Robbie Williams Not On Strike

Robbie Williams

Though IE Remain Cautios Of All New EMI.

Clark did, however, express concerns about the abilities of EMI, under its new regime, to handle the release of a new Robbie album. Those comments followed a blog entry by Robbie himself telling his fans to expect another quiet year in 2008, with the chance of only some online single releases. That despite expectations of a follow up to Williams' popular 'Swing When Your Winning' covers album this year.

Clark's personal concerns seem to be the unpredictability at Guy Hands' EMI. Radical changes are expected in the next few months and, it seems, management of some of the major's biggest artists are somewhat in the dark as to what that will mean for the major, and their ability to release and market major global albums. Clark said: "Given where EMI were, the state they were in, the changes they were making, how could any artist deliver an album - we wouldn't know how it would be marketed, distributed and promoted. They're decimating staff and it would be wilfully irresponsible of any manager to say 'let's deliver this album, they'll sort it out'. Well, actually no - we have to be persuaded that the services that they offer to their artists are going to be of the highest quality".

Speaking to Billboard following the wide reporting of the "Robbie is on strike" story, Clark said: "That term 'going on strike' is such an emotive one and it's certainly not what he [Robbie] would say" adding that: "We recognise that Robbie Williams is still under contract to EMI. There's absolutely no ill-feeling, we have to be pragmatic and we also have to recognise the extraordinary change digital technology is having on our industry". However, Clark did add that after two meetings with Hands he has little idea of the strategy of EMI's new owners, concluding: "We have to wait and see what happens. They absolutely have to persuade us the services they are offering are top notch".

Asked if the departure of EMI UK chief Tony Wadsworth last week added to his concerns about the new EMI regime, Clark continued: "It's a concern when somebody of Tony Wadsworth's standing and ability leaves. He has been a great supporter of artists and it is a problem that's he's left, for many of those artists he's had a hand in signing directly or who he's supported strongly over time. So, yes, a lot of people are very upset over his departure".