The Band Perry Is Officially Going Pop – Signs to Interscope
The strange saga of what was once one of country music’s most promising trios and family bands continues. After parting ways with Nashville-based record label Big Machine in early March after the colossal failure of their latest single “Live Forever,” it has been announced that The Band Perry has signed with Interscope Records out of Los Angeles office, and is going full pop moving forward.
Though there is some talk that the band may continue and try to push some more slightly country-oriented material through Interscope’s sister label UMG Nashville, this label move appears to the the complete sea change The Band Perry was looking for with their new record Heart + Beat. Originally scheduled to be released on November 20th, 2015, and then delayed after the flop of “Live Forever” and a promised big collaboration with a big pop star that has yet to materialize (Nicki Minaj is the hot name). Minaj has worked with pop producer RedOne, who is one of the big names behind The Band Perry’s new music.
The fact that the sibling trio was able to leave Big Machine and retain control of their music is unprecedented in country. At the moment, Heart + Beat appears to still be the working title for a new album that will reportedly include material recorded during the band’s time with Big Machine’s Republic Nashville imprint, and new material they’ve been working on since the split.
Despite the disappointing sales and radio performance for “Live Forever,” The Band Perry has shown curious resilience in the media, making numerous television appearances for high profile shows and events, and having “Live Forever” selected as the official song of the U.S. Olympic Team during the upcoming Brazil Summer Olympics.
Perhaps The Band Perry is trying to follow in the footsteps of another Big Machine artist, Taylor Swift, who officially switched from country to pop with her last record 1989, and saw large commercial success with the move.
“I’d go into the label office, and they were like, ‘Can we talk about putting a fiddle and a steel-guitar solo on ‘Shake It Off’ to service country radio?’” Taylor Swift said about Big Machine. “I was trying to make the most honest record I could possibly make, and they were kind of asking me to be a little disingenuous about it: ‘Let’s capitalize on both markets.’ No, let’s not. Let’s choose a lane.”
It appears The Band Perry has also chosen a lane, and that lane is not country.
Bob Loblaw
May 12, 2016 @ 1:16 pm
It is pretty obvious Taylor Swift was lying in that last quote. No one is trying to put a fiddle on country radio.
Tom Smith
May 12, 2016 @ 1:21 pm
“…having “Live Forever” selected as the official song of the U.S. Olympic Team during the upcoming Brazil Summer Olympics.” Well, that’s more than I accomplished this week. Still not a fan though.
MH
May 12, 2016 @ 1:23 pm
Starting out in pop music at 32 years old?
They will go nowhere but down.
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
May 13, 2016 @ 8:04 am
Wait, 32? Seriously?
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
May 13, 2016 @ 8:09 am
33 this year. Wow.
I don’t get it. Seriously, I was thinking she was 23-24, listening to a label and chasing some money to jump formats ala Taylor swift. But 33? She’s dead for modern pop radio. She’s 3 years younger than I am, and I feel creepy when I hear modern pop stuff. Yea, this won’t end well.
MrTemecula
May 26, 2016 @ 8:18 am
Sia is 40 years old and kicking ass, so your never know how this move will turn out. I think moving to pop is harder than their age. Seems like artists in every genre are giving pop a shot. Pop is the new indie or new country or new hip-hop.
Just saw Little Big Town on The Voice and swore they were American ABBA.
BwareDWare94
May 12, 2016 @ 1:29 pm
And to think, I heard their wonderful rendition of “Gentle on My Mind” on the radio this morning. They really should just make a bluegrass record. It best suits their skills–her pleasant but limited vocal skills and her brothers’ instrumental prowess.
But no; they’re going to make an awkward pop record.
The Ghost of Buckshot Jones
May 13, 2016 @ 8:03 am
Put me, Put me, Put me in the game, coach.
Ah-uh huh.
justin casey
May 12, 2016 @ 1:33 pm
guess i got a little ahead of myself earlier
the pistolero
May 12, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
Oh, this train wreck is gonna be fun to watch.
GWS
May 12, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
Let’s just tell it like it is. Pop music is about sex and youth and reckless abandon. The Band Perry aren’t particularly young, and they certainly aren’t edgy. I’ll be straight-up shocked if people buy them in that market.
Smokey J.
May 12, 2016 @ 2:22 pm
I will have no ill will towards them as long as they actually do stay in their pop lane from here on out. It’s going to be a tough road for them. They don’t have the built in pop fanbase of young girls that T. Swift had, and a large majority of their country fans are not going to follow them.
That said, they’ve sold themselves pretty well to actually get a major label pop deal after their underwhelming performance in country of late. Guess we will see. But, if they are truly done with country, I won’t feel the need to give a damn either way.
Marie G
May 12, 2016 @ 3:48 pm
Hope they keep their word this time around, but wouldn’t be too shocked if they return to country if the pop adventure fails.
Danielle
May 12, 2016 @ 2:39 pm
The Band Perry performed on the same same stage (following Chris Stapleton) at Stagecoach. Kimberly Perry was dressed head-to-toe like Gwen Steffani and her brother was sporting a flat-brimmed hat and bro tank. They covered a Justin Bieber song, if that gives you any indication of how their music was that night.
The whole thing was hard to stomach.
Whiskey Pete
May 12, 2016 @ 2:39 pm
Well they’re going where they belong. I think it’s a net gain for us. Another Nashville pop artist(s) eliminated.
ReinstateHank
May 12, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
Its about time! Now lets get rid of florida georgia line.
Nadia Lockheart
May 12, 2016 @ 2:48 pm
Though I’m happy for them if this is what they genuinely want, I don’t expect them to get much of a return investment in this strategy.
The indifferent response to “Live Forever” from a digital standpoint reveals this. Had the single exploded in popularity with sales following its release, it would have made the case for their persisting crossover appeal outside of the country format. Instead, it petered in mid-level territory throughout its chart run after peaking at about #35 in its debut week.
Still, their resilience through thick and thin is kind of impressive, I have to admit. The sort of adversity they’ve faced would destroy the career of most any other entertainer regardless of genre. The fact we keep talking about them has got to count for something.
Tali
May 12, 2016 @ 3:14 pm
Hmm. At least there will be an opening for a new artist on bmgl. That’s kind of exciting.
And I agree with some of the above commenters. The Band Perry are way too old (and ‘uncool’, if you will) to be starting in pop. At least like some said above, Taylor had the age, looks, was already in the motion towards the ‘official’ pop scene and most importantly, had the fanbase.
Whatever is left of TBP’s fanbase, I’m sure are going to be scared off real soon.
Marie G
May 12, 2016 @ 3:45 pm
Oh yes, once this spreads the country fans will not buy their music anymore. I think they’re hoping they’ll get a brand new pop fanbase with the Olympics. At best they’ll be a two hit wonder in my opinion, maybe three if the Nicki Minaj collab works out.
PETE MARSHALL
May 12, 2016 @ 3:29 pm
The Band Perry going pop that’ll be fun with their trainwreck oft their bad single “Live Forever.” maybe Sam Hunt needs to go pop where he belongs!
justin casey
May 12, 2016 @ 3:34 pm
i kind of regret ever liking them after this whole ordeal
Marie G
May 12, 2016 @ 3:39 pm
SHOCKING news!!
Glad to see the bad seeds are out of country music, hope once their “country” singles flop they give up the genre for good. I bet their pop music will flop too… nothing genuine about this act.
indk
May 12, 2016 @ 3:41 pm
The excitement and anticipation over this move is electric!!!
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Tiffany
May 12, 2016 @ 4:15 pm
As bad as I hate to say it, but Marie G has been right about this group all along. Or at least Live Forever was released. I, like every fan of them, was really hoping this wouldn’t happen. I’m like Beware and think that they would do well with a bluegrass tinged album. I don’t think they are going to gain anything by going pop. Their fan base was in the country genre, for the most part. And, that is not saying they don’t have their fair share of die hard fans that don’t care what they do. But, this fan is not impressed by the move.
seak05
May 12, 2016 @ 4:58 pm
Ok so I respect this. I like country music, but I also like pop music. What annoys me is when someone releases a pop album and then claims it’s country (looking at you Keith Urban). The Band Perry is being honest, they’re making pop music and releasing it as such. Good luck to them.
Sara
May 12, 2016 @ 6:26 pm
This is what we wanted right? If you are making pop records call it pop. Listening to Keith’s new “country” album is a joke. Hopefully more will follow suit. Looking at you Sam.
Erik North
May 12, 2016 @ 6:50 pm
Apart from “If I Die Young” and their cover of “Gentle On My Mind” (albeit theirs is the umpteenth cover of such a durable war horse), I think The Band Perry were only ever really average; and Kimberly Perry’s voice was never all that great. She sounds particularly overcooked when she tries to rock like on “Done.” As for this new pop direction they’re taking–well, I don’t know that there will be too many takers (if indeed any) on that side of the fence either.
Big Cat
May 12, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
I wonder how many writes Stapelton will have on their new album.
Jack Williams
May 13, 2016 @ 6:14 am
Gonna go way out on a limb and say zero.
Big Cat
May 16, 2016 @ 6:06 pm
Tounge in cheek but Adam Levine just sang a Blake Shelton song on The Voice that Chris Stapelton wrote. So not too far off….
Big Cat
May 16, 2016 @ 6:11 pm
I meant Adam the contestant…. sorry
GWS
May 12, 2016 @ 7:46 pm
One more thing: “Live Forever” doesn’t just sound awful and have a cheesy looking video… the SONGWRITING. Terrible. Line-to-line that song makes no sense.
Wanda Frick
May 12, 2016 @ 9:20 pm
I was The Band Perry’s #1 fan from the first time I heard Better Dig Two. I have just about wore out their first two CD’s. It breaks my heart that they are going pop. When I heard Live Forever the first time, I said to myself that they were on a down hill spiral.
Connie D.
May 12, 2016 @ 11:40 pm
Big freaking mistake. They should incorporate more of a country sound or more bluegrass and enjoy a long career.
What about the awesome country music festivals they have left on their schedule? TBP is the Saturday headliner at Country Summer in Santa Rosa CA. Also playing Country Stomp in Idado, Country Jam in Wisconsin, WGAR Country Jam in Ohio, Havelock County Jamboree in Ontario.
DimM
May 13, 2016 @ 12:59 am
Good luck. And no more turning back.
Ron Jeffries
May 13, 2016 @ 4:24 am
They have been pop since their second album anyway, so “going pop” is hardly news. Thing is…. Taylor was already getting a lot of play on Pop stations even before her announced move. Not so much for the Band Perry. I think if they were going to be widely accepted on Pop stations they would be getting more spins already than they are. If they were a stock on the market… I’m selling short
Charlie
May 13, 2016 @ 4:50 am
Let us never speak of this again.
K
May 13, 2016 @ 8:39 am
So sad how down hill they went. Their first CD was amazing! If they would’ve just stuck with that sound… Guess their career did die young.
ElectricOutcast
May 14, 2016 @ 7:36 am
If I can tell y’all the truth I actually thought their country offerings were just flat and uninteresting to begin with, to the point where I didn’t like “If I Die Young” either, just doesn’t have the same punch as “If Tomorrow Never Comes”.
Patrick C
May 17, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
who ?
Canuck
May 18, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
Good riddance. I was getting sick of hearing these tone-deaf morons on country radio. In a sea of craptastic music, they sink right to the bottom. Glad they finally picked a genre, and that it wasn’t country. It means we won’t have to suffer through the sonic diarrhea that these twits “create”.