Singer Chris blasts 'evil shareholders

Quoted from: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk

COLDPLAY singer Chris Martin has launched a blistering attack on his bosses at record company EMI. And he said all workers were enslaved by shareholders, who are 'the greatest evil of the modern world'. His onslaught came after shares in EMI fell 16 per cent earlier this year when the release date for the band's third album was pushed back.
The company warned their profits would be hit because the album, X&Y, took longer than expected to complete. Martin said: 'I don't really care about EMI. I'm not really concerned about that. 'I think shareholders are the great evil of this modern world.' Martin also hit out at 'the slavery that we are all under to shareholders'. The group have sold 20 million albums worldwide making them the biggest band in the world along with U2. Coldplay's new album is released on June 7. Martin said: 'We spent 18 months just trying to make songs that make us feel a certain way and then suddenly become part of this corporate machine.'
During a TV show in New York on Monday, he said: 'Deadlines mean nothing to us. We'll sink the whole company if we have to.' Last night, leading music publicist Peter Noble said EMI's claim showed they had failed to build up a sufficient roster of heavyweight acts.
Noble, whose firm's clients include Sony, BMG and Universal, said: 'His statement sounds very similar to what John Lennon would have done'He's in a position now where he doesn't really care because he has as much money as he could ever want. 'His album will go Top 10 in America and he has nothing to worry about. It's the principle of the matter. People will have to respect him for saying this. 'It is uncool for EMI to use people like Coldplay or Robbie Williams as examples for their share price.' 'If EMI don't have enough new acts, they can't put the focus on one group. 'What are they doing in their artists and repertiore division? It's not fair.'
Coldplay are not the first major act to snub their record label as the drive for profits clashes with creativity. In the 1970s, the Sex Pistols were thrown off EMI because the label believed their image and songs went against good taste. The band got to keep their £40,000 advance, went on to achieve fame with Virgin and released a song called EMI as an insult to the label.
Prince changed his name to a symbol and scrawled 'slave' on his face when he got into a dispute with his label, Warner Brothers. George Michael took Sony to court claiming they refused to let him develop as an artist. He lost the £7million fight the following year and signed a new deal with Dreamworks SKG soon after. Nu Metal act Linkin Park went on strike this month over the flotation of Warner Music Group, who own their record company. Last night, Scots songwriter John McLaughlin said: 'Coldplay can be forgiven for having a little moan but they got into bed with EMI and the shareholders. 'Chris, dry your eyes mate and get on with it because you'll make squillions from this album