The follow-up to Nothing Is Sound was Oh! Gravity. which was released in September 2006. The album debuted at number 18 on the album charts but soon fell off the map. I've been privately speculating that Sony would drop Switchfoot at this point. I don't believe Sony knew what to do with a band made up of five guys who are happily married, live clean and want to live for something more than money and fame.
Now we have the announcement that multi-platinum artists, Switchfoot is starting their own indie music venture. I've read that Charlie Peacock (the re:think guy) has been working with Switchfoot and I believe he's going to be involved in this new effort. Both the band and Peacock have learned some hard lessons lately so they should be able to take their knowledge and do something interesting.
I'm hopeful that this new effort will allow Switchfoot and other artists to have more freedom to create without being dictated to, by record companies. Some of the singles that Switchfoot have released didn't make sense for alternative radio and I put that at the feet of Sony. Now they can release what they want and when they want. Don't be surprised if these guys figure out a new paradigm for marketing and selling music. The record companies have truly lost their way and it's up to the artists now.
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Article comments
1 - Mike
I don's get it, did Switchfoot leave Sony or did they get dropped? The announcement on their site kinda makes it sound like they left on their own, but common sense would say they got dropped, since bands rarely walk away from a major label and their lousy sales since The Beautiful Letdown would certainly warrent it from Sony's point of view.
Good post, by the way. This is the first time I've checked out this site and I'll probably be back now.
2 - Janet
Mike is right, this is an excellent post.
You made the comment "This was not a "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" type of album but it was fantastic." Perfectly said. I know that the majority seem to prefer "Beautiful Letdown", but for me, I can't get enough of either of them. In fact, I don't think I could put an order of preference on their CDs.
They have a very loyal fan base, (not in small part because they are loyal to fans) and I think they will do well.
3 - Emily
I think it was a mutual agreement between Switchfoot and Sony in cutting ties.
"The record companies have truly lost their way and it's up to the artists now." How true and unfortunate it is! You're right.
You know, Switchfoot will do great without Sony controlling them, and I can't wait to see what they come up with in the future.
Thanks for your post, loved it.
4 - Anonymous
"I don't believe Sony knew what to do with a band made up of five guys who are happily married, live clean and want to live for something more than money and fame."
Perfectly said. That was a great article. I am personally very glad that Switchfoot left Sony, and I think they'll be making much better music on their own. But I'm still curious as to whether Switchfoot left Sony, Sony dropped Switchfoot, or they both just agreed on it.
5 - Tim
The author here, it turns out I got a fact wrong. Oh! Gravity was released in December 2006 not September. Brain freeze!
6 - krys
switchfoot i believe are ones who left sony. thats at least what i gather from reading jon's blog about it. he mentioned something about how they had been trying to make it work for a while but sony had a different vision for the band than they did. i really think this will be great for them. in my opinion they always seemed way too restricted on sony. i can't wait to see what comes next from these guys now that they are in complete control.
7 - cleveland
jon's solo albums are amazing. i think the freedom that comes with turning indie is only going to help the band -- maybe not in sales, but in the quality and sincerity of their music...which is great motivation for loyal fans like me to go out and buy everything they release.