Why Major Labels Are To BLAME For Society DEVALUING Music

Why Major Labels Are To BLAME For Society DEVALUING Music
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[@YoungStevieBeats]

Labels are just really lazy in scouting and cultivating people with talent. They don’t wanna do any of the leg work, they just wanna throw money at a song that appeared to work once or twice online.

[@taylorstep8135]

and this is why these new generation music producers/artist aren't taking their craft seriously anymore.

[@prophismusic]

They're called Pre-orders, and gamers have been waging war against this toxic corporate concept for decades now. Support independent artists only.

[@liljedahlmusic9771]

Tubi catching strays like that is CRAAAZY 😂

[@kennardwaters3410]

I respect tubi tho, at least they giving dudes with no formal training but good Ideas a platform

[@enchante1769]

Great video !! Remember what Katt Williams said about, when a leader arise in a community, they might have people who might try to control his influence, so keep the crown and believe in yourself, music is a channel for kings, queens and leaders 🤴👸

[@youngiconzent246]

@enchante1769 We already have that here, there are called Politicians.

[@MatthewDenzel]

Main Point I got from this video: People that couldn't make money off of their Music, want to make money of YOURS.

[@Docmananoff]

I worked at a rock label that used to consider the bands they signed based on their twitter following.

[@jaredhicks1370]

Sounds like Century Media 😂

[@Docmananoff]

@@jaredhicks1370 Never heard of that one and I won’t say the exact name but…they are the ones who exposed Spotify for dishonest streaming practices shortly before the pandemic. Lol

[@youngiconzent246]

It's open season right now and the record labels are out signing many artists with big social media following, but when they keep shelving the artists songs because they don't know what is a hit, the bench the artist too until their contract is up, then the artists fades away from being on the island of relevancy..

[@colbyisart]

I am convinced as a society we elevate idiots in business. This is from my own personal experience in life so far. I would expect nothing less from them. 🤷🏽💜✌🏼

[@AlainNavasDrama]

Sadly this is happening in film too…I’m an actor and the actors getting the jobs are ones that have tiktok followings, and do dum dance videos and disposable content …Not training, skill and talent..Which is another reason why modern movies were severely inferior in acting and writing .

[@iammoamp]

Good to know .. does this include independent films as well?

[@AlainNavasDrama]

@@iammoamp I have seen it on indie films…I work as an AD as well as acting…So I’m always on set ….And I see a mediocre actors, and when I look at there profile, it’s a tiktok star or something… I think on some of the bigger projects they prioritize acting, because those projects don’t need any “eyeballs” or attention…But a lot of small projects, indie films, etc…Think that by putting these people in there movie, it might attract more attention…It really depends on the people making the film…Do they prioritize acting, look, fit, talent, etc….Or do they want someone who’s going to bring an “audience” …although I have yet to see any kind of tiktok star transcend that audience into box office numbers..

[@wayback1010]

its the same companies owning the labels and the film studios too

[@whitney9253]

Wow... Oh my😮

[@RmonTheNewAge]

I’m glad you posted this, I was going to say the same thing. The music business and film business are having some of the same problems.

[@kayiness]

On the artist to A&R pipeline, I truly believe in my heart of hearts that there are failed musicians turned label staff that purposely sabotage their own artists out of jealousy. "You use stock plugins?" head ahh mofos

[@youngiconzent246]

Record labels are out dated in these modern days, DIY all the way..

[@xammai9679]

We have KZbin now. Let’s make our own industry’s and community’s.

[@ExtraordinaryE901]

All I think about is how much Wu-Tang had to split the money!! 😂😂

[@granviellelee4744]

I honestly feel like things are changing. People are finally starting to be able to identify industry plants

[@bretwojarski5842]

Industry plants always been a thing and the fact you only started to identify them now is hilarious

[@tonybarnes2920]

It's funny... when Prince was talking about how they were stifling him, controlling his releases, "if you don't own your masters than you're a slave" and then changed his name. People called Prince nuts and weird, because they didn't understand how the business works. This rock producer found out. Taylor Swift found out.

[@davidhardy7080]

I hate to be the person with bad news.... But TV/Films are already doing this

[@xfacta334]

Now let's connect some dots here. When the freaky stories come out, everybody always asking, "How they be getting folks to compromise themselves all the time?" Well this video is the 1st level of the answer. After you sign that paper, the game begin. The goal is to see how long they can move the goalposts before you submit or breakdown. Those who breakdown are cast away, free to return to this side and share their stories and insight (usually very truthful) only to be likely branded as a "failure" (or tax write off) and largely ignored by the people who need to hear this stuff the most. Those who submit move on to the next stage.....and that's a different convo for a different day.

[@CaptHiltz]

Curtis, so far over 8,000 people have seen this video, many of them musicians. Now they know to stay away from labels. You're doing a good job! Keep it going.

[@muzieklover7704]

He said, he's label cut is 18%. Not really true. Its 18% of RETAIL, which is really 9% of wholesale. Meaning its 9% of the Spotify cut AFTER label deductions. They did that in the past with CDs, where contracts will listed the retail percentage to make it look bigger. Also the label gets 2 royalties from Spotify PER TRACK, PER STREAM... you only get a little cut from ONE. Most tubers seem to only focus on one royalty, but there is the mechanical royalty for the reproduction of the file every time its played. That royalty goes 100% to the label because of them owning the master recording. If you are releasing direct, you should structure your stuff, and get the paperwork in order to get BOTH royalties.

[@Emcee3Two]

I equate the way labels are operating w/the whole "cherry picking viral streamers" thing to the way chefs form menus. You need 3 types of food items to have a balanced menu that still allows you profitability. 1. The big ticket item: your Foie Gras, your tomahawk steaks, your uni, your caviar. They are costly to make, you put a bunch more effort, technique and costly ingredients into them. You develop the flavors more, so you charge a lot, but they provide the wow factor. You might break even on the cost, or if you profit, it's minimal. But they're for those who want the status. (Your Kendricks, your Taylor Swifts, your Lady Gaga's, your Rihanna's). 2. The middle of the road item. It's common, approachable, it's good but not fancy per se. You want it to be solid , but you can't charge too much or people will search elsewhere for it. So you use less expensive ingredients, but it yields you a standard return for profit. Think Ribeye steaks, Ahi Tuna, Salmon, certain pasta dishes. (Your Travis Scotts, Your Doja Cat's, your Demi Lovato's your Chris Browns, your Ed Sheeran's) 3. Your cash cow. This is the item everyone knows, it's prepared almost the exact same everywhere, it cost you next to nothing to make, but is so beloved you can charge more than you should, and even though the price seems low to the consumer, it's giving you like 500% profit, and those profits help offset the cost of having those big ticket items on your menu. Think Spinach artichoke dip, fried calamari, shrimp tacos, hamburgers, fries, fettuccine Alfredo etc. (Your viral internet musicians, your soundcloud rappers. Your Lil Xan, Sexxy Red, Blueface, Lil Pump, whoever the viral simpleton pop/rock versions of those artists are). That last category comes with its own following already, easy to replicate because people already know they like it, so you can feed as many knockoff versions of it to the masses and they'll eat it up regardless because it's something they understand and can consume easily without much thought or effort. They don't care about the origins of the dish, they don't care about the subtle blend of flavor profiles. They just care that they can shut their brains off and go "nom nom nom. So goooood" from their car as they pull away from the drive-thru window at 2:30 am after the club. THATS why I think labels are snatching up the viral artists maximum profit for minimal effort, and they can use those lopsided deals to recoup on the cost it takes to maintain their big ticket artists.

[@kayiness]

Nah, you need to make this a video or think piece so ppl can reference and come back to it. "Nom nom so good" lmao. That's so accurate it's almost embarrassing 😂

[@tyggymedia9499]

Yooo 😂😂😂‼️‼️‼️ The A&R pushing up on u is crazy😂

[@benjammin105123]

The people who the labels want are the people that don't need the labels at all.

[@Dillagent]

Now this puts a smile on my face as an upcoming Artist keep it up with reaction and insight brotha!!!!

[@popps33]

Facts on Facts! This is why I stay away from working for Labels as producer/A&R. I can't deal with incompetence and how the business model is run. I like to work like the folks as he mentioned of the 70's to 90's. I am more interested to work for the distributors now.

[@padrescott2047]

Watching your videos makes me want to quit music every single time. Then I realize instead of working harder I should work smarter. Yet all I know is to make the music. I'm f*cked.

[@freshestinclass763]

The pressure is off really... I think the heavy pressure is the money.. even when people are truly about the art.. they position themselves on the wrong side because they don't want to bite the bullet and do a Lil 9 to 5 and move at their own pace... if there's a price to it.. or you're forcing yourself to make a living off of it amd u never done it before that's hustling backwards.

[@SeleniumOfficial]

The splitting of royalties is the main reason I stopped pursuing label releases. In my genre (EDM) it’s not even common to sign exclusive deals, normally producers release on a few labels based on the song’s style. But it’s also a niche fan base so you can definitely find success as an independent EDM artists. Those fans are actively looking for more underground music.

[@MISSISSIPPISNOMSP]

Much luv and great video as always

[@supertsigma6864]

I’m HIMothy!!! (One of my fav sayings from you. I love that line bro)

[@5dCoaching]

Droppin gems as always brethren 💯

[@NOIRsDuff]

Thank you for the insight

[@Sender1257]

Song you gave a preview of is fire

[@myrona.gilmorejr.]

I wanted to be an A&R specialist because I liked teaching and training artists, not because I was a failed artist. I performed and have made money through my music, but my teachers always told me that I should go into teaching, the reason I wanted to be an A&R specialist was because they make more money than regular teachers, but I decided to give all my research away for free and go back to focusing on my music career as an artist

[@scarthereddoninfinity6100]

That’s why I’m independent and do everything myself forget the record labels their rigged and thx for the information and video salute Philly on the way

[@KayRocBeats]

I learned quickly not to sign, to create my own beats and am now about to enroll in audio engineering classes. I plan to remain independent 💪🏾 educate yourself

[@SimonePhoenix]

[standing ovation] 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Shazzyhtown]

He is in the rock world. Why did he ever sign anyway?? That genre has been leveraging Patreon for years now. Look up Dutch metal singer Charlotte Wessels. She has a Patreon with 1,816 members. Took years to build, but no way will she ever need to sign. Does it take time and quality music? Yes

[@wozzybeatz]

Bro we love you for these knowledge you putting out, Game is Game

[@DaWizeDeciple]

Such good content brother

[@AceeSoul]

Some gems here 🎯🎯💎💎🛠🛠

[@gx3079]

this is exactly what happened w ice spice, her stage presence was so ASS in the beginning. idk about rn but she was not ready

[@freshestinclass763]

She still ass... on both sides.😊

[@bigpl412]

We want volunteers not hostages - Mike Tomlin

[@ThreeBelowZero]

The point is: they sign the singer with the viral song because 9.8 out of 10 times THE BEAT IS FIRE! So they're signing clowns (sorry, that's how it feels) because a good producer did the carry with the most relevant thing: the rythm. Then they give the low cut to the producer (if they do at all) and there you have your next music star being placed on every major playlist to boost their streams to look even bigger.

[@tonybarnes2920]

Imagine if games were funded the same way? Oh wait... I don't have to, because that's what's happening. A lot of funding is going to people who already are viral and have backings or ones that have viral potential, ignoring the quality of the game or the developer.

[@Txmagic]

somebody is gona have to tell the truth and I’m gona tell it🔥🔥

[@QueMusiQ]

Wsup. It’s ΩueMusiΩ bka as BlackSoultan. Long time fan, first time caller. In the late nineties/early 2000’s I was also in law school near south Central, interested in the music business because in college in Atlanta I wrote articles about albums and artists. Met too many extremely talented and successful artists (Morehouse homecoming was and is FULL of these folks). All of em broke AF. Met left eye n Kast and even Shaggy when he was 8 X plat. Came to LA and figured I’d look into how that happens on the legal side. I emcee, I’m a talented entertainer overall. B-Boy primarily, but acting (Groundlings), emceeing, just - I was that guy. So, unlike other law students - specifically at a top tier - I had more than just the library at my disposal. That’s ANOTHER problem. The suits aren’t just a bunch of failed artists, most aren’t artists at all and learned in that vacuum. So I got down with Project Blowed, a lil before heads we both know well: James, Kail, Swim Team, etc. some I even did legal work for on the low because of exactly this video. There’s people making six figs or more taking advantage of artists locking them into deals that back then made even less sense because it was still the Napster and not the iTunes era. CD’s was ya only way to get heard. You can blow up at 43rd and Leimert nothing happened if all day, but you got no traction l if you didn’t move a number like 10k CD’s (“For Promotion Only, but I’ll take a $5-$10 donation” face ass era. Heads did that because that fire beat from Dibia$e in his Mr. Diabolic era ain’t clear that sample 🤣🤣🤣 He was fire tho. This was around when Dilla was out here on the low, wybin wit Mad Lib, and I was rocking wit Soleternity. IYKYK.) As an emcee seeing all this first hand and navigating it myself, I was at the same time working on a legal research project about the future of the record industry based on what I was seeing and hearing and experiencing in the LA trenches at the turn of the century. At the time, I predicted iTunes would go in at $1/track and squash Napster type pirating. It did. I also said it would shake up distro panoply. It KIND OF did, it made them irrelevant. But then, it just became tech companies who at the time were in a space where they caused a recession and left a void. They turned to music as the new tech commodity. Greed always is gonna win. Now, Apple and Google and Spotify replaced the companies that told us when I was a congressional staffer - a legendary tho previously scandal riddled music mogul whose sibling may or may not have worn a fedora with two other guys, told our office that the distro game was run by 3-7 [insert people Kanye lost deals with when he discussed this particular demographic here]. #YeWasntLYING NOW? That’s replaced by tech giants, and it’s coalesced down from 3-7 distro companies (which still exist but only as labels) into 2-3 distro giants. Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and whomever owns/runs Spotify. Even Jigga with TIDAL can’t crack into it, the way this former mogul couldn’t. At the time, he said three tried to challenge that panoply - J Prince, Irv and Suge. You old enough to remember how THAT went #NewCoIntelPro #AlsoReal #StillExists. So, when did at 16:25 starts saying basically the deal Master P got (distro only and an advance with regular lenders terms minus the administrative control of A&R, Managers, Release Schedules), I am initially like “MY OLD A** NEED TO RELEASE MY BACK CATALOG!” But then I remember: Greed always wins. That New Cointelpro which targeted rap labels in the 90’s to ♾️ (no, seriously. Look it up. I know for a fact, and if you google who I am, you might find out HOW I’m so sure it’s a real thing), as long as they exist, the power will coalesce AWAY from the artist. Music “BUSINESS” is still a “Business”. In 96, Big Boi told me that in a interview. The word Business is bigger than Music. So for as long as it’s “Business”, it exists within a structure wherein money is siphoned away from those deemed as property/means of production. Master & WHAT did Prince write on his face in 97? Slave? Especially in a genre that was at one point the domicile of Rebel Music. Dude, the FBI got involved with NWA. Where’s Dead Prez? Boots Riley? What’s Ye’s new album titled? Seem like dude went from Graduate to Professor. I do employment law now. Missed the whole shift from “indie label” vibe (Koch/Rawkus/etc) to this “indie digital distro” era, but while I’m cautiously optimistic, I won’t bet against the facts: Music Business is still “Business” The CointelPro still vehemently exists, And in a (late stage) oligarchical capitalist system : Greed. Always. Wins. So just make rebel music as a Natural Mystic. Toss it in the ether. We owe that to the people dem fi chat down Babylon while we beat the drum inna de four corners of all the earth 🌍 And keep it funky.

[@GTerra]

Yoooo.. Curtis .. Your music is actually DOPE!!! Your Music i mean... SLAPS Bruv!!

[@bretwojarski5842]

He’s a KZbin rapper and all KZbin rappers are shit low quality amateurs yall complaining about the music industry when there’s still good music behind all the crap but this guy is crap himself

[@BoooRadley]

I think it's funny that Jarris has a song with a artist who basically creates spongebob parody music. Proves that's numbers matter more

[@tywhite_beats]

Ooooh 👉🏽 The record label entertainment 😂💩🤣💩 hahaha

[@GRINDETHIKSMIXTAPESHOW]

Yo Bro I was watching tubi for the 1 time , I saw a couple of good movies

[@YariBeatsMedia]

Very familiar with these stories.

[@alsimmons1755]

Great reference that George Foreman movie was great

[@bighou2359]

Great vid. The vid from the rock dude is going to hurt record labels.

[@Edwinmlayiofficial]

SOMEBODYGONNAHAVETOTELLTHETRUTHANDI'MGONNATELLIT!!!

[@besverjin5130]

Wow. Wow….

[@992ras]

Dude people need to take music business you learn a lot what he talking about you will learn music is about selling yourself that how you get the deals. Also my beef with a lot new producers they talk all this shit while buying loops and never actually learning the art of sampling they all try to sound same and not have their own sound. To many people wanna be rich and famous of off something you should do because you like doing not to be rich or famous. You can play music your whole life you will probably die broke and not famous or even if you do get famous you will probably still die broke. You don’t make money on labels you never did you make money playing live shows or tours this has been fact since the 50’s. Music hasn’t been devalued it’s just gone to age of digital internet there is no more physical copies of music. People still do it which means it exist but if your relying on label to make you money your just lazy about your music. Who cares if people don’t like your music or do, you should do it because it gives you enjoyment. Also to many young people don’t want to study how some artist made it without ever having major label. Very few people work the industry like Kool Keith who has 6 to 7 deals with record labels some major labels and a lot more small labels. Like he said you have the resource to put your music out without labels or even distribution companies it’s called the internet

[@juswolf22]

This is why we have to return to doin music not for money or attention but for love. These physical manifestations are satanic, when you do it from the heart you’re one with god!

[@UncleSipheEC]

Yo! DIY3 is coming soon

[@jaimerodriguez1550]

Old story. Intern working for Major Tecord label. Suggests radio taking peoples requests for top rock music at the time. Record Label big wig says " the masses dont decide whats cool, we do." So if you go into the situation understanding this story, you understand that at record labels we have people who di nit care of the quality of music. They care about their own agendas. Also people fhat are megalomaniacs who can decide what people listen to or not depending on how they feel.

[@Marcustrh]

We know this already thoughI marvel only green lit iron man and deadpool after “leak” CGI FOOTAGE went viral. Owl City & Panic at the disco asking Alexandria got signed before playing there first shows. MySpace era. They been doing this the medium has just changed.

[@Zay-cd2zv]

"DIYAS"

[@Beeprock_2020]

😂😂😂😂 do you know he is not lying about this because I'm a musician to and unfortunately I've been making music for so long it's just time for me to quit music anyway because the music industry is a scam because it's all about social media platforms and propaganda

[@coldbreeze35]

That song dope how I could hear it

[@CurtissKingTV]

curtissking.bandcamp.com/track/anyday-produced-by-nabeyin

[@coldbreeze35]

@@CurtissKingTV Fasho appreciate it

[@iammoamp]

Why Tubi catch a mean stray? 😂😂😂

[@CurtissKingTV]

😭

[@skoolhitdabutton]

Say it for the people in the back....They want to buy low! Ya heard ?

[@peedot39]

They just want the money it’s obvious.if you have hundreds of followers it’s only logical that if they had music the same followers will buy the music.I wouldn’t sign with them I’d just tell ppl where you could get my music and sell it.The labels aren’t needed anyway.

[@GRINDETHIKSMIXTAPESHOW]

Hey at least Spotify pays more then a bank lol

[@bboymac84]

Stop supporting Spotify!!! They are not for the people!!

[@FNSMusicGroup]

Smells like broke....lol they using us....lol😂

[@marcustiger5074]

Some of the comments on here are hilarious labels have been doing these practices for years let’s be honest what changed things two things changed the independent movement and the Internet in the 90s a lot of rappers particularly West Coast rappers particularly West Coast rappers were not getting deals from the majors, so what did they do? They started putting the records out themselves and those artist that were able to move by themselves independently started making money independently without a label or guess what the labels look at their order like yeah you’re more of a short thing that’s how HCM got $1 million deal on his first hour dropped him. That’s how E-40 got his deal when he dropped on Josh because they did it independently Rockefeller you all did it I’ve known

[@vanessaadams3500]

We would have Tubi!!! Ha Ha Ha😂🤣

[@prod.xx808xx]

0.003% is a great big joke.

[@gemsound]

Not only is dude speaking the truth in this video, he also looks like “Weird Al” Yankovic. Just wanted to point that out.😂

[@tdpposidendagod1885]

Ol boy look like he could be weird Al son

[@N8oRMusic]

99% of "artists" are the ones who wake up one morning wanting tiktok fame. Go away.

[@goingglobalmusicgroup2555]

Artist Wake Up! Conduct Yourself As A Brand Not An Artist! Problem Solved! @johngreasy

[@xfacta334]

Now let's connect some dots here. When the freaky stories come out, everybody always asking, "How they be getting folks to compromise themselves all the time?" Well this video is the 1st level of the answer. After you sign that paper, the game begin. The goal is to see how long they can move the goalposts before you submit or breakdown. Those who breakdown are cast away, free to return to this side and share their stories and insight (usually very truthful) only to be likely branded as a "failure" (or tax write off) and largely ignored by the people who need to hear this stuff the most. Those who submit move on to the next stage.....and that's a different convo for a different day.

[@freshestinclass763]

The people who need to hear those people find them.. even research is d.i.y at this point... the rest are customers lol.

[@xfacta334]

@@freshestinclass763 We find this side because we want to hear the whole story. We don't believe the narratives and agendas being fed to us so we seek out more information. Those who really need this stuff keep ignoring it because "it's just the excuses of failures that don't want to accept that they just aren't good enough".