The Browning have, over the last 10 years or so, established themselves as one of the more intriguing bands playing a hybrid of metal with strong influences. In fact, those electronic influences are so integral to the band’s sound that they’ve managed to improve with every album to date, resulting in 2018’s Geist launching The Browning into some of the biggest opportunities of their career so far.
However, the band’s early albums – including 2011’s Burn This World and 2013’s Hypernova, have not been available on streaming services. Those albums, released under the Earache Records banner, have deprived the band of much-needed streaming numbers – and now vocalist Jonny McBee has taken to social media to rail against the label for said unpaid royalties.
Since @earacherecords is so now concerned about the well being of musicians, why don’t you all ask if they can give the rights to all the bands music they removed for no reason. Or are they going to continue adding to the problem of instability and greed within the industry. pic.twitter.com/NaJRkqFkaW
— Jonny McBee (@jonnymcbee) September 24, 2020
McBee had a very good point to make as well, saying “The band is now old enough that A LOT of people come up and talk to me about how they listened to our first albums through middle / high school. @EaracheRecords have removed the ability for people to experience nostalgia with something they loved growing up.”
Apparently the label has also been blocking news outlets and other people who are reporting and speaking out against this news. Regardless, especially in a year where musicians are being crippled from a lack of touring, this is unconscionable – as streaming is one of a musician’s only forms of income right now.
lollllll https://t.co/hGzJci3EjN
— Jonny McBee (@jonnymcbee) September 26, 2020
@thebrowningband music has been removed from the internet for 4 years and they haven’t paid me back due royalties. But wait, I’ll let y’all grand stand about the betterment of musicians??? YOU ARE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS pic.twitter.com/GbizRbGUE1
— Jonny McBee (@jonnymcbee) September 24, 2020
