“They told me that they are starting a classic label, and wanted me to be the first artist. So I signed, and am producing myself, and writing my own music, but I'm their first artist on their classic label. And I have creative control.” WritingFirstsWantedArtistMy OwnCreativeStartingLabelsClassic Author:Teena Marie
“There's definitely some sort of dissent brewing between labels, publishing companies and artists. A lot of it has to do with older licensing schemes.” ArtistCompanyLabelsPublishingSchemesDissentBrewingLicensing Author:Sean Parker
“Clown' was written when I couldn't find anyone who believed in me as an artist. Maybe those labels will think twice next time a young songwriter comes along.” ThinkingYoungArtistNextWrittenLabelsSongwritersNext TimeClownThink Twice Author:Emeli Sande
“I built a reputation as a songwriter in the industry before my own hits. People were used to coming to me for songs. There were songs like 'Clown' and 'Mountains' that were my songs that I wanted to keep. But the record labels saw me as a songwriter. It was hard to get people to believe in me as an artist.” PeopleBelieveHardWantedUsedArtistSongMy OwnRecordsSawsIndustryMountainBuiltReputationLabelsBelieve In MeSongwritersClownRecord Labels Author:Emeli Sande
“Great artists are a little too gifted to be bound by boxes and labels, and in saying that, the label 'artist' is to be used lightly.” LittlesDifferentUsedArtistBoundsBoxesLabelsGiftedGreat ArtBeing DifferentGreat Artist Book:Killosophy Source: Killosophy
“I've been approached by major labels every single year of my existence as an artist. Since 1996.” YearsArtistExistenceMajorsLabels Author:El-P
“The worst part is that if you become part of a major - all these independent labels become farm teams for your corporate parent. Basically, you do all the work for years, blowing up an artist - you discover them, blow them up, you build their fan base. And then that artist is like, "Okay, now I'm here. Now I want more. I want to be bigger." And you're either going to be able to accommodate them, you're going to be able to figure out how to take that step with them, or you're going to lose them.” IfsWantYearsAbleArtistParentLosesStepsTeamFansWorstFiguresMajorsOkayBiggerIndependentBlowLabelsCorporateFarmsAccommodateBlowing Up Author:El-P
“When I first started out in the music industry and went to Elektra Records, I didn't go to be an artist, I went to get a record label started. And they said in order to have a label deal, I had to be an artist - so that's what I did.” FirstsSaidArtistOrderDealsRecordsIndustryLabelsThey SaidMusic IndustryRecord Labels Author:Missy Elliot
“I think labels for the most part want to sign new discoveries so that that label alone is seen to be responsible for the rise of the artist. Not many labels want bands who have already made their mark, because their success is usually attributed to some other label somewhere else at another time.” ThinkingWantMadeArtistBandDiscoveryMarkResponsibleLabelsSomewhere ElseBeing ResponsibleAnother TimeNew Discoveries Author:Steven Morrissey
“Being independent is more of a mind state more than anything else. A lot of people don't understand that being an independent artist means being hands on with your career in every aspect - not being afraid to spend your own money and invest time in yourself. Although I'm affiliated with a major label, I still wake up every day with an independent mindset.” PeopleMindMeanStillsStatesHandsArtistCareersMajorsAspectWake UpIndependentMindsetLabelsBeing Afraid Author:Yo Gotti
“Labels only confuse people. The smarter people recognize artists who transcend categories. But I always try to entertain. It's in my nature; writers are born to entertain. If that means working ostensibly within a genre, fine.” PeopleIfsTryingMeanArtistBornFineLabelsGenreCategoriesSmarter Author:John Shirley
“When people see you have a song on MTV, they think you are doing well - but you know, the way the traditional label deal was set up, it is really hard for an artist, unless they sold a lot, to see anything.” PeopleThinkingKnowsWayWellsHardArtistSongDealsTraditionalLabelsMtv Author:Jill Sobule
“Artists will come into my office and say, "I just came from another label and they said you're research guys, you're data guys." I don't know what that means. Everybody who says that is being naive.” KnowsMeanSaidArtistGuyOfficeResearchDataLabelsThey SaidNaive Author:Monte Lipman