By BRUNO J. NAVARRO, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Fiona Apple (news) fans wondering when the artist's third CD would see the light of day might want to keep an eye on one enthusiast's online petition.

Dave Muscato, a Missouri musician and Apple afficionado, founded the Web site www.freefiona.com last month in an effort to pressure her record label to release "Extraordinary Machine." Apple's follow-up to "Tidal" and "When the Pawn ..." reportedly has been finished since May 2003.


"They didn't think it had enough commercial appeal to justify the cost of promoting it and distributing it," Muscato recently told AP Radio. "So even though it was already recorded, they'd already spent the money to record it, they basically decided to just cut their losses and stick it on a shelf."

A message left at Epic Records, Apple's label, was not immediately returned Monday.

For every signature on Muscato's petition, the Free Fiona! campaign plans to send a fake apple to Andrew Lack, the CEO of parent company Sony BMG, "as a symbol of protest and support for Fiona Apple," he said. A demonstration outside Sony headquarters in New York is also planned on Jan. 28.


As of Monday, the Web site has gathered more than 2,600 signatures. It also raised nearly $1,000 from donations and sales of T-shirts and bumper stickers, Muscato said.


"It's really taken off faster than I thought," he said.


Muscato, 20, says he had heard a couple of tracks from the unreleased album that were leaked on the Internet, so he's not worried he's going through all this trouble for an album that might not be worth it.


"Even if it's no good, which I'm sure isn't the case, I would at least like to buy it and decide that for myself," he said.

Read more on this issue at:
http://www.entertainment-news.org/breaking/16233/petition-seeks-to-free-fiona-apple-album.html
___


On the Web:


Free Fiona!, http://www.freefiona.com/


Fiona Apple, http://www.fiona-apple.com/


Epic Records, http://www.epicrecords.com/


---
Things like this may slowly help people out realize how controlling and clueless these labels are and how we dont need them if the consumers boycott their shitty products

This has been going on forever. I'd bet the industry buries at least as much music as it releases.

In the era before the internet, the record company's logic might have made sense -- they might not recoup their losses on production and promotion, so why release it? But now, it woud cost them virtually nothing to sell it via a download. And they have no excuse.

But this is par for the course. Al Stewart recorded an album for an American label which was bought out, and the project shelved. He was just lucky enough that EMI decided to release it in Europe, but otherwise it would still be in the can, and it is a great album.

Jennifer Warnes recorded two albums in the 90s that were shelved, sealed away, and may never be heard because of record company decisions.

Jill Sobule recorded an album for MCA between her debut and the "I Kissed A Girl" album on another label. Still in the vaults.

What is the excuse now? Why keep hiding this music? There is no business justification anymore. It begins to look like sheer stupidity and/or spite.

You'll notice that, despite the total lack of "commercial value" none of these projects were given back to the authors.

Because they're all about the artists.

They lock them up because they don't want them competing with the crappy music they DO want to promote and sell. Artificial scarcity has always served them well...why should they want to change now.

I think the fans wanting this album released by her label are foolish to try and drum up support (thus, create a market) for it. If they succeed, they would only be doing the record labels' job for them.

Since the album does not "belong" to the artist and the copyrights are held by the label, I hope it rots in oblivion. If by some miracle Fionna (& collaborators) could regain control, (thus, become/return to being indie) I would wholeheartedly support the grass-roots efforts to promote it.

I wish the RIAA would "sit" on every damn recording in their catalogue.

autodiatect

God forbid should the majors ENDORSE music downloads when you SHOULD be buying CD's instead. New business model BAD...old overpriced CD's GOOD.

Shame on you for suggesting that [grin]

Q: What engine was it that when put in the Pontiac Fireo made it faster then the Chevorlet Corvette?
A: The same engine GM banned from putting into the Fireo
Result: we didnt get what we wantted and the Fireo line died.
Die RIAA, die you greedy dinosaur