Jack White Gives Q101 DJ Electra a Tongue Lashing for “Leaking” Icky Thump–Spanish Subtitles Not Included
Woooaahh! Chicago radio station Q101 played the entirety of the new White Stripes album, Icky Thump, on air yesterday at 2pm. At 4pm the station got a ring a ding ding from Mr. Jack White himself–long distance from Spain, where the White Stripes are currently touring. The phone call was all business, with the main objective being to give Electra, the radio DJ to did the deed, a piece of his mind–and then some. This phone call sounds like my worst nightmare.
On the one hand I understand why Electra would want to play the album for the world to hear–as a fan of the band, I too am excited about the new material. On the other hand I would NEVER go ahead and play the entire album on air without the specific consent of the White Stripes. Longtime followers of the group will know that Jack White certainly has strong opinions on 1. America 2. artist’s rights 3. the internet – and lord help the person who crosses him.
I can’t believe that the station allowed something like this to happen… can’t they get in a whole load of legal trouble for doing this? AND they have basically screwed themselves for any coverage of the White Stripes and perhaps of ALL Warner Brothers artists. I can’t think of any major label that would want to work with a DJ/station after a stunt like this! I can’t believe this DJ has not been fired yet.
I don’t want to seem like a corporate fascist or anything, but I think we can all see how much this could have been an act of passion–as any rational thinking person would think long and hard before playing an entire album before its release.
Sometimes I think Jack and the labels can be a little overzealous about hating some things (such as having Product Shop NYC shut down for linking to downloads of “Conquest” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)” AFTER they had removed the links by request of the label !!!!), but I gotta side with the man on this one–Q101 totally effed up on this.
You can read a first-hand account of the phone call right here on Electra’s blog. Comments on her post are now disabled, so please feel free to leave your two cents about the situation right here. Thanks to J for the link.
Look, we all make mistakes–although it’s hard to believe, I would be willing to buy into the whole idea that the DJ didn’t “know any better” because sometimes people really are that clueless–but when someone is shown the wrong of their mistakes and they continue to insist that they were in the right and then NOT say “sorry” for any damage they might have done (I didn’t hear the on-air discussion but “I’m sorry” didn’t seem like that was said in the aforementioned blog post)–well, I just find that flabbergasting.
PS- I read some of the supportive comments people left for Electra on her Myspace page, and one in particular really got my goat: “Jack needs to take a lesson from Trent on how to use leaked music to his advantage and STFU.” Umm…Trent Reznor is not FOR people releasing his music in an unauthorized fashion–he’s against record labels screwing over consumers by charging retarded expensive prices for CDs and in addition to that, it seems as though he is in FAVOR of artists self-releasing their material and taking control back from the record labels about how their music is distributed and at what cost.
I have to stop thinking about this. The stupid is hurting my head. Read more commentary at my homies Web Vomit and Stereogum.
Unfortunately JudasConstant, I think you are right.
cojones
I agree with what someone’s comment from yesterday: All this “leak†has done is create an insatiable need to hold a physical copy of an incredibly excellent record.
Provided that full, CD quality music files aren’t leaked within at least a week, I see The White Stripes benefiting from this crappy radio rip. It’s created an enormous buzz around the album that previously wasn’t there. The fact is, “Icky Thump” is an American rock & roll CLASSIC, and I’ll love the day when I can throw out this crappy radio rip, and lay down the cash for my real copy.
I feel that if people dont start to control them selves on issues like this and then go and theif music, eventualy the music industry will just copy-right their C.D’s. This basicaly means they dont work on P.C’s, and yes people will record it, BUT, from hearing radio rips before, they suck! I feel there is nothing betetr in the world than having the physical item in your hand, putting it into a CD player and being over joyed by the buetiful music that seeps from the speakers.
This Electra women sounds a complete dope, if i were Warner, i would never send anything to that station again. I understand her being exited about it, but we all love knowing were heard something that others havnt yet! So she should have kept this to herself. Mr. White is completely on the right side of the fence for this one. Bravo for him telling her off!
Carnt wait till the album!!!
I feel that if people dont start to control them selves on issues like this and then go and theif music, eventualy the music industry will just copy-right their C.D’s. This basicaly means they dont work on P.C’s, and yes people will record it, BUT, from hearing radio rips before, they suck! I feel there is nothing betetr in the world than having the physical item in your hand, putting it into a CD player and being over joyed by the buetiful music that seeps from the speakers.
This Electra women sounds a complete dope, if i were Warner, i would never send anything to that station again. I understand her being exited about it, but we all love knowing were heard something that others havnt yet! So she should have kept this to herself. Mr. White is completely on the right side of the fence for this one. Bravo for him telling her off! One more thing, i dont think the stripes care about the money, look how many free vinyles they ahve given out over the years! Including the fabulouse NME Rag and Bone!
Carnt wait till the album!!!
i just wanted you to know that I posted a link to this blog post on my myspace blog.
let me know if I should take it down.
http://www.myspace.com/theeffingpnut
she is an idiot. i think jack should definettly take leagal action. i bet he could get alot of money.on her myspace she says she is a big fan and didnt meen to do anything wrong. well thats just retarded. playing someones whole, unrealeased album on the radio is just stupid. and all the people on her myspace saying jack is a douchbag are idiots too. i dont think they would like it if this happend to them.
It’s a hoax!!! C mon, who actually believes this wasn’t a marketing gimmick.
I understand Jack’s anger, but it is misdirected. The fact that the album was not protected by the people who produce, manufacture, and manage that end of the music is who he should be directing his anger at. I know that if the ppl i entrusted to protect my creative work failed to do so, they would wind up in court.
WKQX happened to get it’s hands on the album, not Electra, Q101 management gave her the album and the green light to play it. So quit with “I hate Electra” crap! I listen to here everyday and think she is one of the best DJ’s this city has.
There have been numerous bands in the past that have “leaked” their albums, and it’s starting to become the in thing to do to promote albums these days.
There are also bands out there that have been trying to release their material for years now but can’t due to legal complications, hello Nirvana.
So if it wasn’t leaked intentionally, the Jack White can eff himself for not firing his management. I’m not gonna buy another CD or piece of music that has his name attached to it till he apologizes to Electra personally.
Jack White needs to be thankful somebody actually likes that crap he puts out enough to want to listen to it/play it in the first place.
Why’s he so pissed? Does he NOT want people to hear the music? If anything, this will boost sales. It’s not like she burned copies and was handing them out on Michigan Avenue.
You’re not fooling anyone. You weren’t going to buy it anyway.
Electra is thanked second, only after God, on Icky Thumps booklet insert which comes with the new, and might I add, brilliant, CD.
[...] to my death” and right above “get a rectal exam” you will see “piss off Jack White.” So it’s with great confusion that I read this fake blog entry by “Jack [...]
Fuck the White Stripes
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To Carla:
Electra is actually the name of a dog that Jack and Meg used to have. Do you really think they would thank that cunt second out of everyone in their liner notes?