SERANI BUYS OUT OF HIS DEAL WITH UNIVERSA
There is more to come for dancehall singjay Serani, who has announced that he has bought out his four album deal with Universal Republic.
In January of this year it was announced that Serani had been signed with Universal Records which should have been the distributor of his debut album No Games. No Games was officially launched last week in New York. Yesterday, however, it was announced via a press release sent by Serani’s manager Julian Jones-Griffith, that Serani is “unhappy with the ways we’re playing out with Universal”.
Album sales for Serani’s No Games hasn’t been what was expected, yet the artiste’s manager Julian Jones-Griffith, in an interview with Jamaica Star yesterday, is still optimistic about the work put in thus far. According to Billboard’s Reggae charts, No Games moved over 1100 units in sales, digital and hard copy, in its first week.
Universal Records is an American and British record label owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as part of The Universal Motown/Universal Republic Group. Universal has had success in breaking new artistes such as Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan and Lil Wayne, among others. When Jamaica Star spoke with Jones-Griffith he explained that the buy out took place two months ago.
No Games was instead released as a joint venture between Phase One Communications and Rockstone Media Group. Phase One is an up and coming company operating in New York that is working with new artistes such as Serani. Rockstone Media Group is owned by Jones-Griffith and Serani. A straight distribution deal was then struck with Razor & Tie, who went through Sony. However, Jones-Griffith said not enough units were sent out for sale and it was difficult to get the album in certain stores.
Now Serani’s team is hoping to re-distribute and re-launch the album sometime early next year. They will also be releasing the third single, Take Me Higher, which Jones-Griffith described as a more “crossover” song.Serani has been mainly based in the United States since late last year promoting his music and the upcoming album. Jones-Griffith said he was not surprised by the album’s first-week sales but he has not been disappointed in the work put in by Serani.
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A Says:
Mi hope Serani know weh him a do, i thought is only big name like Beenie and Sizzla coulda turn down contract and still have food fi last fi di year.
Posted on November 10th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
admin Says:
true.. his first week album sales were far weaker than expected. I hope him govern it right and not regret that move
Posted on November 10th, 2009 at 3:53 PM
H Says:
This was a smart move by Serani. In this economy, no one is buying what they can attain for free. Besides, most people that listen to dancehall don’t buy records. It’s the sad truth of the culture. All these people shouting “GAZA”, yet Kartel only moved 8 copies his first week. Even Sean Paul’s latest album still hasn’t reached 100k copies sold yet. Best Serani buy out of this deal with Universal before he ends up in a situation where he owes them money. Daseca makes good money producing, Serani will be alright.
Posted on November 19th, 2009 at 7:57 PM