Currently, unconfirmed yet quite concrete rumors are circulating that Roadrunner Records wants to close its European branches. The label, home to bands like Fear Factory, Megadeth, Slipknot, and Korn, was acquired by the major Warner Music in 2006. And it is well known that they do not treat their subsidiaries lightly when the financial figures do not add up. Thus, the closure could also save personnel costs through the expected job cuts.
What this means for the contracted rock and metal bands is still hard to assess. Singer and guitarist Matthew Heafy is venting his frustrations on his Twitter Account about music piracy:
I wish I knew who or what to blame specifically, and chew off it's heads - but Roadrunner records just fired some of their best employees. [1] I don't know if it's corporate greed or it's due to the fact that no one puts value in physical art and that piracy created a domino effect.[2] But our friends who are being tossed away so quickly by the label are now out of jobs. These people helped bands get where they are today. [3] Wanna defend piracy? Do what you do for me and 10,000 others for free. Whatever your trade is - give me that for free or You're a jerk. [4]
