Label or solo?
As a music fan, I’ve come across different types of artists; those that are prosperous and those who are only just making it by the grace of the Almighty. There is also a trend that is noticeable which is artists starting their own record labels. Many feel that being under someone else doesn’t always work out thus they create their own alternatives. Artists have said that record companies only focus on some artists and forget the rest. Now my question lies here, should artists be signed to record labels or should they rather not and strive for themselves?
Record labels are the companies that promote recorded music and music videos. Record labels have a wide range of functions and duties in the music industry which include finding new talent and developing it, music publishing and copyright enforcement. Advertising and marketing is one of a record label’s most important functions, as public knowledge of the brand is the way that they make their money.
There are two kinds of record labels; independent and major. Major record labels like Sony, Universal Music Group have deals with some of the most successful artists in the world. These record labels can sign different kinds of contracts with their artists including distribution agreements, publishing, recording and or licensing and these agreements make them have profits from the artist. Independent record labels are known to have smaller distribution networks, pay very little from what the artist makes and only have a budget to promote one artist at a time.
Being signed means a lot of money coming your way. You are guaranteed gigs due to the connections these labels have and media exposure too. The not-so-smart part about record labels is that they literally have control over the artist and his work and that is what many unfortunately fail to see. These companies will invest in an artist and the artist becomes a sensation, they usually end up upset and making a fuss when there is a contract mind you- and want to leave the label. The other thing is that artist also fails to see that many of them only have their voice and the rest is invested and resourced by the record labels.
Today, with the help of the internet artists don’t really need record labels as they can distribute and market their music at a much lower cost and independently too. Artists have the creative freedom and can forget about contracts or not being able to own your own music. You decide when to release, what to release and how much you will earn at the end. There many artists that have successfully launched their own record labels which proves it’s possible.
In the end, it all depends on the pace you want to arrive at your destination and how good you want to look and for how long you want to maintain the momentum. Namibian established labels have left many artists unhappy. Those that have left their labels are working twice as hard.
June Shimuoshili
[email protected]
Record labels are the companies that promote recorded music and music videos. Record labels have a wide range of functions and duties in the music industry which include finding new talent and developing it, music publishing and copyright enforcement. Advertising and marketing is one of a record label’s most important functions, as public knowledge of the brand is the way that they make their money.
There are two kinds of record labels; independent and major. Major record labels like Sony, Universal Music Group have deals with some of the most successful artists in the world. These record labels can sign different kinds of contracts with their artists including distribution agreements, publishing, recording and or licensing and these agreements make them have profits from the artist. Independent record labels are known to have smaller distribution networks, pay very little from what the artist makes and only have a budget to promote one artist at a time.
Being signed means a lot of money coming your way. You are guaranteed gigs due to the connections these labels have and media exposure too. The not-so-smart part about record labels is that they literally have control over the artist and his work and that is what many unfortunately fail to see. These companies will invest in an artist and the artist becomes a sensation, they usually end up upset and making a fuss when there is a contract mind you- and want to leave the label. The other thing is that artist also fails to see that many of them only have their voice and the rest is invested and resourced by the record labels.
Today, with the help of the internet artists don’t really need record labels as they can distribute and market their music at a much lower cost and independently too. Artists have the creative freedom and can forget about contracts or not being able to own your own music. You decide when to release, what to release and how much you will earn at the end. There many artists that have successfully launched their own record labels which proves it’s possible.
In the end, it all depends on the pace you want to arrive at your destination and how good you want to look and for how long you want to maintain the momentum. Namibian established labels have left many artists unhappy. Those that have left their labels are working twice as hard.
June Shimuoshili
[email protected]
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