Switchfoot leave Columbia Records, plan independent releases

IN A SHOCK announcement best selling San Diego rock band Switchfoot reveal they have left Columbia Records. Said lead vocalist Jon Foreman, "After several years of trying to make things work over at Columbia we have officially severed our ties with Sony to pursue making music independently. We are thankful for the incredible success that our partnership has produced over the years, yet within this ever changing business there can arise differences in vision and goals. These differences have now come to a point where we feel like parting ways would be best for us, and best for Sony. As a hands-on band, we feel so grateful for our newfound freedom. We are continually dreaming up ways to bridge the gap between the audience and the stage; this feels like an incredible step in that direction. . . We'll have more information for you as things shape up. In the meantime, here are several projects already in the works for the next year: Four Jon Foreman solo EPs (tentatively titled 'Fall', 'Winter', 'Spring' and 'Summer'), 'The Real Sean Jon' (a collaboration between Jon Foreman and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek fame), and a new Switchfoot record in '08 (the first 13 tracks were cut this week!)."