The Victory Records hurt Ne-Yo/help Hawthorne Heights saga continues with Billboard reporting that within hours of the original e-mail telling street teamers to hide Ne-Yo product, a second email was sent by Victory calling the original "a joke."
We found no hint of humor in the original letter, but Victory founder Tony Brummel insisted to Billboard/Reuters. "It was absolutely a joke. We need people in stores buying every record possible by artists of all genres. No one associated with us is doing anything at retail that they shouldn’t be. You will not find Victory’s music on iTunes, and that is because we believe in retail, which we prove day in and day out."
We all know that street teams and zealous fans move CDs to the front of bins, as Victory’s e-mail instructed for Hawthorne Heights’ new release, but specifically targeting another act’s record is almost unheard-of.
But then again an outright apology from Brummel would have been just as unlikely.
Jim Urie, president of Universal Music & Video Distribution, sent out his own e-mail to retailers according to Billboard/Reuters. "We just found out about the below tactics from one of our competitors who up until now we had the utmost respect for," the message read. "Hopefully, this is not wreaking any havoc in your stores but wanted to make you aware nonetheless."
