Ohio based emo band Hawthorne Heights have quit legendary US independent record label Victory Records, and in what could be described as rather acrimonious circumstances. The band have released a really rather bitchy statement laying in to Victory boss Tommy Brummel over his frequently verbal attacks on the major record companies, and his alleged shady business practices (alleged as in the Hawthorne Heights make some allegations.
The band's departing rant says: "Due to recent events we have decided to leave Victory Records. Our departure is anything but amicable. We have decided to leave Victory, in part due to the actions of the man who sits at the head of the label, Tony Brummel. Tony Brummel is a man that cares more about his ego and bank account than the bands themselves".
"Tony is a man whose greed knows no bounds. After selling more than 1.2 million copies of The Silence In Black And White and If Only You Were Lonely, we have never seen a single dollar in artist royalties from Victory Records. Tony will claim that we have not recouped, a term used by those in the music business which means the label has spent more money in advertising than has been made by CD sales. In fact questionable accounting practices are the culprit and we are in fact owed substantial amounts of money much like audits from Taking Back Sunday, Thursday and Atreyu have uncovered".
Brummel is yet to respond.