material is vapid banal stuff that doesn't need an artist of Janet's caliber to contribute to it. Her music ceased to matter when she forgot that the artist that the entire world was swept away with seemed to actually be sophisticated enough to comprehend that music of any real value is more than a dance hit. Great music moves its listeners and inspires them. As much as I appreciate Jermaine Dupree, I feel that his influence is largely negative. Janet got on my nerves when she seemed like she needed to get out of LA . Now she needs to get out of Atlanta for a while and travel the world incognito. Take a train through India and a safari to Egypt's Western Desert. No entourage, no conceited, materialistic, narcissistic, anti-intellectual posse. How about you take a drive up 395 and visit the Hunewill Ranch for a few weeks- go horse back riding on a real working outfit? No one is buying these records because they are the equivalent of a Hummer.
Low on gas mileage, designed with a morbid deficiency of soul, and in poor taste.

Janet Jackson will sell more records than ever before when she ditches the machinations of fame and celebrity and embraces music - her family's Trail of Tears roots and her own unique intrinsic value as an important voice of her generation. With the world in the state that it is in, we look around and hope that one of our most beloved artists would climb out of the show biz as usual bubble and take us somewhere- Jan if you are reading this, there is an entire globe of people that are basically boycotting your music because it fails to acknowledge them.
You are being marginalized by the people you have entrusted your career with. Get back to the Rhythm Nation- sing it for the people- sing it for the babies sing it for your life!

[styles-p]

Thats not true about janet selling less than metallica(no offense to them) but janet discipline sold 101,200 copies the first week. So you may want to get your facts straight.

[Camille]

Janet left her last label because "they weren't promoting her albums", then she signs with Island and now they're "not promoting her album". People please, I've been a Janet fan since the Control era, and sad to say her last 3 albums have been horrible. They sould like anything any 20yr old pop singer could make. I have all her albums, and as a fan, I knew months ahead of time when each one was coming out. Her albums aren't selling, because her music isn't what it used to be. I wish people would quit blaming record companies for terrible sales. Afterall, they need to make money so why would they purposely not promote an album, especially someone as huge as Janet Jackson? During the promotion stages of Discipline, she was on the cover of I dont know how many magazines, made appearances at most late night shows, did tv shows, did radio interviews, was on MTV and BET. I mean, what more could be done??? The album didnt sell well because it sucked. Period.