Dj Jazzy Jeff: Drake shouldnt have signed to a Major. Record Label power is dwindling

[hiphopfanatic]

There are plenty of dudes out there, who haven't compromised their work for labels..

you're wrong tho, radio hits= digital single sales... that's why Flo Rida albums brick every go around, and he's still gonna continue to drop albums.

the ability to buy singles online, changed the game... people aint buying albums just for one song anymore...and you can't really just roll in a store, and buy a Maxi single like you could back in the 90's.

Tech N9ne is the GOAT Indy rapper, and he's never had a gold album...never had a hit song, it took him 20 years to get to the point of success he's at right now.

Tech N9ne is that dude. He's one in 100 Million when it comes to success without a major.

 

[hiphopfanatic]

Not an industry guy, but it seems to me the best route to go is Indie first, then sign to a major. If you are able to get a legit buzz going as an indie artists, you bring a nice little bargaining chip to the table when you go into talks with a major. I know some people hate him, but Trinidad James is the best example of this. Would he have gotten $2 Million from Def Jam/Universal if he didn't already have things popping with "All Gold Everything?"

 

[DaveyDave]

Tech N9ne is that dude. He's one in 100 Million when it comes to success without a major.

getting back to a post i saw about sponsorship etc, Tech has Monster as a sponser for his tours etc so it is possible but liek you sai, he is the 1 in 100 million indy artists that make it at that level.

 

[Rominati]

Not an industry guy, but it seems to me the best route to go is Indie first, then sign to a major.

Keeping it a stack. Thats the ONLY way to go in 2013

 

[Diyhai]

Funny seeing people say Jeff is out of touch. He's been touring NONSTOP for damn near 30 years.

nygga isnt really relatant to pop culture
people know him more for getting thrown out a door by uncle phil
than they know him for being a dj

 

[CrimsonTider]

U do need record labels to get ur name all over the place. But if u want to make music u honestly love doing. Without compromising ur artistry then go indy. A lot of record labels force u to put out trash to top charts. That formula is wack now cause everybody is online. U may get radio hits and video play but aint nobody buyin shyt nowadays. U got a better chance at tours. Ofcourse its not easy and its hard work. I just prefer indy.

To honest theres only a handful of artists thats selling records. Im sayin if u wanna put out quality music without makin music that only matches radio standards u should go indy. Albums arent really selling. Y take the rest of owein more than u make just to put out somethin that no one will buy. Drake wayne em jay nicki and maybe kendrick nas are the only artist selling records. Give me reasons y u should go major right now. Besides the exposure.

Your believing in fantasy

People make music to make money

That's why you see this so called cycle repeated

 

[Abstract83]

Your believing in fantasy

People make music to make money

That's why you see this so called cycle repeated

I know that. Im more into the art then the corporate standars of things. Im not hatin on it. I just disagree with it thats all.

 

[Mac Casper]

Not an industry guy, but it seems to me the best route to go is Indie first, then sign to a major. If you are able to get a legit buzz going as an indie artists, you bring a nice little bargaining chip to the table when you go into talks with a major. I know some people hate him, but Trinidad James is the best example of this. Would he have gotten $2 Million from Def Jam/Universal if he didn't already have things popping with "All Gold Everything?"

He was already signed to Def Jam

 

[Ninjaz In Paris]

Your believing in fantasy

People make music to make money

That's why you see this so called cycle repeated

It's 2013 & people still don't get how Hollywood works...

 

[Momentum]

Money breh, why spend my money when i can spend yours...and make my own money?


Merchandise, Tyler makes a killing off the OF Merch, so does Wiz with that Taylor gang clothing....you'd be surprised at how many people are about buying a $12 CD, but will buy a $25 T Shirt at your show or from your Online store.

Sponsors... no way in hell as an indy artist are you gonna see Reebok,Adidas,Beats,Microsoft,Sprite,Pepsi,Ciroc,GM etc. type sponsors

you think if Tyler the Creator wasn't backed by Sony, he could get Pharrell and Erykah Badu on his album?

how you gonna afford to work with some of these dudes, when their asking prices are more than your whole album cost to make?

yeah, albums aren't selling... but there were 1.4 billion digital singles sold last year...so obviously somebody is making money.

y'all acting like major label deals are the boogeyman

And the white man gets paid off of all of that

 

[Momentum]

So many "independents" have Major Label funding and resources. That's been the new way to do things marketing wise. They always know people re stupid. Make something look grass roots and indie while there's all these unseen moving parts.

The-coli was when ScHoolboy Q said he's been signed to Interscope for 3 years

 

[MegaTronBomb!]

Dying? The Music Industry made almost $17 Billion in 2012...

it's actual fact that there were 1.4 Billion digital singles sold last year... but cause singles are the preferred choice of purchase over albums= industry is dying.

Spotify is valued at 3 Billion dollars

10 years ago, you didn't really have the option of just copping the Maxi single of a song you liked as easily as you could buy the album. if i liked " In Da Club" i didn't really have much of a choice other than to buy the album, for that one song.

the only thing that's happening now, is that the music industry is adapting to the internet age....but folks think that cause thinks have changed so drastically from the way they used to be= dying.

Funny seeing people say Jeff is out of touch. He's been touring NONSTOP for damn near 30 years.

Just cause you've been around forever, doesn't mean you see things for what they currently are..... Jeff clearly comes from a time where people did get on the radio without deals, and people were successful operating on the fringes of the industry.

Jeff stayed in his lane for 30 years,and unbeknownst to him..there was a entire 6 lane double decker highway built.

 

[MegaTronBomb!]

And the white man gets paid off of all of that

Breh, the white man is gonna get paid regardless... what difference would it make? you still gotta pay taxes.

It's laughable at how Kanye even kicked some bullshyt like that, when he's signed to a white man and idolizes gay white men.

look what they did to Lauryn Hill black ass, thinking she didn't have to pay taxes just cause she's black

 

[emoney]

it really doesn't matter where you start off first (major or indie), What matters is what type of artist you are and what your end game in the music industry is.

I'll say this tho, I disagee wth Jazzy Jeff.

I don't know whether he tryna keep it simple for the cameras or he really not as aware of how the machine operates as one might expect him to be. I hope young aspiring artists actually do their own research and don't listen to the soundbites of some old skool goofball rapper/dj.

 

[emoney]

If I was a rapper I wouldnt sign to a major until I'd done my own thang - Built a core fanbase and local or regional buzz. Artists gotta put themselves in a position in which they can bargain their contracts with the majors. Its not easy but its the only way to go foward nikkaz.

I feel you but sometimes rappers don't know when they have to strike that deal (timing is important). Majors aren't going to be there forever....you might have a small window of opportunity to negotiate that deal. Look at Papoose.