It's really over for Rhino

Its really over for Rhino

My friend in NY at Warners (who was just sacked herself) just told me almost all the A&R staff at WSM/Rhino that ever drew a "Rhino paycheck" were let go on Tuesday and were all told to be off the premises by today. They are all gone.

 

Oh my! No more Handmade either, I'll assume.

mud-

 

****. RIP, Rhino, we hardly knew ye.

 

Forget about that box set. What about all those people who just lost their jobs. I feel very bad for them.

I remember when my wife lost her job and how devastated she was. I know, life goes on, and it has for her, but at the time is was very traumatic both mentally and financially.

 

That's harsh.

 

Sad news!

For all of us...

Bob

 

What a damn shame, but we knew this was coming.

Jeff

 

This is not good...not good at all.

 

After Greg Shaw's BOMP label. RHINO took over in the eighties. They will be sadly missed!

 

From The Turtles, to "Golden Throats" to NRBQ...we'll miss you Rhino. Let's hope that all of those people find employment soon.

 

It doesn't make sense that the Rhino flagship titles go out of print. Ramones, Elvis Costello, Television are in that category. Also Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, ect. But I can see some of the more obscure titles not lasting too long.

 

or the Chicago X DVD-Audio coming out this month.

 

Pretty much just a clearing of the decks. Bronfman wants to bring in their people.

 

I'd like some confirmation of that as well. For now it just looks like an employee housecleaning. If anyone mentions divisions being shut down, that's a different story. IIRC, Rhino/WSM was making money. There is one Rhino Handmade title I want to get. I guess I'd better jump on it ASAP... Losing the Handmade division would be a real loss, IMHO, but knowing "big record company economics", the small programs like this are the first to fall under the axe. (I'm still bitter at Universal's hand in destroying the Verve By Request series, which was a music lover's dream.)

Sad to hear about this news, regardless of what happens to the company. Nobody in this economy deserves to be dumped out on the streets.

 

I'm really saddened by the shuttering of Rhino too. But it has been a long time coming. With the departure of the labels founders from the company, it was only a matter of time before it did happen. I'm no stranger to what's happening at WMG since I've working in the music biz for 13 years, and am currently unemployed right now. Unfortunately the first thing the "bean counters" look at when making financial cuts are things like specialty labels. My only hope is that WSM will pick up where Rhino left off, although I'm not holding my breath.

 

Most importantly: What about Bill Inglot?

A lot of people lost their jobs, and that's definitely not a good thing. But I'm remaining optimistic that so long as ol' Bill sticks around, Rhino won't be completely dead. Inglot IS Rhino!

Let's hope for the best.

 

I just got thru talking and ordering from RhinoHandmade. I asked her if they were still in business or shuting down. She said no. So I ordered The Doors "2nd Show at the Aquarius Theater". Good show!

 

Very sorry for your friend and the others at Rhino. I remember when I was sacked from a division of General Electric in late 2000, along with many others, while Jack Welch was still drawing a gazillion dollar salary and GE was still sitting in the top of the Fortune 500.

My buying habits are about to change. For the next while it will be all Rhino, all the time.

 

I had a bunch of friends lose their jobs here at Warner Bros. Tuesday was awful. Tons of sad people all drinking at the local bars hating the music industry. There's just not enough room for all of them to find jobs. This really sucks!

As for Rhino, I have a feeling they'll go on. Maybe it won't be business as usual but the name will still be there. They are the ones making money and the new powers that be are fully aware of this. Will Bill Inglot stick around? Will he start his own show? Who knows? I hope he's allowed to continue his work regardless of what's going on around him and if not I hope he can start his own label and do more of the work he's been doing.

 

Yeah, they're the ones that put out that Groucho Marx DVD set. and I think they're also the company putting out the Freaks and Geeks set! Pretty impressive for such a young company. Imagine that... putting out stuff that people want.

 

People at Rhino (and Rhino Handmade)
have been very good to me since 1985.

Let us now pay tribute to
these Reissue biz Legends!

Hail! And THANKS!

Gary Stewart
Gary Peterson (SH Forum Member)
David McLees
Bill Inglot
Bob Fisher
David Baker (DK Baker)
Ted Myers
James Austin
Patrick Milligan

And the Art Dept:
Bryan Lasley
Rachel Gutek
Coco Shinomiya