My New Song (Direct To Fan Example) www.misskrystle.com/saytome 🟡 BECOME YOUR OWN RECORD LABEL- Use discount code LABEL30 to get 30% off our "Become Your Own Record Label" course. (This offer is valid for the one-time payment option only.) www.topmusicattorney.com/becomeyourownrecordlabel YT Wake Em Up Channel: www.youtube.com/@YTWakeEmUp
Thanks for covering my video and giving proper credit as well. I love your input here! Amazing overall, keep up the great work you're doing. Very informative channel!
I'm about halfway through the video and the one thing that keeps repeating in my head is don't these record labels have the keys to the gatekeepers? Because I don't really see a lot of independent musicians getting put in the same major websites and whatnot that the Taylor Swift's of the world are
I now realize I was blessed when I went through a lawsuit with indie label I was on. By the time I reached a major, I had both leverage and (more importantly) knowledge. My 1st album went platinum, 2nd went gold but, I wasn’t leveraging it. Boy did I learn. We constantly talk about “sales” but, artists need to truly gain an understanding of what owning your publishing means. Ad campaigns, licensing, various placements, etc.
@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 Perhaps the audience size is as large as ever, but far more atomized. It's not everybody listening to the same radio stations and buying the same albums any more. Everybody can find whatever niche they fancy. And there's cheap to free easy options as well. There may well be less overall money being paid by the audience.
@@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 Lars Ulrich predicted this during the Napster lawsuit. It was blasted back then as not a metal thing to do, they sold out etc. Because they were pretty well established at that point all these years later they don’t have much competition. Every genre is unhealthy today in terms of current state and future outlook
@@whatsername123 yes, that's all they is- a bank. Keeping their artist in debt. Just like these credit card companies; who needs a score anyway? Don't you rather have your freedom. & a peace of mind without debt?
absolutely correct AND MC Hammer was well respected in the sports business world & had mentors in the sports biz entertainment world that he needed to listen to more. He was young & cared about providing jobs but too many employees is always difficult. Janet Jackson is a successful example of how to build a music & dance company business gradually. Janet’s dance company employees are fam to her & have worked with her for 25 years, simultaneous to her growing to a $1Bil entertainment company.
NOW!!!! Right Now, there is soooo much opportunity in the music industry cause this is happening. Honestly its a blessing this has happened. Now is the time!!!!!
🤯🤯🤯 “As a business owner, it’s great to see people being honest about how things really work. The reality is, the 1% keeps getting richer, wages are stagnant, and there’s no real opportunity left. Try to start a business, and you’ll just get forced out by the giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google.”
All those rappers rent everything, the jets, the gold necklaces, fake mansions, and so on... Some companies even lend the celebrities stuff. All that is nothing new...
I might be in danger of being optimistic, but it sounds like bad deals and music monopolies are loosing power to the independent. Now, how do we twist spotify's arm into paying us fairly per stream?
Music Industry is broke because of free streaming of music PERIOD!!! I come from the period of buying CD’s etc i have well over 500 CD’s …. As a consumer of music i have not brought any music in over 10yrs esp from Artist that i love whn i pay apple music my $9 a month and i can listen to any Artist i want so as a consumer why buy music…. If i went from buying music weekly to not buying in over 10yrs then thats the problem…. If i have access to any Artist for $9 a month how are thousands of artist gonna eat off tha $9 ….. that why the streaming formula the way it is…. Best deal for Consumers bad deal for Labels/Artist…. If anything each label should be their own streaming platform so if i want unlimited access to Universal’s Artist thn i csn pay thm and they divi the money in house….Apple Spotify etc should just be digital retailer of music to purchase and stream my purchase from them only!!! Thn artist will get paid…. Labels get paid and MUSIC will be respected for the art form again OR make thm pay performance royalties
The online streaming platforms and the record labels are the ones making the money. The artists are getting the breadcrumbs. There are documentaries about that and the money about Spotify shows that.
I put my own tour together a decade ago and at first it seemed affordable until you add in hotels, travel (gas/maintenance/tires), outfits, back then CDs printed, and marketing flyers/ posters. I agree labels messed up when they took away artist development and streaming. Someone hands is now in the music no matter what you do, I wish we could go back to the MP3 days and CDs
IM SO glad i found you i love this!!! i started as a teen battle rapper and watched every phase of the biz labels are changing as we know it it's a good time to be independent i believe labels wont exist in the future
Thanks for this, I do photography and we deal with the same types of intellectual property/royalties issues and there's a lot of the solutions and advice you offer that applies to us as well.
Massive parallel with fashion business here, a small number of megastars, and huge number of designers and makers on the breadline. It's far easier to rip off a design and get away with it, too.
This is a superb video. Subscribed! The artist, Russ (the most succesful independent artist I know of), has been talking about this for years. I am so pleased that I stumbled upon him three years ago. I have been in and around music all my life - bands, songwriting, responding to leads from labels and name-artist management through a connected producer etc. My songs were shortlisted a few times but never got a placement. Although it was frustrating then, I'm now SO pleased it didn't 'happen' for me! I've been releasing work as an independent since 2021 and I've never regretted it. I'm not making huge money yet, but I get ALL the money my music makes, and there have been some nice surprises along the way. It is now at the point where it is paying for itself, and I just love doing it, with everything, that's EVERYTHING, on MY terms. Ownership is key. You just don't need a label any more.
I got offered a record deal six months ago. They told me the contract was worth $1,000,000 and they would give me a $200,000 signing bonus. Called a music lawyer I knew and he said the deal is bogus and say no. He said the music biz is struggling overall and a record label would only give that kind of cash to an established artist. Record execs make millions a year. There is cash in the music biz. But the artists are not the ones who have it.
Should have took that deal and went to new york on 5th Ave and hired a agent to market you as a product. People will assume your important if they see you on billboards. Not billboards chart list. UA-cam is worse than recording companies, they use your materials for free. Trying to be famous. Waiting on someone to watch you.. how much does it pay?
@@cedricharris-v2rMaybe Spotify and UA-cam doesn't pay much per view but if that person knows how to manage his or her life,then there will be no problem at all to have enough money once they retire from singing.
@@j-gmoran1124 My son was offered the same exact deal, but as soon as I saw the "contract," I KNEW immediately it was a SCAM! He was heartbroken, but more importantly, he was happy to have an intelligent person(mama) looking out for him.
Same sad song. As a CPA, I've performed contract review, along with attorneys on contracts that wealthy, successful business owners are seeking to enter. They hire attorneys and CPA's to examine contracts for unfavorable provisions within the contracts. Sometimes the contract provision is changed, other times they enter into the contract understanding the consideration and remedies. Most people don't even read the contracts that they sign, 30-year mortgages included. Now how smart is that? People do not want to know what the contract says, UNLESS it all goes wrong. Same sad song.
We can't use your poverty as a bench mark. I have family in third world countries who'd probably look at your simple access to internet as "rich". Relax, it's all relative
I've been saying this for years that there's too many mediocre acts making mediocre music. Nobody wants to put in the work to differentiate. Finally, someone is echoing the very thing that saw ages ago. Damn, feels good to be right.
@@specialbreedsb78 For sho but at least add a new creatve twist to it. Elevate it to the next level, like upgrading from horses and carriage to a combustion engine. Ya dig?
Years ago, I was a young attorney trying to make my way into the entertainment law space. Of course I can’t speak for everyone but what I noticed, living in Los Angeles, was that many of the artists wanted a white attorney, white accountant. Etc. I tried to tell many of these artists that the deals they were in were bad deals and they thought I was crazy. Not all white attorneys are bad but what was making these artists think what they thought?
@@MathieuFiset Where the profits is really at is by Creating Your Own Website to sell your Music, Merchandise, & More, you get to keep 100% of your earnings, with only a little fee, of keeping the Website & Domain name managed.
Where the profits are really at if you don't want to go on tour is by Creating Your Own Website To Sell Your Music, Merchandise, an more on. You keep 100% of your earnings as well as Owning Your Publishing as well as your Own Masters Royalties, with only a small fee to keep your Domain name an your Own Website managed.
Music is the advertisement. Drake is in the burger business. Rihanna is in the fashion/makeup/perfume business. Jimmy Buffet made far more money in the leisure business than he did in the music business. I remember when Beyonce got that Pepsi contract which was as much as she made in music up to that point.
Where the profits are really at if you don't want to go on Tour is by Creating Your Own Website To Sell Your Music, Merchandise, an more on. DTC (Direct To Consumer) You keep 100% of your earnings but also Owning your Own Publishing as well as your Own Masters Royalties, with only a small fee to keep your Domain name an your Own Website managed.
I remember my dream back in the day was a record deal. This was the 90s. In retrospect, that would have been one of the worst things to have happened to me.
You didn’t listen to this video did you? Networth is not just what you bring in, it’s debt too. You only think abt what they make. In the real world how many also owe millions at the same time?
Again, Ma’am, I am so grateful for your channel. I know a little about the biz, but I talk to songwriters, who are good songwriters, who don’t know how to copyright their songs or that there are writer and publisher royalties.
Frank Zappa was telling people back in the 70’s …….”start your own publishing company”. It’s not that hard at all. It’s literally paying a small fee and registering yourself as the owner of publishing for your works. Zappa owned EVERY SINGLE MASTER of every single recording he put out. And he made 63 studio albums and COUNTLESS live records. He saw the record companies for what they were long before anyone else even smelled the blood in the water. Be smart. Own what you make.
Every new artist falls into this trap. they think the music is the product and the label is the key to selling it. But that hasn't been the case for nearly 20 years. Branding has always been essential, but the difference is not you have all the tools and opportunity to make your own.
This is also the reason that artists are charging $1000 for “meet and greets” I used to accuse artists of just being greedy and piggish….. little did I realize that these people were on a world tour and lived in a two bedroom apartment. The scum of record companies have done a brilliant job of making the public believe that one song, one video on UA-cam, and a half successful instagram account automatically makes you and multi-millionaire. I’m glad record companies are failing.
I think any company that's done business with Diddy in the past is going to get audited. Major artists knew ahead of time and sold catalogs over the past years to cash in before the collapse of the industry.
Real Talk... It's called the Music Business. Most artists focus on the first part, the music and not the business. You should be a student of your craft. Also, people with money don't have to show you what they have and don't care what you think of them. Image is being promoted more so than talent. It's like putting lipstick on a pig. She makes more money than most of the artists.
Hey @TopMusicAttorney, do you see in the future established record companies going into suing frenzy for copyright infringement or plagiarism claims toward independent artists because there are no more artists that want to sign with them?
Lawyers control the music & entertainment businesses. I was advised of this year's ago & after careful research & observation, I've found that to be true! That's why I tell young musicians to become intellectual property lawyers. They're the ones who have the ability to deep dive into the music & entertainment business.
thats the thing nowadays you don't need multimillions or billions to live a luxury lifestyle, it can all be rented we live in the rental capital in the world. Whatever it is money, cars, houses, diamonds can all be rented or returned
Not to pick on certain genres, but kids listening to rap aren't paying for music, they're also not buying tickets to concerts. Same with metal, the target audience is mostly teenagers that are still in school and don't have money to spend on music or concerts or merchandise.
It was loan and everybody else got paid off your loan. Sometime labels would sign somebody just to get the money generated, even though the label had no faith or plans to develop the artist
I literally signed a single deal for $20k to a random indie label …. The label did nothing, I asked what’s up with the contract they said “what contract” 😂 they used me to launder money. Never heard from them again. The label doesn’t even exist anymore
I love your informative content. As an indie artist I wish we knew you when we came back out after a 25 year hiatus. We need advice on this new age of digital music publishing. Do you help artists 1on1? 🙏🏽
Hey Monique, Thanks for reaching out. Yes I do! Please email my legal assistant and we can let you know what your options are - Hun@DelgadoEntertainmentLaw.com.
"A brand is just a set of expectations" - Seth Godin. People have this stigma around the word "brand" like it's some dirty corporate marketing term, but it just means identity don't be scared of it. and it's essential to doing music for a living.
It's basically a bubble. An industry made on selling cds, dvds, vinyl and radio and ofcourse tours. But a lot of people don't have money to buy those anymore or they'll just stream from Spotify / YT / etc. Who take the most money out of these streams. Which means that the bubble is going to burst, it might take some time (years, or even decades) but it's going to happen. And in the end it's going to change media forever. And it's not just artists, it's also actors, designers, (software/game) developers, etc. Those are all bubbles that are either already bursting or about to burst. And who knows what will happen next? Well most like the rise of huge corporations and AI, but even THAT is a bubble.
@JayCasinoOfficial and the reason they're going for the cheapest option is due to the lack of money 😂. The middle class is SHRINKING, wages are stagnant. It's not the 90s anymore lol. This is much bigger than consumers just being cheap.
@JayCasinoOfficial and the reason they're going for the cheapest option is due to the lack of money 😂. The middle class is SHRINKING, wages are stagnant. It's not the 90s anymore lol. This is much bigger than consumers just being cheap.
Alot of what was covered in this video possibly is the reason for the uptick in vinyl, cd's, and cassette and maybe thats the best route for musicians going forward
This is one of the best videos I’ve seen recently. I'm excited about it because it highlights how AI music is poised to dominate in the future. That's why I am focusing on perfecting AI music now-some artists may realize its importance when it's too late.
I had a an excited new producer show me his first deal offer for and EDM label that he was hooked up with via one of the new 'label scouting agencies' , it was 50$ for exclusive rights in perpetuity!!!!
The Beatles got screwed. Springsteen got screwed. Billy Joel, Sting and Elvis Presley were ripped off by their own management. DMX was right: "They" wouldn't make a dime without the artists.
The thing about musicians/songwriters .... creative flow is hampered by time spent chasing business goals and legal issues. That's what a band typically hires a manager to do. That's why artists fall into the A&R trap. The labels have the name and the connections and the distribution, and artists just want to create and get paid for their art. I don't want to be a business owner... I want to create music. Kind of a left brain vs right brain thing.
4:00 those are the people Madonna was singing about in Material Girl ("living, in a Material World.."). Why are they looking and price tagging.. impressed by superficials, instead of enjoying the gifts of the talents?? if they need to be checking other people's valuables then they needed to be facaded by the "facade" .. & providing that facade, is what made their favorite rapper go broke
Stay in alert the World change we do adapt. Thanks for this video ! This year I build my own biz, books to Music I cuts All things who kip my money for nothing INVEST IN YOUSELF !! The price is you
I say Job, Hobby or Jobby. In Scotland "jobby" is a term for a poo. So many operate their music as a hobby, then complain that it doesn't pay like a job. If it's neither, then it's a jobby. Make sure you know which yours is.
If they sign you for 5 million over 6 years then you should record 6 years worth of music in year 1. Then the subsequent years you can pick and choose as well as record what you need to add in between. Plus these are all verses you can sell.
I'll tell a rapper to take the advancement from the record label and use some of that to get in to tv and movies. Go get a acting coach, a tv and movie agency that only gets paid when you land a gig. All the while working on your album in the cheapest way. Make sure that they get on TV or in a movie before they drop their album because they will have a face and name that is popular when the album is released. They also may be able to renegotiate their deal too.
Just like any industry it's only the small percentage that's earning the bag; so, basically you need to put yourself into a position where the odds to win are in your favor: "Life is a dice game". - Nas
this crumble started to happen after covid , Like the way this happened overnight was scary because it really revealed that this industry is actually owned by a small group of big players and now that group is collapsing!
not a lot has changed in 60 years tbh , on the industry side at least. These are just classic examples of people who didn't know what they were signing. The good news is what has changed is it's 100x easier to go solo now.
I believe the real winners in the music industry are the large corporations offering those brand deals. They have products to sell and use the musician's audience to gain market share. So all musicians should have their own products to sell besides the music itself.
MC Hammer was well respected in the sports & music business world & had mentors in the sports biz entertainment world that he needed to listen to more. He was young & cared about providing jobs but hiring too many employees too quickly is always difficult. Janet Jackson is a successful example of how to build a music & dance company business gradually. Janet’s dance company employees are fam to her & have worked with her for 25 years, simultaneous to her growing to a $1Bil entertainment company.
I got my client Rodney-O 50% publishing and 15% all in of the master of LIKE THAT and not from the Artist’s share I made it come from the LABELS SHARE. Now am handling the Barry White's estate infringement claim that everyone will be surprised with the outcome. Knowing the law and how the industry norms don't trump them and having the balls to stand your ground is how you get good deals. Now making sure you collect it all is another story....
My New Song (Direct To Fan Example) www.misskrystle.com/saytome
🟡 BECOME YOUR OWN RECORD LABEL- Use discount code LABEL30 to get 30% off our "Become Your Own Record Label" course. (This offer is valid for the one-time payment option only.) www.topmusicattorney.com/becomeyourownrecordlabel
YT Wake Em Up Channel: www.youtube.com/@YTWakeEmUp
Thanks for covering my video and giving proper credit as well. I love your input here! Amazing overall, keep up the great work you're doing. Very informative channel!
It have more bad ,than good in the 🎵 world
I'm about halfway through the video and the one thing that keeps repeating in my head is don't these record labels have the keys to the gatekeepers? Because I don't really see a lot of independent musicians getting put in the same major websites and whatnot that the Taylor Swift's of the world are
@@TopMusicAttorney when are saying comment to you are does fell you in my country
Do a deal your first time to get your name out there. Build a following then go independent. Easy peasy.🎉🎉🎉🎉
Independent artist here. Been making my 1M stream per week and it's all good because I own the whole stack, masters, publishing.
How much do you bring in off that, if you don't mind me asking- but you brought it up. Purely music streaming sales
@@dice268926 That's around $4000 per week + youtube views and shorts another $2000 per week.
motion, lets go
If u let me do my thaaang
@@delima660 weeeee
The industry is gone, there is no artist development, just extremely crappy deals.
@@seanabbottband ‼️
Prince said this stuff 30 years ago. Everyone said he was crazy.
Amen 🙏
That part! Prince is the reason why I went the independent route, especially with my pops stopping me from signing at 17 yrs old. Salute.
MJ too.
they label truth tellers 'crazy'
Nobody said he was crazy, we supported him when he was a symbol.
I now realize I was blessed when I went through a lawsuit with indie label I was on. By the time I reached a major, I had both leverage and (more importantly) knowledge. My 1st album went platinum, 2nd went gold but, I wasn’t leveraging it. Boy did I learn.
We constantly talk about “sales” but, artists need to truly gain an understanding of what owning your publishing means. Ad campaigns, licensing, various placements, etc.
@@SirMixAlotChannel yes
@@SirMixAlotChannel @What was your first album?
@@SirMixAlotChannel Peace, God! You're your own boss and that's all that matters 💪🏾 🏆 You won
@@okeydokey9693 wowzers. You don’t know who Sir Mix A lot is???😮
The age of middle men and gate keepers is crumbling.
Yes and the audience is scarce.
Way too much free content everywhere.
@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 Perhaps the audience size is as large as ever, but far more atomized. It's not everybody listening to the same radio stations and buying the same albums any more. Everybody can find whatever niche they fancy. And there's cheap to free easy options as well. There may well be less overall money being paid by the audience.
@@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 way too much
@@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 Lars Ulrich predicted this during the Napster lawsuit. It was blasted back then as not a metal thing to do, they sold out etc. Because they were pretty well established at that point all these years later they don’t have much competition. Every genre is unhealthy today in terms of current state and future outlook
@@vilaintrolltrollinsky8007 phones. Everyone will record it then post
The record industry crumbling is a great thing for great music coming back. 🎉.
exactly let the cream of the crop rise nomore riding people waves faking sauce and ideas
Can't say it loud enough. Labels are LOANING you money.
@@whatsername123 Because that loan they give you is also loan they got from the banks.They have to pay interest on it
@@whatsername123 exactly 💯
@@whatsername123 yes, that's all they is- a bank. Keeping their artist in debt. Just like these credit card companies; who needs a score anyway? Don't you rather have your freedom. & a peace of mind without debt?
@@whatsername123 that part!!!!!!!! Advance means pay back last time I checked....
M.C Hammer actually didn't have a bad record deal. His problem was being too damn kind and taking care of leeches and hangers on
His brother and father were the leeches.
he had a big dancer entourage tho ... his trade mark ❤❤❤❤❤❤ ... thats when they even stopped with groups and bands cause too costy ... 😢
Ppl are scared to walk alone, easy to spot always got a crowd of ppl. I choose to walk in Lord’s Grace.🕊️
absolutely correct AND MC Hammer was well respected in the sports business world & had mentors in the sports biz entertainment world that he needed to listen to more. He was young & cared about providing jobs but too many employees is always difficult. Janet Jackson is a successful example of how to build a music & dance company business gradually. Janet’s dance company employees are fam to her & have worked with her for 25 years, simultaneous to her growing to a $1Bil entertainment company.
@@Ben-goneremember Samiel aka Satan is also Lord of this world and this system. So which Lord are you serving?
NOW!!!! Right Now, there is soooo much opportunity in the music industry cause this is happening. Honestly its a blessing this has happened. Now is the time!!!!!
Growing up is learning that you have more money, friends, and freedom than your favorite artist
🤯🤯🤯
“As a business owner, it’s great to see people being honest about how things really work. The reality is, the 1% keeps getting richer, wages are stagnant, and there’s no real opportunity left. Try to start a business, and you’ll just get forced out by the giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google.”
Consolidation continues and it's getting into hyper speed soon.
@@Gemmusic-w6p one can only hope lol
There’s tons of opportunity
Music industry been over once they stop selling cd's lets be real
🎯
I love a good CD
Exactly. Illegal filesharing was the beginning.
You are so right! No physical media meant no hard revenue stream from the masses.
And even then the bootlegging was outta control, who knew it would get this bad
All those rappers rent everything, the jets, the gold necklaces, fake mansions, and so on... Some companies even lend the celebrities stuff. All that is nothing new...
@@xfobia1 Some fans don't believe that, and that's where the problem comes in
@@billcoleman7343
The fans want to believe the artist’s lies.
Lol all the SIGNED artists. The indy dudes got real everything.
@xfobia1 even the garden tools are rented!😂
Prince said IT.. only a FEW of us will truly Make it 😢😢😢
@@jstarzz3780 you’re gonna make it, you will be just fine.
I might be in danger of being optimistic, but it sounds like bad deals and music monopolies are loosing power to the independent. Now, how do we twist spotify's arm into paying us fairly per stream?
Spot on.
Music Industry is broke because of free streaming of music PERIOD!!! I come from the period of buying CD’s etc i have well over 500 CD’s …. As a consumer of music i have not brought any music in over 10yrs esp from Artist that i love whn i pay apple music my $9 a month and i can listen to any Artist i want so as a consumer why buy music…. If i went from buying music weekly to not buying in over 10yrs then thats the problem…. If i have access to any Artist for $9 a month how are thousands of artist gonna eat off tha $9 ….. that why the streaming formula the way it is…. Best deal for Consumers bad deal for Labels/Artist…. If anything each label should be their own streaming platform so if i want unlimited access to Universal’s Artist thn i csn pay thm and they divi the money in house….Apple Spotify etc should just be digital retailer of music to purchase and stream my purchase from them only!!! Thn artist will get paid…. Labels get paid and MUSIC will be respected for the art form again OR make thm pay performance royalties
@@MrDprince804 real talk 👄 💯 👏 🙌 👌 up
@@MrDprince804 exactly i don’t see how the industry thought it would be smart to give everything over to tech
The online streaming platforms and the record labels are the ones making the money. The artists are getting the breadcrumbs. There are documentaries about that and the money about Spotify shows that.
*I meant the movie about Spotify
I put my own tour together a decade ago and at first it seemed affordable until you add in hotels, travel (gas/maintenance/tires), outfits, back then CDs printed, and marketing flyers/ posters.
I agree labels messed up when they took away artist development and streaming. Someone hands is now in the music no matter what you do, I wish we could go back to the MP3 days and CDs
IM SO glad i found you i love this!!! i started as a teen battle rapper and watched every phase of the biz labels are changing as we know it it's a good time to be independent i believe labels wont exist in the future
Amazing! That sounds like so much fun! Please feel free to reach out and I can share some resources about this. Krystle@TopMusicAttorney.com
Thanks for this, I do photography and we deal with the same types of intellectual property/royalties issues and there's a lot of the solutions and advice you offer that applies to us as well.
That's why John Lennon said, "never sign anything".
came into the industry to bridge the gap! and educate about industry business. great page and video. artist development here we come...
Massive parallel with fashion business here, a small number of megastars, and huge number of designers and makers on the breadline. It's far easier to rip off a design and get away with it, too.
This does not surprise me at all. Thank you for the video and spreading the message.
This is a superb video. Subscribed!
The artist, Russ (the most succesful independent artist I know of), has been talking about this for years. I am so pleased that I stumbled upon him three years ago. I have been in and around music all my life - bands, songwriting, responding to leads from labels and name-artist management through a connected producer etc. My songs were shortlisted a few times but never got a placement. Although it was frustrating then, I'm now SO pleased it didn't 'happen' for me! I've been releasing work as an independent since 2021 and I've never regretted it. I'm not making huge money yet, but I get ALL the money my music makes, and there have been some nice surprises along the way. It is now at the point where it is paying for itself, and I just love doing it, with everything, that's EVERYTHING, on MY terms. Ownership is key. You just don't need a label any more.
Thanks for being here; so glad to hear it's all worked out for you.
I got offered a record deal six months ago. They told me the contract was worth $1,000,000 and they would give me a $200,000 signing bonus. Called a music lawyer I knew and he said the deal is bogus and say no. He said the music biz is struggling overall and a record label would only give that kind of cash to an established artist. Record execs make millions a year. There is cash in the music biz. But the artists are not the ones who have it.
Wow
Should have took that deal and went to new york on 5th Ave and hired a agent to market you as a product. People will assume your important if they see you on billboards. Not billboards chart list. UA-cam is worse than recording companies, they use your materials for free. Trying to be famous. Waiting on someone to watch you.. how much does it pay?
@@cedricharris-v2rMaybe Spotify and UA-cam doesn't pay much per view but if that person knows how to manage his or her life,then there will be no problem at all to have enough money once they retire from singing.
@@j-gmoran1124 My son was offered the same exact deal, but as soon as I saw the "contract," I KNEW immediately it was a SCAM!
He was heartbroken, but more importantly, he was happy to have an intelligent person(mama) looking out for him.
Same sad song. As a CPA, I've performed contract review, along with attorneys on contracts that wealthy, successful business owners are seeking to enter. They hire attorneys and CPA's to examine contracts for unfavorable provisions within the contracts. Sometimes the contract provision is changed, other times they enter into the contract understanding the consideration and remedies. Most people don't even read the contracts that they sign, 30-year mortgages included. Now how smart is that? People do not want to know what the contract says, UNLESS it all goes wrong. Same sad song.
I've been broke for 20 years. Except my broke is real.
We can't use your poverty as a bench mark. I have family in third world countries who'd probably look at your simple access to internet as "rich". Relax, it's all relative
@@Bobsam-m1p Still doesn't change the fact.
Their broke is real too. This statement shows we don’t have a strong financial literacy in this country
@@dontrustwhiteyevery1 lol it just did. Move on
Me too. 55 cancelled straight "white" man. The most hated things in the USA.
I've been saying this for years that there's too many mediocre acts making mediocre music. Nobody wants to put in the work to differentiate.
Finally, someone is echoing the very thing that saw ages ago. Damn, feels good to be right.
The industry may be failing. But the demand 🫴 for music will never........ Ever end!!!!
Never
Exactly! Music is life ❤
Quality of music has gone to the shitters tho.
@@mistamycall everything in cycles!
@@specialbreedsb78 For sho but at least add a new creatve twist to it. Elevate it to the next level, like upgrading from horses and carriage to a combustion engine. Ya dig?
Years ago, I was a young attorney trying to make my way into the entertainment law space. Of course I can’t speak for everyone but what I noticed, living in Los Angeles, was that many of the artists wanted a white attorney, white accountant. Etc. I tried to tell many of these artists that the deals they were in were bad deals and they thought I was crazy. Not all white attorneys are bad but what was making these artists think what they thought?
Some conflicting stories here...if streaming is not where the money is, but you can only expect to break even on tour...where is the profits ??
the brand, merch, sponsorships advertising etc.
@@MathieuFiset Where the profits is really at is by Creating Your Own Website to sell your Music, Merchandise, & More, you get to keep 100% of your earnings, with only a little fee, of keeping the Website & Domain name managed.
Where the profits are really at if you don't want to go on tour is by Creating Your Own Website To Sell Your Music, Merchandise, an more on. You keep 100% of your earnings as well as Owning Your Publishing as well as your Own Masters Royalties, with only a small fee to keep your Domain name an your Own Website managed.
Music is the advertisement. Drake is in the burger business. Rihanna is in the fashion/makeup/perfume business. Jimmy Buffet made far more money in the leisure business than he did in the music business. I remember when Beyonce got that Pepsi contract which was as much as she made in music up to that point.
Where the profits are really at if you don't want to go on Tour is by Creating Your Own Website To Sell Your Music, Merchandise, an more on. DTC (Direct To Consumer) You keep 100% of your earnings but also Owning your Own Publishing as well as your Own Masters Royalties, with only a small fee to keep your Domain name an your Own Website managed.
I remember my dream back in the day was a record deal. This was the 90s. In retrospect, that would have been one of the worst things to have happened to me.
People are becoming independent thinkers. We don't need music to focus and enrich others more than ourselves.
NEVER...never sell your publishing...period!
Celebrity 'broke' is not the same as real world broke.
@@dagoelius sometimes it's worse.
You didn’t listen to this video did you? Networth is not just what you bring in, it’s debt too. You only think abt what they make. In the real world how many also owe millions at the same time?
@@dominicfaison5889 school em
Again, Ma’am, I am so grateful for your channel. I know a little about the biz, but I talk to songwriters, who are good songwriters, who don’t know how to copyright their songs or that there are writer and publisher royalties.
Artists are just advertisements for other brands to promote their product or service attention is the new currency
Frank Zappa was telling people back in the 70’s …….”start your own publishing company”. It’s not that hard at all. It’s literally paying a small fee
and registering yourself as the owner of publishing for your works. Zappa owned EVERY SINGLE MASTER of every single recording he put out. And he made 63 studio albums and COUNTLESS live records. He saw the record companies for what they were long before anyone else even smelled the blood in the water. Be smart. Own what you make.
Thanks to you guys, awesome infos, one thing I would add is, Practice more to advanced to higher level, and don't plan to fail.
Thank you!
I came here cause I saw YT Wake Em Up. You two should definitely collab.
Every new artist falls into this trap. they think the music is the product and the label is the key to selling it. But that hasn't been the case for nearly 20 years. Branding has always been essential, but the difference is not you have all the tools and opportunity to make your own.
This is also the reason that artists are charging $1000 for “meet and greets” I used to accuse artists of just being greedy and piggish….. little did I realize that these people were on a world tour and lived in a two bedroom apartment. The scum of record companies have done a brilliant job of making the public believe that one song, one video on UA-cam, and a half successful instagram account automatically makes you and multi-millionaire. I’m glad record companies are failing.
I enjoy writing songs its just a hobby for me. Songwriting helps me to ease my social anxiety
This is GREAT.. very good information I wasn't aware of, I wish I could afford this course.. very informative and eye opening.
We're here when you're ready for us!
I think any company that's done business with Diddy in the past is going to get audited. Major artists knew ahead of time and sold catalogs over the past years to cash in before the collapse of the industry.
Never idolize another human, especially ones that THEY put in front of your face.
NEVER EVER idolize another human, EVER.
The big record companies are now catalog holders. Indie artists are what it is.
Independent.
You never signed a fair deal.
He was definitely right about labels not taking the time to develop artist is one of the reasons for labels declining
You smashed it with this vid, great work.
Thanks for the support!
I just listen to old school music. 70's 80's 90's 2000. After that, forget about it lol.
😂, same here
I don't go to the movies, no Netflix, streaming etc.
You are not alone, all the albums i own and listen to are old.
@@strauqq1 You sound like me. I don't even listen to the radio.
I'm interested to get your course but is that only valid for the U.S. or can it be applicable to Canada as well ?
Hi! Thanks for reaching out. Please feel free to email me and we can chat. Krystle@TopMusicAttorney.com
Real Talk... It's called the Music Business. Most artists focus on the first part, the music and not the business. You should be a student of your craft. Also, people with money don't have to show you what they have and don't care what you think of them. Image is being promoted more so than talent. It's like putting lipstick on a pig. She makes more money than most of the artists.
so it means= Labels are colonizers
or just shark loan scams
OMGGG That man-made the greatest point ever. These songs today are not classics!!
🔥🔥🔥and very informative! Thank you!
Hey @TopMusicAttorney, do you see in the future established record companies going into suing frenzy for copyright infringement or plagiarism claims toward independent artists because there are no more artists that want to sign with them?
I love this lady... thank you for you and your content ❤
Thanks for the kind words and the support.
Much obliged to this content and to my thoughts about it … The Great Era of Music has truly pass in the early 2000…
Lawyers control the music & entertainment businesses. I was advised of this year's ago & after careful research & observation, I've found that to be true! That's why I tell young musicians to become intellectual property lawyers. They're the ones who have the ability to deep dive into the music & entertainment business.
The Distributors and Record labels are making the money and those who do the work make NOTHING!
@@James-w8x1q sounds like a corporate job
QFE: "This is not the *downfall* of the music industry, this is the *future* of the music industry"
thats the thing nowadays you don't need multimillions or billions to live a luxury lifestyle, it can all be rented we live in the rental capital in the world. Whatever it is money, cars, houses, diamonds can all be rented or returned
Not to pick on certain genres, but kids listening to rap aren't paying for music, they're also not buying tickets to concerts. Same with metal, the target audience is mostly teenagers that are still in school and don't have money to spend on music or concerts or merchandise.
The Rolling Stones are still touring, super groups like that. The audience are middle aged people who can afford to see a show. For example AC/DC.
The artists are being stolen from. Same distributors changed the game. When the app ceo of Spotify makes 345 million a year - unacceptable
Excellent content… subscribed ❤
Thank you for the support.
It was loan and everybody else got paid off your loan. Sometime labels would sign somebody just to get the money generated, even though the label had no faith or plans to develop the artist
I literally signed a single deal for $20k to a random indie label …. The label did nothing, I asked what’s up with the contract they said “what contract” 😂 they used me to launder money. Never heard from them again. The label doesn’t even exist anymore
I love your informative content. As an indie artist I wish we knew you when we came back out after a 25 year hiatus. We need advice on this new age of digital music publishing. Do you help artists 1on1? 🙏🏽
Hey Monique, Thanks for reaching out. Yes I do! Please email my legal assistant and we can let you know what your options are - Hun@DelgadoEntertainmentLaw.com.
"A brand is just a set of expectations" - Seth Godin.
People have this stigma around the word "brand" like it's some dirty corporate marketing term, but it just means identity don't be scared of it. and it's essential to doing music for a living.
It's basically a bubble. An industry made on selling cds, dvds, vinyl and radio and ofcourse tours. But a lot of people don't have money to buy those anymore or they'll just stream from Spotify / YT / etc. Who take the most money out of these streams. Which means that the bubble is going to burst, it might take some time (years, or even decades) but it's going to happen. And in the end it's going to change media forever.
And it's not just artists, it's also actors, designers, (software/game) developers, etc. Those are all bubbles that are either already bursting or about to burst. And who knows what will happen next? Well most like the rise of huge corporations and AI, but even THAT is a bubble.
AI is a scam
People do have money to buy it. They just always going to go with the cheaper option and what’s more convenient
@JayCasinoOfficial and the reason they're going for the cheapest option is due to the lack of money 😂. The middle class is SHRINKING, wages are stagnant. It's not the 90s anymore lol. This is much bigger than consumers just being cheap.
@JayCasinoOfficial and the reason they're going for the cheapest option is due to the lack of money 😂. The middle class is SHRINKING, wages are stagnant. It's not the 90s anymore lol. This is much bigger than consumers just being cheap.
@@blackdragon6business is always based on convenience
Are you gonna be doing any seminars or anything like that? I am a independent publisher represent artist from Central and South America.
Alot of what was covered in this video possibly is the reason for the uptick in vinyl, cd's, and cassette and maybe thats the best route for musicians going forward
Where can you buy new music on cassette?
When Napster came on the scene followed by Apple music, then UA-cam tangible goods disappeared, meaning CDs, tapes, and records.
Dawn Robinson from Envogue said she once received a “royalty check” for .05 cents.
We learned all of this a while ago with Jazz musicians as an example. It has just take drastic changes to wake everyone up
you on point 33:05 ... bad quality of product... dont help carry us thru like in the 80s and 90s ... the musicality ... the lyrics ...
This is one of the best videos I’ve seen recently. I'm excited about it because it highlights how AI music is poised to dominate in the future. That's why I am focusing on perfecting AI music now-some artists may realize its importance when it's too late.
Great episode. I subscribed and how to get the live notifications. Until...thx
Too many predatory contracts allowed to make the unethical; the "norm".
On the brighter side there's a host of alternative options nowadays.
I had a an excited new producer show me his first deal offer for and EDM label that he was hooked up with via one of the new 'label scouting agencies' , it was 50$ for exclusive rights in perpetuity!!!!
wage stagnation = no expendable income, means people aint got it. You gotta choose, eat or go to a show. people have to eat.
The Beatles got screwed. Springsteen got screwed. Billy Joel, Sting and Elvis Presley were ripped off by their own management.
DMX was right: "They" wouldn't make a dime without the artists.
The thing about musicians/songwriters .... creative flow is hampered by time spent chasing business goals and legal issues. That's what a band typically hires a manager to do. That's why artists fall into the A&R trap. The labels have the name and the connections and the distribution, and artists just want to create and get paid for their art. I don't want to be a business owner... I want to create music. Kind of a left brain vs right brain thing.
With the internet, Artists no longer need Record Labels. Keep
All Your Money. Get a Loan from a Bank if you need money for recording. 🥁🥁🥁
4:00 those are the people Madonna was singing about in Material Girl ("living, in a Material World.."). Why are they looking and price tagging.. impressed by superficials, instead of enjoying the gifts of the talents?? if they need to be checking other people's valuables then they needed to be facaded by the "facade" .. & providing that facade, is what made their favorite rapper go broke
Stay in alert the World change we do adapt. Thanks for this video ! This year I build my own biz, books to Music I cuts All things who kip my money for nothing INVEST IN YOUSELF !! The price is you
I say Job, Hobby or Jobby. In Scotland "jobby" is a term for a poo. So many operate their music as a hobby, then complain that it doesn't pay like a job. If it's neither, then it's a jobby. Make sure you know which yours is.
If they sign you for 5 million over 6 years then you should record 6 years worth of music in year 1. Then the subsequent years you can pick and choose as well as record what you need to add in between. Plus these are all verses you can sell.
I'll tell a rapper to take the advancement from the record label and use some of that to get in to tv and movies. Go get a acting coach, a tv and movie agency that only gets paid when you land a gig. All the while working on your album in the cheapest way. Make sure that they get on TV or in a movie before they drop their album because they will have a face and name that is popular when the album is released. They also may be able to renegotiate their deal too.
12-18% royalty is a commission minus expenses or startup cost: i.e.: recording, radio promotions, marketing, artist development, videos etc
Just like any industry it's only the small percentage that's earning the bag; so, basically you need to put yourself into a position where the odds to win are in your favor:
"Life is a dice game". - Nas
this crumble started to happen after covid , Like the way this happened overnight was scary because it really revealed that this industry is actually owned by a small group of big players and now that group is collapsing!
not a lot has changed in 60 years tbh , on the industry side at least. These are just classic examples of people who didn't know what they were signing. The good news is what has changed is it's 100x easier to go solo now.
I believe the real winners in the music industry are the large corporations offering those brand deals. They have products to sell and use the musician's audience to gain market share. So all musicians should have their own products to sell besides the music itself.
27:43 Toosi eating the McDonald’s is so on brand with the topic of this video lol
😂
MC Hammer was well respected in the sports & music business world & had mentors in the sports biz entertainment world that he needed to listen to more. He was young & cared about providing jobs but hiring too many employees too quickly is always difficult. Janet Jackson is a successful example of how to build a music & dance company business gradually. Janet’s dance company employees are fam to her & have worked with her for 25 years, simultaneous to her growing to a $1Bil entertainment company.
This happened b4 in early 2000's with Sony, EMI, Jive, Waner etc.....
I got my client Rodney-O 50% publishing and 15% all in of the master of LIKE THAT and not from the Artist’s share I made it come from the LABELS SHARE.
Now am handling the Barry White's estate infringement claim that everyone will be surprised with the outcome.
Knowing the law and how the industry norms don't trump them and having the balls to stand your ground is how you get good deals.
Now making sure you collect it all is another story....
Question: {What does a label bring to the table, if they're not typically paying for recording/production/marketing?}
$9.95/month music subscription on any of these large platforms is what destroyed the music industry as far as music buys are concerned.