The Cold Hard Truth Of Major Record Labels

Everyone has their take on major record labels. Some love them while others totally despise them. Some have their own personal experiences with them and others are constantly trying to figure out how to get signed by them.

Without getting to caught up in opinions, let’s just understand in this article what the actual economic foundations of these companies are actually based on. Whether they are nice or deceptive group of people is another thing all together.

The actual key driving factors that keep major record labels ticking is whether or not they think they can sell lots of records from an artist or band. Sounds pretty blunt and un-arty however that is the cold hard reality.

Obviously there are smaller labels that “do it for the love of music” and that is great however, any company that is not running a business with a view to at least turn a profit is never going to work. As a band, you should also be weary of labels intentions.

There are a ton of “influential” labels out there but if they are not actually making money, ask yourself how far you think they will be able to take you. Also ask yourself what your intentions are with signing a deal. Is it to sell as much music as possible or to be cool?

Our band Noise Addict was signed to Grand Royal, which was owned and funded by Mike D from the Beastie Boys. They were all about signing bands that they loved. While a lot of the music was cool and fun, they never sold enough records to make the business work.

What do you think eventually happened to Grand Royal? The funds dried up and the bands were out of deals.

The bottom line is that major record labels work very differently. They are purely market driven. They themselves have their own obsession with following street culture, social standings and what is hot or not at any moment in time and will try and reflect those attributes in a band or an artist. They are really reflectors and providers of where society wishes to go with the times.

Whoever thinks record labels are your friends better think twice because at the end of the day those guys will push your grandmother off a cliff if it’s going to sell more records to make THEM more money.

If you still don’t agree, just take a look at who actually owns the major record labels – they are major major multi-national conglomerates who are really interested in one thing and one thing only……The bottom line.

While you start dipping your feet in the music business and begin to get a feel for everything, you’ll notice that record labels are great at making you feel like they are your best friend. However do not ever be mistaken by the fact that most of them wish to use your music and art to make more money.

That is the fine balance of the music business. All you need to do is read the words again “music” and “business” – art and commerce. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t

With this in mind you should begin to re-arrange how you perceive major record labels moving forward. Don’t feel that just because they are a bunch of suites you don’t want to attract them either. They are very good at what they do. However at the same time, it’s important to understand the nature of the beast if your going to jump into bed with them.

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Tags: Record Labels

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