Kanye West’s latest collaborative album with Ty Dolla Sign, “Vultures 1,” has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The album, which was initially released on streaming services, faced a rocky road in terms of distribution. We will explore the ups and downs of the album’s distribution journey, from its removal on Apple Music and iTunes to the involvement of distributors like FUGA and Label Engine. Let’s dive into the rollercoaster ride that is Kanye West’s “Vultures 1” album.
Shortly after the release of “Vultures 1,” fans were surprised to find that the album had been removed from Apple Music and iTunes. Speculations arose about the reasons behind this sudden disappearance. It was later revealed that the distributor, FUGA, was actively working to have the album removed from all streaming services. FUGA, a prominent business-to-business tech and distribution platform for record labels, had initially declined to distribute the album last year. The decision was likely influenced by the controversy surrounding Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks, which had made him a pariah in the public eye.
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According to FUGA, the album was uploaded to their servers by a longstanding client, violating their service agreement. FUGA issued a statement explaining their decision to decline the release of “Vultures 1” and their subsequent actions to remove it from their systems. They stated, “Late last year, FUGA was presented with the opportunity to release ‘Vultures 1.’ Exercising our judgment in the ordinary course of business, we declined to do so.” FUGA also mentioned that they were actively working with their digital service provider (DSP) partners and the client to ensure the album’s removal.
In the midst of the distribution turmoil, Label Engine emerged as a new player in the distribution of “Vultures 1.” After FUGA’s statement, it was revealed that distribution for the album had shifted to Label Engine. Label Engine, which was previously listed as the distributor for two of the album’s pre-release tracks, took charge of distributing the album to streaming platforms. This change in distribution partners added another layer of complexity to the already convoluted distribution process.
One of the tracks on “Vultures 1,” titled “Good (Don’t Die),” came under scrutiny for its unauthorized use of Donna Summer’s 1977 song “I Feel Love.” The estate of Donna Summer claimed that Kanye West had asked for permission to use the song but was denied. Despite the denial, West allegedly changed the words, had someone re-sing it, or used AI to create a new version of the song. This led to accusations of copyright infringement, further adding to the album’s controversies.
Another controversy arose when Ozzy Osbourne accused Kanye West of sampling a Black Sabbath song without permission. Osbourne claimed that West asked for permission to sample a section of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” from a 1983 live performance but was refused due to West’s alleged antisemitic remarks. However, the album version of the song replaced the actual sample with a Sabbath-nodding riff from Kanye West’s own “Hell of a Life.”
The distribution woes for “Vultures 1” continued as the album faced removal from streaming platforms. Spotify was the first to take action, removing the track “Good (Don’t Die)” from their platform after the complaint from Donna Summer’s estate. The song remained on other streaming services, including Apple Music and YouTube. However, it wasn’t long before the album was also removed from Apple Music, disappearing from the platform and the iTunes store. The removal affected the album’s chart position, with the song “CARNIVAL” losing its #1 spot on the global chart.
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Kanye West’s distribution strategy has faced significant challenges in recent years. After leaving Universal Music Group and becoming an independent artist, he struggled to find distribution services due to his controversial remarks and actions. Several companies reportedly denied him distribution services, leading to delays in the release of “Vultures 1.” The involvement of FUGA and Label Engine in the album’s distribution highlights the complexities and difficulties faced by artists in navigating the distribution landscape.
As of now, “Vultures 1” is available for streaming again on Apple Music, signaling a potential resolution to the distribution issues. The album’s removal from other streaming platforms, such as Spotify, raises questions about its availability in the future. Despite the distribution challenges, Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign are set to perform songs from “Vultures 1” at Rolling Loud California next month in Hollywood. This performance will undoubtedly create excitement among fans who have been eagerly awaiting the live rendition of the album’s tracks.
