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New PWR BTTM manager questions speed with which deals were revoked
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 14 June 2017
PWR BTTM’s new manager Lisa Barbaris has questioned the speed with which her predecessors at Salty Artist Management, as well as various record labels, dropped the duo following sexual assault allegations made against one member. They are now working to return their music to download and streaming services in the US.
As previously reported, PWR BTTM were dropped by their management, and their record labels in the US and UK, after sexual assault allegations against the duo’s Ben Hopkins emerged last month. In the US, this meant their music being withdrawn from sale entirely. Although this all took place in a matter of days, no criminal charges have yet been brought against Hopkins and he denies the accusations.
With new management and legal representation in place, the duo have managed to regain the rights to their debut album, ‘Ugly Cherries’, from Father/Daughter Records. Although the follow-up, ‘Pageant’, which was released by Polyvinyl just before their various deals were rescinded, remains offline.
Speaking to Billboard, Barbaris said that she had not been aware of the band previously, “but to see Polyvinyl derail and potentially destroy the band’s career in such an impulsive manner is very troubling. I’ve never seen a label respond in such an irresponsible way in the 30-plus years I’ve been in the music business”.
“We’re happy ‘Ugly Cherries’ is available again and thankful to Father/Daughter Records for their co-operation in transferring the record’s distribution rights to PWR BTTM”, she added. “We hope we will be able to reach an arrangement with Polyvinyl that satisfies their needs as a business and allows listeners to access PWR BTTM’s music”.
The band’s new lawyer Jeffrey Koenig added: “PWR BTTM put a tremendous amount of time, effort, love and resources into creating and recording the body of work that would eventually become ‘Pageant’. It is important that their former label allows their fans to hear this album”.
In a statement to Billboard, Polyvinyl said: “Polyvinyl has been in contact with PWR BTTM’s team to work out a separation, and is waiting for details necessary to make that happen. Polyvinyl wishes to make the transition as easy as possible and has no desire to prevent the band from releasing ‘Pageant’ once an agreement has been reached”.
