MUSTAINE: Why UNIVERSAL Is A Better Label Home For MEGADETH Than ROADRUNNER Was

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine recently spoke to Artisan News about the band's split with Roadrunner Records and decision to release the group's new album, "Super Collider", via Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

"We were obviously very unhappy [with Roadrunner]," Mustaine said (see video clip below). "But I just wanna make clear: there's a lot of great people that were there working [for Roadrunner] that we had great relationships [with]. Unfortunately, [there was a] lack of leadership [at the label]. You can have the greatest people in the world, but if you don't have anybody to quarterback the team, you're a loser. And we tried, we stuck it out, we honored the contract, we fulfilled all of our commitments, and when the time was up, it was time to move on. I've heard that a lot of the people that we really cared about and we admired and liked working with have moved on to better gigs, and we're very happy for them. Because, like I said, we have a lot of people that we really care about and love. Notwithstanding, going on to Universal right now, we're at a place that not only understands us and respects us but takes care of business. They don't say they're gonna do something and not do it or not have the clout to be able to get something done. There's nothing worse than somebody going to a radio station and saying, 'Oh, if you don't play MEGADETH, we're not gonna let you have our baby band that sells 800 records.' 'Really? Promise?' [chuckles] Versus us being with a label now that… I've got my own label, we've got complete support and love and respect of so many people that are working at Universal, who were our friends from before at Capitol. Plus, they bought Capitol and EMI, so almost everything I've ever recorded or written, it belongs to them now, so it's really great the way it all worked out."

"Super Collider" has sold 61,000 copies in the United States since its June 4 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. By comparison, MEGADETH's previous CD, "TH1RT3EN" — which came out through Roadrunner — shifted around 80,000 units during the same period.

"Super Collider", sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. "TH1RT3EN" opened with 42,000 units back in November 2011 to enter the chart at No. 11. The band's 2009 CD, "Endgame", premiered with 45,000 copies to debut at No. 9. This was slightly less than the 54,000 first-week tally registered by 2007's "United Abominations", which entered the chart at No. 8. 2004's "The System Has Failed" premiered with 46,000 copies (No. 18) while 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" moved 61,000 units in its first week (No. 16).