AP Photo/Shizuo KambayashiThere are some people Janet Jackson just doesn't want to rock with. Like Europeans. And her record label.
The pop icon has called off the European leg of her heavily hyped Rock Witchu tour, blaming the promotional efforts—or lack thereof—of Island Def Jam Records.
"I'm trying to figure out a way to say this, but just to say it and to be quite honest, they just stopped all promotion whatsoever on the album, so I don't think you're going to hear another single off this album," Jackson told SOHH.com.
Jackson will continue as planned with the North American leg of her tour, her first in more than seven years, in support of her new album, Discipline.
She also wanted to make clear that her tour cancellation and dissatisfaction with her label should not be taken as a slight against her fans.
"It was definitely in my heart to go to Europe and to support this album...it's about teamwork, it's not something I can totally do on my own.
"Unfortunately, things have turned out the way that they have with the differences between the label and myself."
The label, as it happens, is doing its part to distance itself from the decision and resultant ire of the rhythm nation, claiming they are in the business of album, not tour, promotion.
Not that they did banner work on the former, as Jackson's debut single from the new album, "Feedback," reached just No. 39 on the charts. Since its February release, Discipline has sold 392,000 copies.
"Unfortunately we haven't experienced the results we would have liked with this new album," an Island Def Jam spokesperson told Billboard. "But we respect and support Janet."
The North American leg of Jackson's tour kicks off Sept. 10 in Vancouver.