When you think about major record labels there is an aspect in music where they fall short. There isn't anymore artist development. So what you have now is tons of talent with no guidance or direction. There needs to be more people that are trained to understand how to mold talent. Greatness needs to be nurtured. When you think about the biggest acts in the world alot of them didn't come out the gate with a major hit record. These acts had to be groomed to become the gargantuan stars that they are. Artist development doesn't even exist in this day and age and it shows fourth in the nature of the artist. It saddens me because I see so many guys with these big records who could of became even bigger stars if they just had the right people placed around them. Some of the best talent come from innovators who put out music from the comfort of there own home.
I believe record labels are the new it. They can responde quicker to consumer trends. While majors take a major hit if they sale in the 50,000's and lower. While that number would be significant for an independent label. The beauty of independence to me is if I could use an analogy its like moving from your parents house. When you are under a major record label it is like when your living under your mom and dads roof. You might want to become a an aspiring disc jockey but your parents are saying no that will never work. Go to school get a job graduate go to college and get a better job. Which can be misleading because how do your parents not know that it is your destiny to be this incredible disc jockey and touch a part the music world that has never been touched before. This is the significance of dealing with an independent you make your leadway to do more of what you want. You have much more autonomy when you are dealing with an independent label. The key word in todays age is control the choice is i your hands. You make the decisions you decide if you want to make that record. You decide if that is the route you believe you should go marketing wise. All owness is on your self. Lets be honest who wants to sell a million records and not make any money. There is alot lot of significance to the Kanye West song "New Slaves". Alot of people didn't get the message that he was trying to convey on that record. Kanye is smart he understands the power in ownership.
I advise you to study artist like Cormega(one of my personal favorites), Little Brother,tech none, R.A. The Rugged man(The Kevin Bacon of the rap game), Brother Ali, Talib Kweli, MF Doom(So Dope), Aesop Rock, Earl Sweatshirt, and Immortal technique. These are guys who created a household name with out the major backing of coporate record labels. Take your time and study you will get better through trial and error. Alot of times you hear about artist at complaining about the lack of compassion from major record labels. Just recently Waka Flacka took to twitter talking about how Atlantic kept pushing his album "Flockavelli 2" back. "I just want to say fuck my label" he said verbatim. Alot of artist unknowingly sign away one of the most important parts of there records which is the copyright. Imagine you make an amazing record and you have to ask some guy who doesn't even like Hip Hop nor understands it the right to use the record commercially. The best advantage his having to be able to express your self creatively. I don't want to get tp deep on this post but there is something very powerful about being impeccable with your word. Honesty is the voice of the soul. When money gets involved we can get removed from the true message we want to portray in our music. I believe every true artist has a hidden treasure that needs to be presented to the world. It is up to use to wrap the gift and place a beautiful bow on it. We all have a godlike philosophy that needs to be unleashed to the world. If you don't remember anything from this post just remember this it is nothing like controlling your own destiny.
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