What the hell was wrong with Warner Brothers not keeping Earth, Wind & Fire?

[soulster]

Just a little rant here:

I mean, they sold their contract to Columbia in 1972, then dropped them in 1994. Both times the band went on to have better success. It's no secret that WB never really understood R&B beyond how much money they could make off of it, but didn't anyone at that label ever have any real foresight? I think it's shocking enough that Prince, George Benson, and Chaka Khan were able to get as far as they did. Seems to me all the label ever really knew about was rock and folk.

Clive Davis of Columbia, and later, Arista, didn't understand R&B either, but I think he knew well enough to leave it alone and give the artists time to grow.