Talk:Mute Math
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- Shouldn't it be mentioned that this band is Christian? Davideus 20:29, 12 November 2006 (UTC)
- Why? There are tons of things you could mention, but unless it's particularly relevant to the band's music it doesn't seem necessary. Sir Lemming 19:45, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
- I don't have time to edit the article, and I'm a Wikipedia newbie, but the language in the biography seems juvenile and unprofessional. Someone should revamp the section. Protokurios 02:02, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
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- I agree with this comment. Some of the stuff written is more opionated than factual. I've never even heard the music from this band before, but I don't think lines like this belong in an encyclopedia entry. The result was a captivating soundscape of experimental rock drenched in irresistible hooks. FinalBowser 20:12, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
The Routers link about "national news" is broken.
I found this other link... though I'm not sure if it's a "national" enough source to use. Someone decide... it's here if you want it.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/ENT02/604190340/1004
This article is merely copied from Mutemath's promo material on their MySpace site (www.myspace.com/mutemath).
- Thankfully, recent edits have alleviated this problem. The copied material has been completely recast. --DanielNuyu 03:11, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] Dead Link
The Reuter's Link to the story about them suing Warner Bros is dead. Can someone fix it if they get round to it before me? -- Tompsci 17:46, 29 May 2006 (UTC)
--Tompsci, I could not find it even in archived form, but found the following as posted in a blog elsewhere, purportedly from Billboard -- if anyone can verify this, a summary or quote might be made of it, but I could not verify it:
"Buzz Band Takes Legal Action Over Religious Tag Staff and agencies05 March, 2006 By Todd Martens
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Rock act Mute Math is so frustrated at being branded a Christian band by Warner Music Group‘s Christian outlet Word Records, it has taken matters into its own hands, self-releasing its debut album February 1.
And last September, Billboard has learned, Teleprompt Records -- a label co-founded by Mute Math keyboardist Paul Meany -- filed suit against Warner Bros. Records and Word.
The suit is for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks punitive damages. Warner, however, might be somewhat pardoned for the marketing approach.
Mute Math was formed by Meany, formerly of the unabashedly Christian act Earthsuit. Mute Math claims to have sold about 10,000 copies of its debut CD in one month, relying on word-of-mouth among its largely Christian fan base. The album followed an EP -- released by Word Records -- that sold nearly 30,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, with the bulk of sales coming from the Christian market. The act‘s buzz began when it played a string of Christian festivals last summer. And in October and November, the act supported fellow Christian band Mae.
All of which would be just fine, but for one nagging detail: Mute Math does not consider itself a Christian act.
Meany says he never wanted an EP to come out on Word, a well-known Christian brand. "It was just assumed that because that‘s where I once was, that was where I was always going to be," he says. "I had no desire to be the Christian version of a real band."
Teleprompt argues that releasing the EP via Word caused significant damage to Mute Math‘s brand. It claims it was misled by Warner Bros.: When the Nashville-based label agreed to a joint venture with Warner Bros., Meany‘s attorney Kevin Kookogey says, it was under the impression its releases would not carry the Word name.
"We had an offer to do a deal with the EMI Christian Music Group," says Kookogey, who is also a Teleprompt partner, along with Meany and producer Tedd Tjornhom. "We did not do that deal because we were not promised that we would have direct access to Capitol and Virgin. We wanted total mainstream credibility, and then have it sold back into the Christian market if it were successful in the mainstream."
For Meany, it was never a question of faith. He is openly Christian, and so is the rest of his band.
"We‘re not the first band to share these challenges," Meany says, "and there are going to be a lot of Christian fans upset. But I believe the majority of our fans in the Christian community are in support of what we‘re doing."
Mute Math routinely sells out 500-capacity venues, and Kookogey estimates that Mute Math‘s full-length album is selling about 100 copies per day via the band‘s online store. Teleprompt financed the disc, which the band is selling on the road and online.
"Warner Bros. was yanking our chains," Meany says. "We were being fed a bunch of lines to comply and give them the new CD. But they were going to market it the exact way we didn‘t want."
A Warner Music representative says the company is unable to comment on pending litigation. Kookogey says Warner Bros. recently made overtures to settle and inquired about going forward with the band.
Mute Math has yet to decide its next move. It was recently offered a slot on the Vans Warped tour, and sources say other labels are hot on the band with Sony BMG‘s Columbia said to be actively pursuing the act. The Mute Math camp says Warner Music voided their contract when it was breached. But Meany also acknowledged that his band cannot sign elsewhere until the lawsuit is resolved.
On January 16, Meany posted his disgust with Word online. "While I recognize that there‘s a purpose for the type of music carried on Word, we simply do not share that purpose," he wrote. "It‘s sad to me that, at the end of the day, no one at Warner cared enough to intervene and take our vision as seriously as was promised us."
Kookogey says, "There‘s a credibility gap. Mute Math is not a worship artist. They don‘t preach from (the) stage. They don‘t preach in their interviews. Those things are required of you when you work in the Christian market."
As Mute Math‘s feelings spread across the Internet, the band risks alienating some of its most diehard fans. John DiBiase, president of 10-year-old Christian Web store http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com, still sells Mute Math‘s CD. But, he recently posted on myspace.com, if the band "so desperately wants mainstream attention without support from the Christian community, why release the EP via Word . . . Why tour with other artists branded as ‘Christian‘? And finally, why play Christian festivals?"
Kookogey says the band has received regular feedback on the topic from fans, but that no one has said they would not buy the record. But other comments, the attorney says, run more toward the "sad and empty."
Reuters/Billboard "
[edit] Records, or not
I get dizzy watching all instances of "Teleprompt" get changed to "Teleprompt Records" and back again—can we please have a consensus on what it should be? —PrintHorizon 04:04, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
- It looks like the records should be included as the link requires it either way... --T-rex 02:28, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Christian
It doesn't mention anything about them being a Christian band, does it? Some places state that they are, perhaps this should be brought up?
- Well, there not, but that whole lawsuit thing with warner brothers could use a mention --T-rex 06:03, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
- (In response to both the immediately above and Sir Lemming's comment at re: relevance of Christian belief to the band's music...)
Given that Earthsuit was in fact a Christian band, and Mute Math still retains a sizeable Christian fanbase from that endeavor, that history is directly relevant to their music now. Of course the members of the band are still Christians, but as artists, I don't think they want anything to do with being called a "Christian band".(see article) It's nothing to be ashamed of though. Why can't it be mentioned as a factoid under the Trivia heading? — Souldier77 20:43, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
- (In response to both the immediately above and Sir Lemming's comment at re: relevance of Christian belief to the band's music...)
[edit] Mute Math or MuteMath?
According to the official site the band's name is spelt MuteMath (no space) [1], though iTunes lists it as Mute Math [2]. Can someone comment? Shall we change the article's title? --Redreth 18:37, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
- I have yet to see any consistent spelling of the name. If you’ll note, “Mute Math” was also used further down the page. The credits inside the debut album (both the original and the rerelease) do clearly use “Mute Math,” so that is what I go with for now. —PrintHorizon 19:12, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
- Most official stuff I have seen has used it as two words... --T-rex 19:48, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
- I had noticed the ambiguity. Their MySpace site offers the same confusion. All titles: single word; text: both options. I've sent an email to the band to get an official response. --Redreth 00:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
- The ambiguity may be worth noting somewhere in the article, yes? —PrintHorizon 02:18, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
- You might notice, the ambiguity most often comes into play with their logo, which often has no space in it. However, I believe the band's name is two words, both capitalized. Souldier77 08:26, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
- The ambiguity may be worth noting somewhere in the article, yes? —PrintHorizon 02:18, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
- I had noticed the ambiguity. Their MySpace site offers the same confusion. All titles: single word; text: both options. I've sent an email to the band to get an official response. --Redreth 00:18, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
- Most official stuff I have seen has used it as two words... --T-rex 19:48, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] The amazing disappearing photo caption
OK, folks... what is the reason someone keeps removing the caption under Mute Math's photograph that lets you know which one is which? Of course, I know who they are, but if someone is learning about them for the first time through this page, how would they figure it out?
[edit] Keytar
The keytar is pretty cool, but when they played "Typical" on Jimmy Kimmel it hardly looked like Paul was playing it. Does he ever do like a proper keytar solo? Robski 09:59, 27 December 2006 (GMT)
