Hanson: We're Still Around!
August 3, 2003
From Teenmusic.com
http://www.teenmusic.com/d.asp?r=43026&cat=1020

The sibling rockers of Hanson are embarking on a month-long acoustic tour - to remind fans they're still around.

Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson will hit the road in their native America starting August 9th to also thank their fans for sticking by them since their disappearance from the spotlight.advertisement (story continues below)

Isaac, 22, says, "We have not waited three years to have a record release because of a lack of material."

The trio signed to Mercury Records and quickly hit success with their 1997 monster hit Mmmbop, which helped their album sell 15 million copies. But they soon found themselves on the Island Def Jam roster after a series of corporate mergers.

Isaac says years have gone by with him and his brothers insisting they have an album ready for release, with Def Jam executives arguing otherwise.

He explains, "There are massive differences between people who sign you because they like what you've created and those who get you after a giant corporate merger.

"They have no vested interest in you, often very little understanding of your music, your style. That's unfortunately part of the trouble with the industry now - so much corporate consolidation. Because of that, the identity of artists on some labels is inherently being lost."

The stars are now free agents after negotiating their way out of their contract, and they plan to release their next album early next year.