Never in the history of modern music have there been so many resources available to the independent artist. I’ve been writing, recording and performing music for the last 15 years, so I’ve grown up with the idea that if you’re not signed to a label then you’re nothing. I have numerous friends who have been signed to labels…both extremely successful like Hootie and the Blowfish and extremely unsuccessful (people you DON’T know). Being signed to a label, no matter how bad your deal is, validates you in some way as an artist.
For ninety-nine percent of “acts” that get signed to labels, the band gets a sizeable advance, then studio and video costs, management, promotion, touring, etc. - all against the band's advance and future royalties. The band makes pennies on a sale, the label makes the rest. I’m sure for some people it’s all about the hype, fame and prestige, but for many thousands and thousands of music lovers in hundreds of countries around the world it’s about the music and the songs. I believe the elusive “next big thing” in music will come when a few more barriers are broken down in this industry and the hype is reduced. Billboards like this are proof that those walls are coming down. This billboard (and a few others like it) are helping me to produce my own record and hopefully I will sell enough records through the internet to make the next one. That’s my goal. I will take whatever “next step” is available for me to take. If the record sells enough to support a tour (I wish), I will do that with great pleasure. If the record sells enough to buy some new equipment, I do that. You get the picture. The point is, there are thousands of people just like me doing exactly the same thing. I think THIS is the future of music and THIS is where we will see real creative advances in modern music and song writing. Have you listened to the radio lately? How many times have you thought. “Does anyone WRITE music anymore?” I said it at least a hundred times. The answer is YES. People like us write music and it needs to be heard on our terms. So my question to you is : Why would a unsigned/unknown artist want a record label in today’s world of global internet access? I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
For ninety-nine percent of “acts” that get signed to labels, the band gets a sizeable advance, then studio and video costs, management, promotion, touring, etc. - all against the band's advance and future royalties. The band makes pennies on a sale, the label makes the rest. I’m sure for some people it’s all about the hype, fame and prestige, but for many thousands and thousands of music lovers in hundreds of countries around the world it’s about the music and the songs. I believe the elusive “next big thing” in music will come when a few more barriers are broken down in this industry and the hype is reduced. Billboards like this are proof that those walls are coming down. This billboard (and a few others like it) are helping me to produce my own record and hopefully I will sell enough records through the internet to make the next one. That’s my goal. I will take whatever “next step” is available for me to take. If the record sells enough to support a tour (I wish), I will do that with great pleasure. If the record sells enough to buy some new equipment, I do that. You get the picture. The point is, there are thousands of people just like me doing exactly the same thing. I think THIS is the future of music and THIS is where we will see real creative advances in modern music and song writing. Have you listened to the radio lately? How many times have you thought. “Does anyone WRITE music anymore?” I said it at least a hundred times. The answer is YES. People like us write music and it needs to be heard on our terms. So my question to you is : Why would a unsigned/unknown artist want a record label in today’s world of global internet access? I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.