kinda figured what you described here is what abel wanted no?

where almost every track is a poppy charting radio single, following in the footsteps of the popstars he idolized? idk if that’s necessarily the labels doing, but i’d defer to you since you made that whole MJ thread

(also slightly unrelated but isnt that why Doc jumped ship initially?)

All I know is that no track gets released without label's approval.

Generally speaking, I’d guess Abel Weekend has a respectable amount of power over his music. I think he and Republic are in a very mutually beneficial relationship.

I don’t disagree with the fact that the label have final say on pretty much everything, and as others have mentioned — even the biggest artist ever was shackled by his label, so there’s no way The Weeknd has more freedom.

But… On the flip side, — there were articles saying he released The Hills as lead single against the labels wishes (I think they didn’t even want it on BBTM, iirc); the music videos are definitely far more him/his teams vision — I doubt the label cares much for them; MVs actually add very little to sales, especially polarising ones like Too Late. I also reckon it was more his decision to begin the rollout for The Dawn so quickly. I would imagine the label would’ve preferred for him to sit out a little, and let the SYT and BL hype die down a little (and let other big names release this year). And he has his own radio show - which is via XO ofc but they are a subsidiary of Republic.

Like I say, I think it’s pretty healthy at the moment.

The only way I can see things go sour is if he comes to Album 6 and he wants to go a totally different direction. Will Republic be so willing to let their cash cow do as he pleases then?

Lmao. Hani is lowkey a broken record with certain topics, but at least he facilitated discussions

It's cool that he joined ranks to those artists which root for artistic freedom. But that particular quote doesn't say much about his situation, it needs more context. For example, out of lack of experience, let's say you entered an agreement in job where it's difficult to get out. Once you understand a bit more, you can advice your friends "yo, beware of s***ty management, and as soon as you see the red flags, jump ship" -- when you on the other hand might be in a complicated situation, from which you want to get out asap, but you can't right now cause it's complicated.

;
If he owns the master files of his songs kudos to him, I'm happy for him, he's one of my absolute favourite musicians and I want to see him prosper.

Ps. Also I think we're misunderstood. I'm not saying "fuck pop music".
I love his brightest pop gems. I want an album that's so pop, so sunny/feel good music that would give MJ's Thriller a run for his money. It's been reigning for like, what? Next year is the 40th anniversary? I want Abel to dethrone that album!
I want an album where Blinding Lights, (a song that to me neither radio, neither hundreds or replays didn't kill it), an album filled with songs like this, an album where BL is the weakest link!

So I never said f*** pop songs.
I'm saying "fuck the label now that you have the power"

I think he has a decent balance with the label where he has full creative control on what he makes + when he releases it; as long as he makes a handful of radio-friendly pop songs and has a decent hit every rollout.
If it were the opposite, he probably would have never been able to release one-time projects like MDM

I fully believe Abel is making and doing anything he wants lol

He made a 6 song EP after dropping the massively successful album that was Starboy, the label will let him do what he wants trust me lol

He already has artistic freedom. The Hills was waaaay before early in his career coming off Kissland (you're gonna say label forced Kissland too?) which didn't meet expectations sales-wise and Abel was actually willing and wanted to listen his label this go around.

Abel has complete freedom now. He's making pop hits because he wants to be known among the biggest artists in the world and ever when it's all said and done.

interesting discourse here

Don’t see it happening. Seems to have a great deal and relationship with his label Republic

Would be crazy for him to do that I wanna see a lot of these high caliber artists to follow suit

Weeknd should stay on XO tbh

The synergy on that label crazy.

He got 3 albums left

Abel can do whatever he wants.

I think if anything he’s saying XO will go independent.

yep.

What do you know? A leak that proves my idea!

(pic sourced from a recent leak of the album notes of Dawn FM, before release)

At the bottom of the first pic it says

"Keep 14-16 tracks (label)"

If what I read is correct, here's a reminder, concrete proof that the final say in his projects isn't up to him, but to the label.

To some may come as a surprise, like discovering Santa isn't real.

Labels didn't let Michael go free, what made you think The Weeknd would be treated better lmao

That's why I still say Abel needs to go independent to have 100% control and artistic freedom. Until then, he will never have complete control over his music.

Here's what quite probably went down in Republic higher ups office with that Wendy Goldstein b**** and the other Scrooge McDuck execs in Republic in the meeting they held with Abel for the finished 2014 super-drugged-out Nirvana vibe album(s)
youtube.com/watch?v=ZH3ZT0E7f6w

There's no way anyone thinks at this point, that Weeknd HAS TO listen to any directives.

all that for the picture to be fake

The label forcing The Weeknd to move around in a geriatric costume mannn

Fact you used geriatric