Need a Record Deal
ByNeed a Record Deal
Everyone needs a record deal. Or do they? No one seems to know why they need a record deal, only that they need one. A long time ago it became a common practice to setup demos and auditions with the hopes and anticipation of being offered a record deal. But for some reason most aspiring artists are still unaware that the record deal is dead. It’s as if thousands (maybe millions) of them didn’t get the memo. Or didn’t read the obituary papers.
Why is the record deal dead? Well before I go into that lets discuss the traditional scenario of being signed to a record deal. Then compare it to the new record deal scenarios of today. Then we will discuss why both structures are a waste of an independent artist’s time.
Traditionally a recording deal involved you signing a major recording contract and half of your publishing to a major record label (Universal, Sony, MCA, BMG, WEA etc). You would create a demo, do showcases, network with people who either worked for the label or were connected to them. People from the A&R (Artists and Repertoire) department would lead the charge in bringing fresh new talent to the labels. And if you got signed you quickly found out that the battle had just begun. Now it became an assessment situation to see if the person(s) that signed you had enough clout with the label to actually get your project recorded, released, and marketed correctly.
Many artists are signed to recording contracts for years and absolutely nothing is done with them. Oh they aren’t sitting there twiddling their thumbs (ok well some are) the major labels are slick. They will get you photo opportunities, interviews, take you to the big parties, get you showcase gigs. Give you front money and the next thing you know you owe the labels $200,000 before you ever reach the recording studio. Or should I say “if “you reach the recording studio. Plus major record labels are infamous for shelving projects. Meaning your recorded album, your music your heart and soul will never see the light of day and there is usually nothing you can do about it. After two years and much political maneuvering, if your one of the lucky ones your first album is finally released to the public. Now the question becomes whether you will actually get a large enough marketing budget and label attention to sell Gold or Platinum. As a new artist if you are being released anywhere near the street dates of your labels major artists or a major release in general. Then you are being setup to have a failing project. Your label won’t give you a large budget because they are either focusing on their major artists or throwing you up against a competitor’s major release (sacrificial lamb).
Pretty picture huh?
The New recording deals involve sheer slavery. Have you heard of 360 record deals? The concept is that all of your money making opportunities (touring, merchandise, endorsements as well as records) would be shared with the label. Though percentages vary it is in my opinion a bad deal. Think about it, here is the same company that you had to go through all of the traditional drama of selling a record. And now they want in addition to percentages on the record, a percentage of your touring, endorsement, and merchandising money? That’s like taking your money to be invested by a new firm started by Bernie Madoff . Major labels didn’t care about artist development before the digital revolution of the music business. Yet you are supposed to be dumb enough to trust them with total control of your career after the growth of the internet and rise of the digital era? I don’t think so.
Any independent artists foolish enough (especially after reading this) to sign a 360 record deal deserves to be screwed. And they have no one to blame. May seem cruel but honestly why place your hand in a fire when you know it’s hot?
So again let’s revisit why “the record deal is dead” though at this point you probably figured out why yourself.. Again common (or not so common) sense dictates that we ask this important question. Why sign a 360 record deal when you have more resources at your disposal than the people you are signing with? I am mainly referring to the major labels not independent labels. Artists need to assess their opportunities via the World Wide Web. Major labels are so focused on suing major medias like MySpace, iTunes , and Youtube that they may not even harness the power of the web.
Building your web presence, business models, product line and virtual team has never been this easy. Yes it will take work and there is very little glamour. But the reward is financial independence and artistic freedom. What price do you place on that?
Want to learn more? Join BIZ4DaSoul a real membership site and place with a purpose “providing you with educational instruction on how to make money online with your music.”
Darren Scott Monroe
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Darren Scott Monroe is an entrepreneur, web marketer, and consultant with 15 years experience in the music business. He has worked for companies like Universal, Motown, DreamWorks, MCA, Interscope, Island DefJam, Verve, and Clear Channel Radio. His latest website, “BIZ4DaSoul” is an exclusive membership site that teaches artist how to make more money online with less work. Visit BIZ4DaSoul at:
