The $150,000,000 Refusal
September 12, 2018 // Omni-Global Media HQ
$150M
Total OfferThe Proposal
Omni-Global Media proposed a complete buyout of the Engine Room Records master catalog. The deal included rights to all recordings from 1987 to 2017, including the Warehouse Tapes and Knox.
It was the "Golden Parachute." A chance for the O'Connell family to retire as multi-millionaires. Holly O'Connell (CEO) reviewed the initial contract but flagged a section titled "Asset Optimization." She brought the band to the headquarters to hear the pitch in person.
Slide 14: "Optimization Strategy"
Subject: Asset 95-AA-MASTER ("Escape Velocity / Ad Astra")The deal-breaker wasn't the money. It was a single presentation slide detailing how the corporation planned to "maximize streaming revenue" for the 15-minute epic Escape Velocity (Ad Astra). The executives argued that a prog-rock suite was "algorithmic poison" with a high skip rate. Their plan was to De-Couple the track into four separate streaming assets.
| Segment | Target Playlist / Demographic | Planned Edit / Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "The Cage" | "Dark Moods", "Sad Indie Chill", "Late Night Vibes" | REMIX: Loop synth intro. Remove specific lyrics about "The Trial" and "The Shark" to make trauma generic/relatable. |
| 2. "Ignition" | "Rock Workout", "High Octane Gaming", "Adrenaline" |
SYNC: License instrumental hook for Truck Commercials. NOTE: Digital smoothing required to remove "jarring" mechanical cutoff sound. |
| 3. "The Cosmos" | "Lo-Fi Study Beats", "Focus Flow", "Sleep Sounds" | STRIP: Remove vocals entirely. Repackage as background music for coding/studying. |
| 4. "Re-entry" | "Uplifting Finales", "Morning Motivation" | VIRAL: Isolate "Ad Astra... To the Stars" vocal swell for 15s social video "Glow Up" trend. |
The Reaction
To Omni-Global, it was data. To Cassidy, Ad Astra was the literal mechanism she used to regulate her nervous system and process the trauma of 1992. The slide didn't just propose an edit; it proposed a lobotomy of her coping mechanism.
"They are going to rip my baby apart!"
The realization triggered an immediate, severe autistic meltdown. A loud, guttural cry tore from her chest as she collapsed. Ryan moved instantly, catching her and pulling her into a tight, grounding embrace to shield her from the room.
Holly O'Connell didn't wait. She stood up and declared the meeting over, stating firmly that Engine Room Records was NOT for sale. Ryan, Tyler, and Evan fiercely agreed, physically blocking the executives from approaching.
Amidst the chaos, only the family noticed the detail that mattered: Cassidy, tears pouring down her face and unable to speak, was furiously nodding her head in agreement with Holly.
The Aftermath
They walked away from the money. They kept the masters. They were already debt-free. But most importantly, they kept Ad Astra whole.
Listen to the Unbroken Suite