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Century Media - Jenny Walroth

19/01/05 || Lord K Philipson

We scored (not in the way you think we do) an interview with Jenny of Century Media. Being a chick and all, it took her some 6 months to return the fucken thing, but we forgive her. As she asked us to keep her face off the net due to stalkers we have decided to put a picture of Peter Iwers of In Flames signing CD’s in a The Project Hate-shirt instead. It’s just as good. Now fuck off.

Global Domination: Let’s start this one off nice, ok? Who did you blow to get to work at Century Media?

Jenny: Sorry dude, can’t hear ya with my head in the toilet.

How fucken fun is your work really? All glamorous and shit, right? Right.

Yes, Rock ‘n’ roll all day and party every night.

To get you off real fast, how many metal-celebrities have tried to get into yer panties so far?

Many. Have you seen me?

Oh yes… You’re a doll. And how many succeeded?

None. Have you seen them?

We can imagine… Back in the day Century Media wasn’t as well known as it is now, but with bands like Shadow’s Fall and Lacuna Coil getting radio and MTV play (and selling quite a lot of albums) has anything changed there within the company and how are you guys going about finding new talent?

It’s our A&R department that finds the new talent, and they work undercover. And things change when you get bigger ofcourse, but I just started to work for CM so I cant tell you any “Those where the days…” stories.

What’s your take on MP3’s and all the file sharing and downloading going on on the internet? It’s not too hard these days to get a new album weeks, and often months, before they are released. This is probably a bad thing for a company like Epic records, but for a metal label like CM has this been a good way to get new music out, or is it hurting everyone in the end?

What’s my take on MP3 and file sharing? Both good and bad, as in bombastic opera-metal. But it affects lables like CM also, not just the big dragons. It probably hurts the small independent lables more, since they don’t have a Madonna, Eminem or a Metallica to back it up. And if its hurting the label, its hurting the bands. Simple math. Many people thinks the record-industry is a big evil empire, and we totally deserve this. But in the long run, no labels – no bands. Of course MP3’s can be good in some ways, promotional-wise and to help people discover new bands etc. But if you take something that is not yours – how is that not stealing? But Internet is definitly not the only problem that the musicindustry is facing.

Do you realize that we have been whoring quite a bunch of yer albums lately, seeing you have sent us them? What’s yer opinon on us occassionally bashing yer shit? Some of it stinks you know and we are honest about it. Do you think your bosses wants you to stop sending us shit if we continue to bash it? We praise some too you know, just check the October-edition of Audio Autopsy. How the hell did you come up with the idea to send us shit anyways?

The flowers, chocolate and perfume you sent me did help when I was about to send out the promos. I actually like the site and how you write things, it spells H U M O U R. My bosses won’t tell me to stop sending you stuff… For some reason they seem to trust me and my judgement. Getting bashed is a part of the package if you ask me. And a fun written bashing review is more fun to read, than a journo that praise his favorite band…

Here in the States I remember years ago getting these neat CM sampler CD’s full of music for like $3.00 at the record store. I suppose those are a thing of the past now as anyone can go to your website and download a track or two from almost every band on your roster. How important is the internet nowadays for a label like Century Media? Has it changed the way you do business as a label? How important is it for a band to keep a website online and updated, and for band members to communicate directly with fans?

Well, the internet is of course a great thing, and its a good thing to get information out through. And if you are a label that are not meant to be superduper-underground and scream of sellouts if your name is mentioned in a zine bigger that the Ukranian Wrtkoyh, you might need a website. And that goes for the bands too. But I think it’s a question of what generation your fans and the people you want to hit is. I doubt that Julio Iglesias and those really, really, really old farts need a website to keep their fanbase intact, alive and kicking. But I just checked, and of course old Julio has one. www.julioiglesias.com, so I guess my answers are not worth jack shit… But please check Julios familyphotos.

Which one is better; roster or rooster?

Roster.

As a label every release is a risk when you put up advertising, printing, studio, production, and mastering fees among other costs. What percent of bands CM releases actually turn a profit? I think I read somewhere only 5% of bands do, and 95% of the albums actually lose money. How many albums does a band have to sell to cover the costs of actually making the album? On average that is. And don’t you fucken dare to lie to us.

Yes, every release is a risk. And it cost a hell of a lot to produce a record. To make it short, what a band has to sell to “break even” depends on the band and their contract. Different from band to band… And for the record, I never lie!

Are there any bands on Century Media who you thought really put out excellent albums, but they never had the success they deserved? Unleashed is hardly an option.

Unleashed? Back in the days they used to burn the EU flag on stage. And that, my friend, is extra points in my black book. Strapping Young Lad is a great band. Not that unknown, but definitly not so big as they should be in here in Sweden. Diecast should have gotten some more attention than they did. Divine Empire passed without many mentioning it, as I recall.

Do you know what NHL means? Is there any chance in hell you would even root for a specific team?

Stupid question. Charlestown Chiefs of course.

I’m sure Century Media has been in the position to sign various bands, but passed and the band signed with another label. Has anyone gone on to become really successful that you wish would have been a Century Media band?

Meshuggah, Wolf, In Flames, Cult Of Luna, Evergrey, Entombed, Hammerfall, Dismember, Darkane (maybe they arent that sucessful, but a great band), the mighty Kontrovers and some more… Whether CM turned theese bands down, I have no idea. But it would have been cool to have them in our greedy hands.

You all probably keep an interest in the scene, with the nu-metal trend slowly dying off what do you see as the next big thing in metal?

Crust-punk will finally have a big break. You just wait and see. Soon the streets will be packed with kids that sniff glue, don’t take care of their hygiene and act like retards. (GD comment: You talking about Monstrosity’s Mike Poggione?) Amebix patches will be sold at your local gasstation. I can hardly wait.

Of all your new releases coming out, which do you think is going to be a huge success? Are there any new Century Media bands putting out an amazing debut album that I just “have to hear”?

I haven’t heard any stuff of the new signings yet. So I can’t tell you if there is a new band around that will dominate. But I have high expetations on the next Maroon cd, their first on Century Media. I really liked the last one at Alveran.

Which one is better, God Among Insects or Bloodbath?

God Among Who??? Get a grip, Bloodbath of course.

What’s your typical day like, how difficult is it to do what you do? If someone was interested in doing something similar, how would they go about doing it? Any advice for someone starting out, or do you hate your job and want to kill yourself?

10.00: Wake up.
10.30: Get up.
10.40: Thinking of which metalband to exploit today.
11.30: Counting and sorting my Gold Records in alphabetical order.
11.50: Mail arrives. Tons of free CD’s and more of those invitations to parties with free drinks and goodlooking people.
12.30: Time for breakfast.
14.00: Checking the Close Up forum. Full of retards as usual.
14.20: Just sit and stare, do nothing.
15.00: Arguing with some webzines.
15.30: Checking my Ebay auctions. Looks good.
15.45: Some band are harrasing me about that they want to do some press and sell more records. I ignore.
16.00: Time to check my e-mails. The old usual stuff… More invitations to concerts and parties.
16.30: Maybe I should listen to these cds I got?
16.32: Listen to metal as I call the local promoter to make sure I really am on the guestlist for the gig tonight. And of course I am.
16.35: Listening to metal and playing Final Doom on Playstation.
19.30: Off to the free gig with lots of free beer and goodlooking people.

As you can see its all about dedication and passion for the music. In it for life.

You probably work with a lot of bands directly, who are the coolest cucumbers in the bunch, and who are a bunch of ego-driven wanna-be rockstar cock fiends?

Coolest – Dream Evil. Belive it or not. And the mongoloids – Meshuggah and Wolf. Ego-driven wanna-be rockstars: Too many to mention…

Metal fans/bands seem to be 90% dudes. Does being a chick help or hurt you in your career, or does it matter seeing it’s the year 2005 now after all?

Check question number 1.

I think we are done with you. Wanna tell us you love us and all as an ending? Plug yer shit, we love you. Final words?

Fake left, go right. Over and out – twist and shout.

Interviews