Interview
A friend of mine named Shane Cook is taking some music biz classes and asked for my opinion on a few things. Bet he regrets that decision! 😉
As someone who has been both on a record label, and produced records independently, what are some misconceptions aspiring artists may have about signing with a label?
That it’s a good idea. It is not.
The only time/reason/situation people start thinking it is a good idea to sign with a label is AFTER the label has made enough money off of them that the artists feels like they’re starting to make some money too. If you’ve got a couple million in the bank because you’ve got yourself a hit, you probably aren’t scouring your label’s accounting records trying to find the millions they’ve squandered on your behalf. Now, you could argue, without those millions spent, you wouldn’t have that hit single! You may have a point there, however, most acts on a label these days DON’T get that “hit” and thus, are left in legal battles trying to figure out where all the money went (why are we eating dirt and they’re driving Bentleys?)
What advice might you give a talented musician struggling to get discovered?
Stop playing the music industry game and start caring about your fans like they are your family. They are. Or at least they will be, hopefully! Give them prizes, freebies, contests, advance listens, rare demos, free shirts…anything you got to show ’em how much you love ’em. They will only love you more and, everyone wins.
What are a few of the bigger financial and promotional challenges you’ve encountered while during your independence that you may not have encountered on a label?
Tour support is a big one. That said, many labels now expect a portion of performance fee and merch sales in exchange for tour support. I’d love to see what would happen if I spent a million dollars on marketing but I know that free internet work and word of mouth will achieve the same result (perhaps in more time, perhaps in less time, depending on the artist!).
What is the best part about having a record contract?
Other people who are not you doing stuff for you.
The worst?
Other people who are not you wrecking your life with their bad ideas because they’ll never be as invested in your life as you are.
What is the best part about being an independent musician?
Complete, utter honesty. Nothing is contrived, fake or pre-fabricated. You control your own destiny.
The hardest?
Finding the time. Most split the musical and promotional sides unevenly. In my case, I don’t create nearly as much as I used to.
Do you agree that record labels are becoming a thing of the past with all of the new production technology and networking tools?
I sure hope so! It’s a silly platform and a dying era. The sooner you realize that no one is going to save you, the more likely you are to have a team of people who actually LOVE you (and aren’t just getting paid to) helping you to fulfill your dreams.
Well said Billy! I couldn't agree more…
Brian
http://www.thornybleeder.com
Great interview…Awesome, honest answers!
I hear you on people wanted you to succeed so they can money off of you. My husband's an artist as is his closest friend and I'm doing everything possible to avoid them ever having an "agent".
Including running the business end of things where I hope to be able to help people in all artistic ventures with the promo end of things.
I think a real great birth would be an era of agent sort people who did the promotions with the primary goal of helping someone succeed. That's what I hope to do, there's nothing more satisfying than to be part of making someone's passion something they can do full time and still pay the rent and I really detest that a whole bunch of money hungry assholes have ruined the label "agent" for all.
There should be no pressure to take a naked shot for your album cover if that's not who you are or change what you're saying to suit your "image".
There needs to be a set of agents who take little for their work, want to see you succeed because they think you deserve it and let the artist maintain their integrity instead of trying to spoon feed the masses so their new porsche stay pristine.
Course, I am an idealist.