Zayn Malik Released By Sony Records, But Not Kesha?
Zayn Malik and his departure from One Direction are being highlighted a year after he left the band, and it is not because fans want him to reunite with 1D.
Instead, Zayn Malik is being used to cross compare the situation with Kesha and Sony Records because there seems to be major discrepancies between the way the two musicians are being treated in regards to their contracts.
In the meantime, Zayn Malik may not be aware that he is being discussed or that his contract with Sony is being scrutinized.
Fans can assume that he is in Los Angeles, but what they do know is that Zayn Malik was not at the BRIT Awards. In fact, the Telegraph reports that there were only two members of One Direction at the show.
What Zayn Malik is speaking out about is his situation with Lil Wayne. According to Look, Zayn Malik responded to this criticism around February 22 with “I’m not tryna be no rapper, my album is me [as] a child… My ideas have been with me a long time [sic]” and “Use your brain, appreciate art don’t discriminate what you don’t understand.”
However, Zayn Malik might not have time to keep rehashing the controversy about the possibility that he may have mimicked Lil Wayne. As it appears, Zayn Malik is working overtime to get ready to release his new album Mind of Mine in March, and he teased fans with a new solo, “F*** You Back To Sleep,” from his new record label, RCA, that was recorded with Chris Brown and Usher, according to the Metro.
https://youtu.be/xshWnfUyf-Y
Naturally, Zayn Malik may be feeling some urgency to get new music on the Charts because Lukas Graham has blown him out of the top spot. According to the BBC, Lukas Graham is bewildered by the fact that they managed to take Zayn Malik’s number one spot for “Pillowtalk” in the U.K. with their song “7 Years,” … and it is also an eerie coincidence that they will release their first album on March 25 (the same day as Zayn Malik’s Mind of Mine).
Regardless, the main ideas that Kesha fans are focusing on is that Sony allowed Zen Malik to quit his contract and quit One Direction to go on and sign with RCA Records a few months later. In other words, it is confusing to Kesha fans that Zayn Malik would be able to quit and get out of his contract while Kesha has been told that she is not allowed the same privilege at Sony Records.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Kesha must continue to work with Sony Records to complete her contract — but she no longer has to work with Dr. Luke (her alleged abuser) to do it.
To some writers and music industry critics, the fact that Zayn Malik could quit Sony Records when he pleased is a striking double standard compared to Kesha’s treatment by the same company.
The Layolan writes on February 24 in Kesha’s defense that, “Zayn Malik left his band’s contract because he was unsatisfied with the music they were making. Chris Brown, who was charged with domestic violence against his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, continues to make music successfully.”
The Frisky also steps up for Kesha’s defense on February 23 by using Zayn Malik as an example with the following analysis.
“[Sony] absolutely has the power to break [Kesha’s] contract while keeping her within the Sony family – after all, they’ve done it before. When Zayn Malik decided to quit One Direction in 2015, Sony released him from his 1D contract with Columbia Records/Syco and then signed him to a new solo deal with RCA.”
They go on to point out that Kesha was asking to get out of a contract because of sexual violence but “[Zayn] Malik’s reasons for leaving One Direction were vague, but largely believed to be the result of stress and creative differences.”
Nevertheless, as Lena Dunham pointed out on the Lenny Letter website, the major damaging difference between Zayn Malik’s relationship with Sony Records and Kesha’s is described in the following passage.
“[Dr. Luke] could make efforts to bury her subsequent albums, preventing her from publicizing and therefore profiting from her work. This kind of control is a cornerstone of domestic abuse, and it’s far too common: according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, financial abuse is an aspect of approximately 98 percent of abusive relationships.”
[Picture by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]
