Another New Model: Label Signed By Artist
According to the band, "the sales and distribution model developed by the group for their upcoming releases will allow them to maintain complete ownership of their music and total control over how it is marketed, sold, and even given away. Instead of signing a standard artist/record label deal, Blue Scholars hired the label Duck Down to run point on marketing for all of their upcoming releases."
This kind of deal acknowledges the reality that an artist can probably only take a project so far without assembling a team to help them. But hiring a team, which in a traditional record deal is achieved by giving up the majority of equity and control, still costs money.
The Blue Scholars found a sponsor/partner in Caffe Vita. Established artists like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails can self-finance releases. Others use touring income. Jill Solbule went to her fans for financing; and Metric used a a combination of a Canadian arts grants and their own money to pay for an extensive team.
The Duck Down deal with The Blue Scholars is another example that in the new music industry there is no single way to release a record. The need to put together a team and pay for it are both essentials, but after that who makes up the team and how they are compensated are only limited by the imagination and resources of the participants.
As Topspin's Ian Roger's said of the deal, "the business is changing, artists have choice, and artists will find partners to help them get done what they need to – the mantra is no longer: 'I’ve gotta get signed I’ve gotta get signed'…”.
"With the record industry in flux, conditions are ripe for an
alternative," wrote The Blue Scholars on their blog. "One where the artist, rather than becoming an employee of
a label or sponsor, contracts the label and sponsors to do work for
them. Everybody still gets a check. But it’s a relationship where the
artists (and their handpicked “team”) not only have creative freedom
but economic power. A counterbalance to Industry Rule #4080."
“the business is changing, artists have choice, and artists will find partners to help them get done what they need to – the mantra is no longer: ‘I’ve gotta get signed I’ve gotta get signed’…”
We couldn’t agree more!
We love the new fan funded fantasy model for artists….for more info on new Musicslu Fan Funded model to release albums with NO record label involvement, read our article here: http://www.themusicvoid.com/2009/05/the-fan-funded-fantastic-fantasy/
“But it’s a relationship where the artists (and their handpicked “team”) not only have creative freedom but economic power. A counterbalance to Industry Rule #4080.”
Where is this list of ‘industry rules’ of which there are apparently more than 4000?
(Or does ‘4080’ spell something in 1337 that is totally going over my head?)
Evan: google it.
Are you sure you don’t mean ‘bing’ it?
“BING IT ON!”
Last time I tried, I didn’t find a full list. But I’ll dig some more~
“Industry Rule #4080: Record company people are shady” – Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest.
Oh, I found Q-Tip’s quote on the first search, yes. But I (the nerd that I am) am wondering if there are rules 1 thru 4079 preceding rule 4080.
My query was specifically about whether these ‘industry rules’ were actually listed in sequence somewhere.
I am a dork. Don’t listen to me. LOL!
😀
Hip hop and electronic music have been the most fertile genres for actual music biz innovation in the past 20 years.
When rock bands adopt the same strategies years later, they are hailed as maverick geniuses who have forever changed all human culture.
Such is hype.
Record Label Services is a record label for hire that’s already doing distribution and promotion for bands with much smaller budgets:
http://www.recordlabelservices.net/
Nice, I like the Blue Scholars. Though I am interested in the actual details of their sponsorship deal with Caffe Vita. I wonder what exactly the deal entails?
Good morning all….again, yes again, it seems as though revelation is the cornerstone of most posts re: the music industry these past few years…ok…decade or so. The notion of “hiring” a record label is nothing new. So as to not bore myself into complacency….make good music and then do whatever you can to spread the word…stop thinking everything has to be “new.” It’s not..it’s been done a million times under a different “model” moniker. Here we go. BTW…the latest on my screen….Flynnville Train, Morgan Tobias, Nora Jane Struthers, James Lewis of TSO, Kentucky HeadHunters, Rufus Huff and last but not least….Herrington Fox Management. Have a good one…mitchell.fox@comcast.net