JT the BIGGA FIGGA speaks for his self
- Thread starter JTGLP
- Start date
Saying that the artist does "THE MOST" in any situation is ridiculous and pretty much lets me know you have no real experience in the music industry.
Being that I've worked at warner bros records since 2006 I think I have some knowledge on the subject. Not all but most artist are lazy and only contribute the actual recording of the music. EVERYTHING else is done by the label, marketing directors, managers, A&R, etc.. If you only knew the man power behind each artist you would know what i'm saying. Recording the music is almost the smallest factor in the big scheme of things and if you think any different you have no clue about the reality of the music business. A label will make sure a hot record is made (getting the hottest music, producers and writers) and almost anybody can do it. Its not called the machine for nothing, its very powerful.
You think the artist sacrifices the most but from my experience its the hard working people at the label and managers working overtime, puttin in the real hard work to make sure the artist is successful. These are the people I see day in and day out sacrificing. Most times while the artist is out poppin bottles and tryna stick everything movin.
Unless your perspective is based on an indie "one man army" type of situation, you have a very skewed perception of the music industry.
Once again this is not all artist just most of the ones I've come accorss in my experience. There are the diamonds in the rough that get out there and really put in work (and i'm not talking about shows) and are very involved with every aspect of their career. They're just few and far between.
I'm talking about the artists who are serious about their craft...
And I do know a thing or three about the music industry. I have major folks in every corner of the globe that have done it, are doing it, and will do it soon. I also personally rejected 3 offers from major labels because I know how the shit runs, I know how much work my crew and I put in, and I know who tries to control what artists do. I know I was told to change my sound before I even finished looking over the paperwork (before I ripped it up). I do understand how the music business works...they have every department behind each product (no different than a regular company). Of course, it's a person, so it's a bit different.
Fact of the matter is, artists who are serious about their shit are the ones working hard and late. I noticed you said Managers...I said managers, too. I said the ones that need to be getting breaded are the managers, artists, and producers. And just because a label says a song is HOT, doesn't mean it's HOT! They make what they THINK is hot, and then shove it in the face of the public with all the money they have to spend.
You think cats like Soulja Boy and Gucci Mane deserve to be all over the radio and television? While cats like Nipsey Hussle and J. Cole are still pushin'? From what I see, the industry wants the dumbest, most controllable artists signed to their labels so they can run shit. It's just a damn shame that a bunch of know-nothing cats sacrifice their work for a few bones.
What did Nelly make on his first record? 8%? 8 cents to the dollar? That's bullshit.
And I do know a thing or three about the music industry. I have major folks in every corner of the globe that have done it, are doing it, and will do it soon. I also personally rejected 3 offers from major labels because I know how the shit runs, I know how much work my crew and I put in, and I know who tries to control what artists do. I know I was told to change my sound before I even finished looking over the paperwork (before I ripped it up). I do understand how the music business works...they have every department behind each product (no different than a regular company). Of course, it's a person, so it's a bit different.
Fact of the matter is, artists who are serious about their shit are the ones working hard and late. I noticed you said Managers...I said managers, too. I said the ones that need to be getting breaded are the managers, artists, and producers. And just because a label says a song is HOT, doesn't mean it's HOT! They make what they THINK is hot, and then shove it in the face of the public with all the money they have to spend.
You think cats like Soulja Boy and Gucci Mane deserve to be all over the radio and television? While cats like Nipsey Hussle and J. Cole are still pushin'? From what I see, the industry wants the dumbest, most controllable artists signed to their labels so they can run shit. It's just a damn shame that a bunch of know-nothing cats sacrifice their work for a few bones.
What did Nelly make on his first record? 8%? 8 cents to the dollar? That's bullshit.
I think it's kind of pointless to argue about who does the most work...EVERY situation is different. You might have an artist who pushes his or her shit to the max, and is always on the road...and always on the street...you might have an artist that also produces their own shit.
On the other hand, you have the artists who just want to drink and fuck every night, and be superstars before they earn it...like threefoe said.
It also depends on what label you're talking about...
In any case, I think both of you are right.
On the other hand, you have the artists who just want to drink and fuck every night, and be superstars before they earn it...like threefoe said.
It also depends on what label you're talking about...
In any case, I think both of you are right.
You talking about just protecting and selling beats? Or are you talking about producing an entire album? I know I'm not JT...just tryin' to help.
If it's the former, get your paperwork right when working with artists, and make sure when they copyright an album that you get part of that as a songwriter...same with publishing...UNLESS you sell the rights completely. From what I HAVE SEEN, most underground artists don't publish or copyright....legally.
If you want to do an album, send it to the US copyright office on CD with the paperwork filled out. You can protect each individual song or the collection of the songs. Your work is LEGALLY protected the minute it arrives at the office. Takes a few weeks to get the paperwork back.
THEN, you can shoot for a nice little digital distro deal or you can do it yourself through a site like CDbaby.com.
http://www.copyright.gov/
If it's the former, get your paperwork right when working with artists, and make sure when they copyright an album that you get part of that as a songwriter...same with publishing...UNLESS you sell the rights completely. From what I HAVE SEEN, most underground artists don't publish or copyright....legally.
If you want to do an album, send it to the US copyright office on CD with the paperwork filled out. You can protect each individual song or the collection of the songs. Your work is LEGALLY protected the minute it arrives at the office. Takes a few weeks to get the paperwork back.
THEN, you can shoot for a nice little digital distro deal or you can do it yourself through a site like CDbaby.com.
http://www.copyright.gov/
thanks Sydal, yea im basically talking about an album of my own shit like a instrumental cd, for people that dont have studios accessible they can rap over my shit, and if they get commercial with it i get a piece of the pie maybe haha. otherwise just an instrumental album to listen to, and my shit being copyrighted so I dont have to sweat someone using my shit unless they plan on giving up that $fetti
http://www.musicpowers.com
fact of the matter is, if you are wack,nobody is gonna buy your shit no matter what online distribution method you go with. further more,if u are wack ass fuck,aint nobody even gon download your shit. and if you are not serious about investing in your career with doing things the quality way you will get sub par results. and if someone does take a chance on you and buy out your songs and it flops,then what makes you think an individual will continue to burn off money? unless of course its dirty money that needs to be cleaned and reclaimed at the end of the year...
learn the business before you get fucked. and if no one has never heard of yo shit by 2010 or if you just started out rapping,give yo shit out for free,stop hassling me in front of wal marts and various other places, i dont want that shit.
you gotta get creative,and the only reason why the rap scene out here is fucked up is cuz people fucked that shit up a long time ago. fucking up clubs,fighting promoters. too many niggas in their entourage etc. etc.
singers have a better chance of coming up then a rapper in the bay. just my honest opinion.
fact of the matter is, if you are wack,nobody is gonna buy your shit no matter what online distribution method you go with. further more,if u are wack ass fuck,aint nobody even gon download your shit. and if you are not serious about investing in your career with doing things the quality way you will get sub par results. and if someone does take a chance on you and buy out your songs and it flops,then what makes you think an individual will continue to burn off money? unless of course its dirty money that needs to be cleaned and reclaimed at the end of the year...
learn the business before you get fucked. and if no one has never heard of yo shit by 2010 or if you just started out rapping,give yo shit out for free,stop hassling me in front of wal marts and various other places, i dont want that shit.
you gotta get creative,and the only reason why the rap scene out here is fucked up is cuz people fucked that shit up a long time ago. fucking up clubs,fighting promoters. too many niggas in their entourage etc. etc.
singers have a better chance of coming up then a rapper in the bay. just my honest opinion.
I work in urban marketing bruh. Its ugly right now. labels are definitely feeling the affects of the recession like everybody else. Its a ghost town around here compared to how it used to be when I first got on. My advice to yo peeps would be to try and get an internship with a label. That's how I got on.