PWR BTTM's debut album, Ugly Cherries, has returned to streaming services after being pulled last month amidst sexual assault allegations against the band's Ben Hopkins. The LP, originally released in 2015 by Father/Daughter Records, came before PWR BTTM's second full-length work, Pageant, which has also been removed at the request of Polyvinyl Records.
Related | PWR BTTM's Music Pulled From Digital Streaming Services
Hopkins and bandmate Liv Bruce have recruited major label vet Lisa Barbaris, who manages Cyndi Lauper, and attorney Jeffrey Koenig of Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy & Worob to help restore PWR BTTM's image and ultimately reclaim their catalog.
When anonymous claims towards Hopkins began circulating online the day before Pageant's premiere last month, PWR BTTM was quickly dropped from Salty Artist Management, Father/Daughter and Polyvinyl. Distribution for the new album immediately halted and the band's entire discography was effectively erased from the Internet.
Related | PWR BTTM Dropped by Label Following Assault Allegations
"To see Polyvinyl derail and potentially destroy the band's career in such an impulsive manner is very troubling," Barbaris told Billboard. "I've never seen a label respond in such an irresponsible way in the 30-plus years I've been in the music business." She continued, "PWR BTTM put a tremendous amount of time, effort, love and resources into creating and recording the body of work that would eventually become Pageant. It is important that their former label allows their fans to hear this album."
