Robbie threatens to shun EMI and go it alone

Robbie Williams is threatening to go it alone and release his next album by himself, dealing a severe blow to EMI and the other record labels in the race to sign up the pop star.

It is understood that Williams is determined to put out his next album, already recorded and named Escapology, in November in order to catch the Christmas market.

Industry sources said that if he did not manage to cut a satisfactory deal with a record label in the next few weeks, he was ready to release the keenly-awaited album independently.

Williams would simply sign up a manufacturer and distributor for the album, a highly unusual move for a big-name artist. He has even shot the video for the track that will be released as a single.

Williams' management is still talking to several labels, including EMI. Sir Richard Branson has privately boasted that his four-year-old label, V2, is one of just two still left in the game but industry sources dismissed this claim.

One insider said that EMI, Williams' last label, is still the most likely to sign him. Talks between EMI and the artist have dragged on since February. The short time now available before Christmas and Williams' stated desire to "conquer" the juicy US market would favour a major label.

The source added: "Given the richness of the deal, I find it hard to believe that V2 is seriously in the running. I'd say it is between EMI and Sony. EMI has to be favourite as it has his [the] back catalogue and knows Robbie's sales patterns and history. He would not entrust this point in his career to V2. It will be very difficult for anyone but EMI to do this by Christmas."

A spokesperson for EMI declined to say how advanced negotiations with Williams were but confirmed it was still hoping for a deal. "Talks are on-going," said the spokesperson. If Williams went elsewhere, it would be a major blow to EMI, which is already struggling to retain talent and compete in the market, which has seen millions of pounds worth of revenues lost to illegal internet piracy. V2 was always a surprise entrant to the battle for Williams. The contract would reportedly be worth some £40m. Earlier this year, V2 scaled down and felt the need to bring in outside capital in a deal that saw Morgan Stanley take a 47.5 per cent stake in the label.