Katy Perry's label boss says she's planning a comeback after a disappointing response to her latest album Witness

Capitol Records boss Steve Barnett says "tough conversations" have taken place.
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Katy Perry's label boss Steve Barnett has opened up about the disappointing reception of the singer's latest album Witness, revealing she has a comeback plan.

Katy released her fourth major label album in June last year, where it peaked at Number 6 on the Official Albums Chart. The star's previous two efforts, 2013's Prism and 2010's Teenage Dream, both reached Number 1, with the latter selling over one million copies in the UK alone, according to Official Charts Company data. 

While Witness is reported to have sold almost 850,000 worldwide, the record hasn't held up in charts as well as her previous efforts. The album spawned the Top 5 single Chained To The Rhythm, but follow-ups Bon Appetit and Swish Swish failed to have the same impact

"It's an interesting story," said Steve, who is CEO and Chairman of Capitol Records, of Witness's reception to Variety. "I love her and have forged a great relationship with her. 

"I talk about how engagement is so important and I don't believe you can have big cycles between projects [as Katy did]. I think that’s changed. And so you sit down and have tough conversations with her and management."

"As successful as you’ve been, you learn," Barnett continued. "Personally I’ve learned more from our mistakes than our successes and I believe our artists are in the same category as that. But she has a plan, and we have a plan, and I feel good about it."

Katy is currently on the North American leg of her Witness world tour, which reaches the UK in June. She will also make her debut as a judge on American Idol when it premieres on March 11. 

Meanwhile, we've rounded up some of the singles you've slept on over the last 12 months - check out the full list here.

Article image: Rex

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Ritchard Mckie

0

Great album with great music videos, Could have a better choice than the latest single and more promotion and quicker releases but she's still one of the best.

DG

Dan Gerous

0

Terrible artwork. Terrible harsh haircut. Poor choice of tracks as singles with dull videos. It could have been so different. The double LP version was £30.99 when released! TOO expensive.

B

Benji

0

Welcome to 1995 :○

WP

Wayne Power

0

She,'ll probably reissue Witness as a tour edition with five new tracks tacked on. All of which will be more like her usual cartoon stuff , contrived and designed to be instant hits. Witness was poor but she released the wrong singles and seems to be at that backlash era of her career . I don't think she endear herself at times either