Does anyone in here actually know how records and artists are broken in the music industry today? (2025-2026)

[trillanova]

What are new artists with new music supposed to do if they want their music heard? Is everything pretty much resting on TikTok and waiting for a major label to notice?

Is there any hope for independent music going forward especially if you can put some bread up or is the game locked up completely?

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

Yep like you said, TikTok is the new way sadly

Honestly though, if I were a younger artist i would be trying to get underneath one of these vets who are still pushing music out. Right now is the perfect time to be a protégé to one of the vets in the game.

 

[Iverson_64]

Linking with streamers.

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

the biggest labels have been independent

like quality control and tde for example. from what tde say, the just kept going, not to mention the high level of talent. they not just throwing anything out there
then the clout got big enough to where they do distribution deals and other partnerships with major labels.

 

[Fanservice]

Is everything pretty much resting on TikTok and waiting for a major label to notice?

Not at all. Every artist that people think just “blew up” was already doing paid/unpaid shows, shaking hands, collabing and doing favors

Once you start making enough noise, that’s when an established artist might offer to open more doors for you in exchange for signing a fukked up deal. That’s why most new artists are signed to other artists. They’re more likely to take a risk on unproven talent than a major label A&R

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

the biggest labels have been independent

like quality control and tde for example. from what tde say, the just kept going, not to mention the high level of talent. they not just throwing anything out there
then the clout got big enough to where they do distribution deals and other partnerships with major labels.

speaking of

 

[M4T]

It cost 250k to break an artist nationally. For 5-10k you might go viral with an influencer campaign but that's not a guarantee.

 

[Jasonmask]

Get a slot on song wars with pbm

 

[Capital Steez]

Plaqueboy Max

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Yep like you said, TikTok is the new way sadly

Honestly though, if I were a younger artist i would be trying to get underneath one of these vets who are still pushing music out. Right now is the perfect time to be a protégé to one of the vets in the game.

Sounds like a horrible idea

 

[ROFL_GUY]

 

[ROFL_GUY]

Was from today!

 

[trillanova]

It cost 250k to break an artist nationally. For 5-10k you might go viral with an influencer campaign but that's not a guarantee.

What are they spending that 250k on in this era?

 

[Ol’Otis]

the high level of talent

 

[Doobie Doo]

Thats a chatgpt question