Seeing as how AC/DC are still as secretive as ever, and we really know nothing about the new album (other than it´s coming out in 2003, right Brian?), I figured I´d bring here an old topic I posted at risingpower.net some time ago. It deals with the new record and how the old contract with Elektra might be slowing things down.
As it turned out, this post is still current (most of it, actually. It doesn´t seem like the band will be working with Mutt again anytime soon, but who knows?)

a rock and a hard place

Every source says AC/DC still has one album left for Elektra before they can release new stuff under Epic/Sony. I´ve been told the following. Hope you find it interesting:

One of the reasons for the album delay might be the band not being happy about still having to deliver that one album for their ALREADY old record company. Reasons? As stupid as it may sound, Elektra might not be willing to promote the new album as they should, forcing it to underperform.

Hey, It HAPPENED to Alice Cooper when he left Epic and had "The Last Tempation" being released by them. He couldn´t even tour to support that album.

So AC/DC are now stuck between a rock and hard place because they feel and KNOW the next one needs to be BIG. But they wish they could release it already under Sony, because looks like the japanese record company is giving the band the "charm" and "love" and "good vibes" Elektra didn´t.
Also, if the new album were to be released by Sony, all chances are they´d put the big money on the table to bring Mutt Lange back. Remeber Lange must be one of the most expensive producers around. And in case you didn´t know, it´s the record company who pays for the production, producer and studio time needed.

I can already see the marketing machine going on. Sony + AC/DC + Mutt Lange back after a 23 year gap.

Lastly, my newly found but totally reliable source says the band management is trying to get Elektra to either:
A) Get to an economic arrangement with Elektra and move on. (This is what Elektra supposesly likes more.) OR...

B) Release some live stuff. (This is what the band wants, but they kinda feel they´ve overdone the market with live stuff in the recent years).

This is what I´ve been told about what´s going on. Third option is having Elektra release it with George or some other low-medium profile guy producing, get it done fast. Believe it or pass on it, but I´m just letting you know.

The original post and the interesting replies can be seen here:
http://www.acdcpower.net/phorum/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=28209&t=27954