Detailed in a recording contract is a section entitled completion and release...it goes something like this.....?The recording/s shall be completed and prepared for release and distribution on or before (date agreed by both parties) whereupon the company and artist acknowledge that time is of the essence in the completion of the recording, and each agree to exercise all reasonable means to achieve such completion?.....all parties have to acknowledge binding agreement in the form of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, ?the Company and Artist agree to perform their obligations under this Agreement, in all respects, in good faith?....

Nothing is left to chance....

So the question of EMI letting Utada ?have a couple of years off? doesn?t actually arise. .....

?I have no idea how long it gonna to be - 2 years or 5 years?...............For Utada to take full advantage of this hiatus and concentrate on those illusive ?human activates?, it makes perfect sense to complete any outstanding contractual commitments, ensuring a clean break so to speak,.....EMI can?t ill afford to take a wait and see approach, it?s the here and now that will determine the company future profitability..