Music is Only a Business

1
Music is Only a Business
2
Marketing

• The Label takes care of hit singles, arena shows,
  limos, parties, and a house for the mom
• If they could sell Brillo pads with a slice of
  cheese on them, they would do that, because music
  is irrelevant to them
• -Chuck D

3
They Change for the audience
4
Binding Contracts

• Artists are bound to their contracts for many
  years and if they do not record a certain
  number of albums they can be sued
• There is no contract you can sign in modern life
  that resembles a recording contract they are
  absolutely unconscionable
• -Bart Bull, manager of Michelle Shocked

5
Release Artists from label
Multi-million album selling artist Mariah Carey
was recently dropped from her label, EMI after
one album, Glitter bombed.

• Also David Bowie
• Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction) rejected
• Joan Osborne - rejected

6
Recording Artist Coalition

• Don Henley, Sheryl Crow, Carole King, Beck
  created it
• Trying to make the free agent system
• Also want to change laws
• Binding contracts - unfair

7
Development of new bands

• Record companies go as far as having contests
  where the winner gets a contract
• Constantly keeping up with current trends
• Dont care about the actual music only the
  money
• Rock is starting to become a trend sign bands
  like The Calling, Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd
• They wont sign bands if they wont make money
  NC-17

8
Conclude

• Contracts bind performers
• Lot of time put into marketing
• Trends make or break the band
• Some bands change their style to stay with a
  label
• Companies only care about the trends, and show no
  loyalty to a long time artist such as Mariah Carey

9
The End