More EMI Plans: Could Coldplay’s Next Album Be Sponsored By Prozac?

If Guy Hands has his way, maybe! (Although I’d think that Vivarin would be a more appropriate sponsor, since it can counteract the band’s soporific effects on people.) The man charged with leading EMI on the path toward profitability (or at least not hemorrhaging money) told the Financial Times that he’s going to look into alternate means of making money for artists, and that those means could result in bands being presented to their adoring public by your favorite consumer products–or, at the very least, some deep-pocketed pharmaceutical company.

“Football teams have very distinct corporate sponsorship,” Hands told the FT. “Why shouldn’t some of the leading bands have the same sort of relationships?”

Ah, yes. Clearly, Hands has never had a late-night pub conversation about the idea of the “sellout,” and its various permutations within the rebellious-at-all-costs world of music. (Or maybe he’s only seen music videos with lots of product placement in them.) Anyone else feel like this is the sort of cheeky announcement that makes me wonder if Hands wants “striking” artists like Robbie Williams and The Verve to finally have a huge tantrum and run away screaming from their contracts? A sorta sneaky way of engaging in some money-saving brush-clearing, if you will.

EMI set to take corporate world for a spin [FT; HT Gigwise] The Verve latest EMI artist to threaten to go on strike [Guardian]