Ryan Adams. Photo Credit: Andy Witchger / CC by 2.0
Back in February of 2019, seven women publicly accused singer-songwriter Ryan Adams of sexual misconduct and/or “manipulative behavior” – resulting in major career setbacks for the Jacksonville, North Carolina, native. Now, Adams is struggling financially and asking labels to take another chance on him.
The New York Times reported on the sexual-misconduct and psychological-abuse claims – one of which came from Ryan Adams’ ex-wife, singer-songwriter Mandy Moore – in February of 2019. The former Whiskeytown frontman Adams, the piece indicated, had “dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex,” besides “subjecting women to emotional and verbal abuse, and harassment in texts and on social media.”
Perhaps the most serious of the sexual-misconduct allegations against Adams concerned his exchange of “3,217 text messages…over a nine-month period” with a female named “Ava,” who was 15 and 16 years old at the time of the correspondence and had first communicated with the artist on Twitter. The two never met in person, and some of the messages appeared to involve explicit topics. However, the alleged victim “sometimes” stated that “she was older than she was,” according to The New York Times, and Adams’ attorney relayed that “if, in fact, this woman was underage, Mr. Adams was unaware.”
Adams also developed a “whirlwind romance” with a 20-year-old musician, the report relayed, promising (and ultimately withdrawing) “professional opportunities” and allegedly subjecting the individual to “obsessive and emotionally abusive” behavior. The latter allegedly encompassed “barraging her with texts, insisting that she prove her whereabouts…and threatening suicide if she didn’t reply immediately,” in addition to compelling her to exit “social situations to have phone sex.”
The “Nuclear” creator promptly responded to the report on social media, before providing a more elaborate apology in July of 2020. “I am not a perfect man and I have made many mistakes. To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologize deeply and unreservedly,” he wrote in the February of 2019 tweets.
“But the picture that this article paints is upsettingly inaccurate. Some of its details are misrepresented; some are exaggerated; some are outright false. I would never have inappropriate interactions with someone I thought was underage. Period,” he continued.
Regarding the fallout that arrived in the wake of the report, some fans demanded refunds for their tickets to upcoming Ryan Adams gigs, while Universal Music Group pulled his latest album and radio stations dropped his music. He ultimately released his 17th album, Wednesdays – which had been slated to come out in 2019 – via his PAX AM label in 2020, whereas Big Colors dropped in June of 2021.
Adams has acknowledged in social-media posts as of late that he’s “broke,” has “no record deal,” and “would love to make albums” or simply “own a home.” Moreover, he just recently penned a longer and increasingly desperate message, which has been deleted from Instagram.
Admitting that he’s “months from losing my label, studio, and my home,” the eight-time Grammy nominee expressed his desire to obtain “a second chance to make some music” in the troubling post.
“I’m 46 and scared I’m gonna be living in my sister’s basement,” he proceeded. “If you are a label and interested, please let me know. Sent with love and humility. I already got dropped by [Universal Music Group’s] Capitol twice.”
Though the chances of Adams’ inking another major label deal are unclear, several supporters have left encouraging comments, calling on him to harness the earning potential of his (ultra-dedicated) remaining followers by embarking on a solo tour and/or creating a Patreon account. Moreover, while the creator previously indicated that he was “not sure why” he doesn’t have a merch store, he’s since rolled out a comprehensive webstore, his social media profiles show.
How is this possible? Management, I’m talking to you!
Er…perhaps he should have invested instead of spending dumploads on heroin and cocaine.
He’s earned more money than most of us could dream of—yet he wants sympathy?
Drug habits are a problem, but what about those caring people around him who should have been watching his back? Other artists have had it much worse and still come out alright due to their support system. Blame doesn’t rest on one person, alone, in these situations.
Wrong. Nobody forced him to snort poison and be a jackwad.
Hope he enjoys living with his sister. I am sure she will not.
Nobody seemed to help guide him away from it, either, though. That was my point. Thanks for completely missing it and diverting to your own idiotic agenda Typical, from you.
I guess you are one of those twats who always blame others for your own stupid acts. You must be a milloonial.
Now, go put your mask on and burn down something to protest some mythical wrong.
Despite what other idiots have replied, you didn’t blame anyone. Reality is, the entertainment industry has certain people hired by entertainers to help keep them out of trouble and on the right path. Apparently, Ryan’s people didn’t do their jobs.
stop. your a fool.
How do you know how much he’s earned? Musicians have plenty of up and down years financially and the accounting process 9f major labels is extremely complex.
Ryan Adams is doing about 200,000 streams a day on Spotify. With all royalties considered, that’s about $300,000 to $350,000 a year just from Spotify.
Overall, Ryan Adams is likely grossing about $600,000 to $750,000 a year from streaming services. This doesn’t include downloads, physical sales, merch, syncs, or other deals. This doesn’t factor in any contacts he’s signed in the past.
No tears for this guy. If he can’t make it on grossing nearly $750,000 a year from streaming services then that’s his problem.
Clearly, someone with emotional & maturity issues. Goes to show you can be successful at that age and still have issues. But without a support system you could fail at any time. As Roger asked, where is his management, friends, and relatives ?
You can fix this Ryan. Just ask for some help !
Which friends do think are going to stick their neck out just to be chopped off by the twitter mob? I’m sure he would sell tickets if he went on tour. The only serious allegation made was the one about him texting the underage girl and that was made without a shred of evidence. There hasn’t been any kind of follow up information about the “investigation “. I’m not sure being an asshole justifies treating the man like a rapist.
Mercy.Forgiveness.Compassion.The possibility of a path to redemption for all .Appreciation and enjoyment of the music created.
He who has never sinned can cast the first stone.
This is what real humanity is about.
Responsibility, sobriety, professionalism, self-control, respect for others, humility, appreciation of what you have.
Those are all things Ryan Admas lacks. He made his bed…..
Sounds like you’re lacking in many areas, as well.
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!
Your mom?
The Majority of Professional musicians have been forced to leave the music business. About 70% have had to go out and get a ‘real job’ since Napster followed by Covid pretty much ended the old business model. Almost no way of making any money in this new business unless you are in the 0.000002% of successful/well known old musicians who are slowly all dying off
Johnny, did you bother to read Look At Meeee’s post? I can also confirm that Ryan Adams is getting 200K streams a day on Spotify and the estimated math is accurate.
You show up here with your BS about Napster and Covid, and lie about the business today. You know nothing.
Wow, just to reply in a few words here. It would be nice if you can check me out. Thanks for the tip about Spotify. I would love to learn how that would work for me. Maybe you fans can give me some tips here with good comments. I ask for no big other than for good advise, likes and comments. I am Deaf & HOH and here you can find me on soundcloud. Let’s see if I can make “Good Noise”. ?Check out Red Tim on #SoundCloud