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Even further proof that the music industry as we once knew it is a rapidly dying animal: Roadrunner Records, long-time home to many of metal's finest acts and one of the earliest supporters of the genre, is sadly on the verge of eradication.

Warner Music has officially shut down Roadrunner offices in Canada, the UK, Germany, and Australia following the completion of its sale to Warner a little over a year ago. While the US office remains alive, its future is uncertain.

Label founder and CEO Cees Wessel has stepped down, and approximately thirty-six staff members are to be let go worldwide. Billboard is reporting the label will retain functions such as A&R, marketing, promotion, and publicity, while all other operations will be handled by Warner Music.

Roadrunner's roster includes NICKELBACK, MEGADETH, KORN, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, MACHINE HEAD, STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT, RUSH, and many others. ARCH ENEMY vocalist ANGELA GOSSOW made the following statement upon hearing the news,

"Metal fans stop buying music, they download it 'for free.' Labels don't make money with selling metal music anymore.

Labels first cut down their offices and staff, then they will drop all the artists who don't sell CDs anymore. Metal bands are the first to go. It's a small niche compared to mainstream music.

Bands have no label support anymore, thus won't get any tour support, so they cannot go out and build a live profile / make a name as a good live band anymore. The only real income for a band these days.

This results in lack of touring offers in general.

Many bands cannot survive on touring income anymore as they won't get any good offers. Especially the newer acts. Bands will stop touring, you will only be seeing the same old, big bands coming round (METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, etc.) but none of your fave smaller/underground acts or new acts, as they simply can not afford it.

If bands can neither release their music nor go out and play live, they'll disband sooner or later due to lack of motivation and any sort of reward.

The metal scene will lose a lot of innovative, exciting and diverse bands and many fans will never get to see their fave bands live. What a boring, corporate, streamlined future to look forward to.

And it's all in YOUR hands. Every time you rip music for free, you tick the 'I don't care if my fave band will die' box in a way.

Think about it. Twice."