EMI Facing Artist Standoff

The EMI Group, which includes the Capitol and Parlophone labels, is facing much criticsm from roster artists such as Coldplay and Robbie Williams, who have expressed deep concern and doubt as to whether the company's new management is up to the task of properly doing the job of promoting their acts. EMI was acquired in September by Terra Firma in a $6.3 billion takeover and has since adopted a slash-and burn approach to their employment rolls, leaving label artists and their management uneasy with the prospect of releasing an album through a label unable to adequately promote and distribute their release. (Paul McCartney and Radiohead both left EMI last year.) EMI had no comment.