R&B star Toni Braxton is leaving Arista Records to join Blackground Records, Billboard Bulletin has learned. Universal-distributed Blackground has tentative plans to issue a new Braxton album Sept.16, preceded by the first single in June or July.

I wonder who will the next artist to jump ship...

my opinion - the powers that be needs to send LA Reid packin...he has not done a good job as CEO since taken over after Clive Davis...

If T-Boz and Chilli are smart, they'll sign with another label to do their solo albums. Once the TLC stuff is done with.

It appears he's doing quite well at Arista

"Though he had had success with his own boutique label, LaFace, discovering acts like Toni Braxton and TLC, could Mr. Reid handle the responsibility of running a major label? Would an executive with a background in R & B and hip-hop be able to work with Arista's rock and pop artists? Could Mr. Reid spot talent like Mr. Davis, the man who helped shape the careers of Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston?

Today, just over two years later, Mr. Reid has not only managed to stay in the picture; he has also silenced his critics with a string of multimillion-selling albums, even in a period when sales are down sharply. The R & B heartthrob Usher's album "8701" has sold seven million copies worldwide; the pop-and-roll singer Pink's sophomore effort, "Missundaztood," more than 10 million; and the rap duo Outkast's "Stankonia" sold more than five million copies and won a Grammy last year. Mr. Reid's biggest coup has been "Let Go," the debut album by the pint-size Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne; the record has spawned three No. 1 hits and sold more than 10 million copies. And last Sunday, Mr. Reid capped off the year when three Arista artists -- Santana, Usher and Outkast -- won Grammy Awards.

"He gets an A+," said Doug Morris, chairman of the Universal Music Group, the world's largest record company. "I really wish we could lure him to our company." "

http://www.whitney-fan.co.../027.shtml

[this was originally from the NY Times]

He's not doing that well. What happened to the latest albums with Toni, TLC, and Whitney?

Toni may not be able to sell as well as she used to, but that's no excuse to drop her. She's still an established artist who can do well with the right material. TLC got some of their best reviews ever for 3D (and I think it's a great album too), but it's tanking so bad on the charts. They released a so-so first single, and Arista hasn't done much to properly promote this album. As for Whitney, I don't know what to say about her.

What happened to Dido, Adema, Lennon? What happened with Annie Lennox?

Arista is more than just Avril and Pink.

That article is a total bullshit,,he got Whiteny, TLC, Outkast, Toni, Santana and all of them mofos under his wide ass nose but he will overlook them all 4 Avril?? Now ain't that a bitch? A+ my ass,,Arista went down the train eva since Clive lift it. Not 2 sound stereotype, but I was kinda glad that there's a black label master who'll take care of talented black artists who get overlooked everytime.

Hell,,fuck the black thang,,he's a MUSICIAN 4 god's sake,,and 4 that he should relate 2 them mo' I mean he supposed 2 give his artists creative respect right?? I see the exact opposite.

Good for her!!

Arista is a joke right now.Without Clive Davis,the label has gone downhill.Yes,they have a few successes,but many of their big "superstar" projects have been fiascos.The latest CDs by Whitney Houston,TLC,and Toni Braxton are collecting dust in the cut-out bins.And without Clive Davis,even Santana's much anticipated 'Shaman' CD isn't doing nearly as well as it's predecessor.Arista/BMG made a HUGE mistake by letting Clive go.

I predict more of these Arista artists will try to find a way to get out of their contract and sign elsewhere.J Records,perhaps?

DavidEye said:

If Whitney were smart, she would move to! Arista should really be dissapointed with how much they let her down. With all this drama, I think Whitney could be selling a lot more CDs. Not to mention the album is really good. It's a shame that a good song like "On My Own" is going to tank becuase LA Reid is such an idiot!

And congrats to Toni for leaving! I can't believe how poorly her record did. By the time I heard the first single (on VH1 Soul), the ablum had been out for months and I lost interest. If I would have heard the single right away (its not too bad), I would have picked up the CD right when it came out. I think T-Boz and Chilli will follow suit. Two hardcore teenyboopers (Pink and Avril) does not an entire record company make!
[This message was edited Sat Mar 15 11:45:36 PST 2003 by VinnyM27]

Harlepolis said:

yes, and all of those acts were signed under Clive as well. in fact, Stankonia's success came mostly under the reign of Davis.

Babyface is responsible for 2 hits at Arista: Pink and Avril. Whitney's tanked, TLC has tanked, Toni Braxton has tanked. And these were Arista's cash cows under Clive Davis.

Everybody's going to be watching to see how Alicia Keys' sophomore album does. If she has another blockbuster, Clive Davis is going to be the genius of the music industry.

It's not like the albums by Toni,Whitney,or TLC were that good to begin with.

classic77 said:

certainly not. but the decision to scrap Whitney's album at the last minute and use outtakes is a decision made at the top.

AaronFantastic said:

I think you mean LA Reid. I'm not sure what Babyface has going on. What happened to LAFace records? Now that you meantion it, I remember TLC and Toni both being signed to Laface and not Arista.

from one bad label to another
one of these dayz people will stop signing the contracts
they can make more chee$e without the labels and own they're masters.
one you all will learn how wonderful freedom iz

VinnyM27 said:

yeah, that's what i meant. LA Reid. oops.

VinnyM27 said:

LaFace was merged into Arista when L.A. took over the latter.

"I'm not sure what Babyface has going on"




Well,these days,his career seems to be on life support.When LA Reid became CEO of Arista, LaFace Records (Face and LA's old label) was merged with Arista.Babyface left Sony and signed directly with Arista.He made plans for his own label (America Records) to be distributed by Arista.However,with the way the music biz is today,Arista had to do alot of "cost-cutting",so they got rid of many "vanity labels",including P.Diddy's Bad Boy Records.Babyface's label was also cancelled (before it even began!).

Babyface released an album 'Face 2 Face' in 2001,but it bombed.He is currently working on another album for Arista,which should be out this summer.He continues to produce other artists,but his recent productions (such as Boyz II Men's "Color Of Love" single) aren't doing too well on the charts.



.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 17 6:41:21 PST 2003 by DavidEye]

Toni like alot of Other R&B Acts is dealing with Industry Politics.first of all She is a Very Talented Artist but when you have to share the Same Producers&Writers as J-Lo,Brittney,etc... it makes you look desperate.the Record Companys have lost there ablity to relate to a Toni,Mariah&Whitney.La Reid is all about that Money.anyway as for Babyface:He lost His Imprint Label just as Jam&Lewis did at with La Reid.they are cutting back in a Big Way.La Reid signed up Jermaine Dupri after they let Puffy Go with His Masters so we shall see what happens with this.in order for LA Reid to be the CEO of Arista he had to Sell the remaining 50% of LAFace Records for the deal to go thru.all the LAFace Acts are Still Signed directly with LA.Outkast,TLC,Usher.this Shows you about Loyality in the Biz: just 10 Years ago Toni Braxton was on top of the music World tons of Sales&Awards all over the place.10 Years later out the door.Alicia Keys take Heed!!!

Batdance said:

You got dat right, and I'm waiting on another Alicia Keys' album.

Batdance said:

Clive Davis is Passed Genius Status in the Music Business: the Cat is moving closer to Don Corleone level straight up.

thats a shame about toni braxton hopefully she will bounce back with another label soon i know tears for fears just signed with arista i hope arista treats them good but who know's anymore with major labels

Voltron88 said:

in Tears for Fears Case it's about Business&also maybe a 80's thing because they might be able to hit again especially with certain 80's Acts enjoying a Musical Re-Birth?? as for Braxton i think She is Done.She&Babyface had a Damn Good Run but in 10 Short years a whole new wave of Acts are being Pushed so fast that it makes Toni Come across like it was 40 years back.Toni is Talented but pretty much done IMHO.

mistermaxxx said:

yes this is true on tears for fears, duran duran are being offered big money as well with the 80s rebirth as for toni its a shame she is very talented i even heard not long ago she was broke as well the music bussiness can be a murky place but i do hope she bounces back might take a while but she has the talent.

I do agree LA has not made the wisest decisions...particularly releasing albums by Toni, TLC, Whitney, and Santana all within the same month (more or less)...He could've released Santana and Whitney before Xmas and whipped out Toni and TLC in early '03 when the Xmas rush was over. This would've allowed better focus for each title...4th Quarter actually ends in Feb-March for many labels so they would've still been able to shoot for their objectives while still 'spacing' out the big guns...

Toni, TLC, and Whitney are all lost causes and to salvage them (at least TLC, Whit) would require alot of focus, $$$, and kick ass single...something I'm not sure Arista is willing to do...

We'll see how '03 shapes up with new albums from Dido (summer-fall), Kelis (via Neptunes Arista-distributed label Star Trek), Outkast (spring-summer), and Blu Cantrell (whose album has been bumped)

Annie Lennox has moved to J Records and is releasing her long-awaited follow-up to 1995's MEDUSA on June 10th..

Voltron88 said:

she didn't go broke because of the music business. she went broke because she doesn't know how to write a check, and let others do it for her. and they took advantage. not all of the evils that befall artists are the fault of record labels, you know.

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

TLC already has the kick ass new single. "Damaged" is doing very well at radio and just debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. I hope to God Arista, T-Boz and Chilli wake the hell up and do serious promotion. Cuz this single can turn things around for the album. But they've already dropped the ball a bit by not having a video ready yet to go with the song.

Raven said:

I found it odd that "Damaged" (which is very much in the pop rock vien of "Unpretty") doesn't have a video but that they did release one for "Hands Up" (which is a cool slow jam but not a real good single).

I downloaded the Thunderpuss mix of WH's "On My Own" and I don't think its going to save Whitney's album. I love the original but the remix (which they should be pushing to Top 40 but I can tell aren't) is a little bit of uneven. They really let it go around the chorus, which should be pumped up. Anyone else here it and know what I'm, talking about?

I feel bad for the entertainers but what we're seeing is the natural evolution of any business. It's eating itself up. In this case they haven't adapted yet. Maybe this will clear the way for real artists and musicians to be heard for a while Afterall, let's be honest. Who in their right mind looks to Toni Braxton for good music? She's not much better than J-Lo. It's all an image people have bought into.

VinnyM27 said:

I have the remix as well...and I totally agree...very uneven...not the best remix at all...plus...it's a shame considering just a couple years ago Whitney remixes were hotter than ever...she eclipsed all the other divas in the remix field...Great remixes of "It's Not Right" and "Heartbreak Hotel" blew up the dance floor fa sho!

AaronFantastic said:

---
There you go again being a corporate ass suck.

There was an article on the foxnews site about L.A.Reid getting half of all the roylaties from songs that Rodney Jerkins and few of the other songwriters at Arista do for various artists on the label.

Mr.Reid has arranged a situation were he picks the songs for the groups on the label so he can half of the money off the songs. Do you think this guy cares about the success of Toni Braxton when he knows he going to get a nice check off dozens of other artist on the label.

The whole industry is a cesspool.

laurarichardson said:

what's that got to do with Toni? she doesn't write her own songs. that's between LA and Rodney. this doesn't explain why Toni Braxton went broke



oh, he cared about her a lot when she was hot. i doubt her cares for her at all now. after all, she ruined her own career by taking so much time off. the comeback was lukewarm, and she went from being a class act to a ho. kinda the same thing that happened to Mariah. certain amount of credibility, great voice, classy... threw it all down the gutter to dress like a tramp and sing about fucking day & night.



yes, but this is not news. and just because it is a cesspool doesn't mean that it is at the root of all of the problems for theses artists.