If you were a new artist, with no money, would you sign this contract?

[BmoreGorilla]

Lot of assumption

What if the shows are local and in driving distance....then you're just out gas
Food? You dont need to buy fancy shyt.
Clothes? You have to have a Gucci fit for every show?
DJ at this point is prob a homie but would prob do it for $250 a show

Usually a buzzing artist is doing shows locally/regionally.....no need to fly

Even if you take home 1500 after costs/manager, that's still more than enough to live on

If you are only commanding $2500 a show I doubt your getting very many shows to begin with. So let’s say you are only doing shows locally. That’s less venues to do shows at which increases the probability even more that your not doing that many shows. Key word in the OP was desperate. If your in desperate situation staying the indie route isn’t feasible. On top of that let’s say that you do have $1500 left over after those expenses from each show. You still gotta pay taxes

 

[BmoreGorilla]

I would take the $250K. Why?



^^^ key words here. You only take the indy route if you've created a huge buzz all of your own and you basically just need distribution. $250K up front that you don't have to pay back is serious money IF you know how to INVEST. It's much you could do with $250K.

Now, if you become a successful artist moving units, its a win win.

This. Depending on your situation that 250k can be life changing. You can invest that in yourself and build your brand

 

[ISO]

I would never sign to Atlantic unless they turned their whole shyt around, that's all I needed to see.

This makes no sense and a lot of the Atlantic hate stems from that bum ass nikka Lupe.

If you want to eat you sign to Atlantic. They have the illest roster in the game with the most successful artists.

Y’all boys stay independent I’m gonna go be a millionaire.

 

[TripleAgent]

If you are only commanding $2500 a show I doubt your getting very many shows to begin with. So let’s say you are only doing shows locally. That’s less venues to do shows at which increases the probability even more that your not doing that many shows. Key word in the OP was desperate. If your in desperate situation staying the indie route isn’t feasible. On top of that let’s say that you do have $1500 left over after those expenses from each show. You still gotta pay taxes

If you record at home and are single with no kids, that's enough money to keep going. 2 shows a month. Hypothetically, not in COVID era, that's position to really move up. Get your game up some, and have real leverage.

Still should never sign to Atlantic.

This makes no sense and a lot of the Atlantic hate stems from that bum ass nikka Lupe.

If you want to eat you sign to Atlantic. They have the illest roster in the game with the most successful artists.

Y’all boys stay independent I’m gonna go be a millionaire.

Unless they own and control you, or you sell a ton, preferably both, Atlantic is all but guaranteed to fukk up your career. Sign there if you want, but if it doesn't hit big, you'll probably be 9 to 5ing it in a few years.

 

[trillanova]

The real world doesn’t work like this

it works exactly like this.

 

[ISO]

What the fukk is the point of owning your masters when you have no hits and are an unsigned indy artist

Industry Rule 4080 ass nikkas

 

[BmoreGorilla]

If you record at home and are single with no kids, that's enough money to keep going. 2 shows a month. Hypothetically, not in COVID era, that's position to really move up. Get your game up some, and have real leverage.

Still should never sign to Atlantic.

Basically in the scenario you just said dude better come up with a hit soon

 

[ISO]

Unless they own and control you, or you sell a ton, preferably both, Atlantic is all but guaranteed to fukk up your career. Sign there if you want, but if it doesn't hit big, you'll probably be 9 to 5ing it in a few years.

If you're a bum with no support in your city who doesn't want to treat rap like a career/wants to do whatever he wants and isn't smart at all on the business tip sure you'll be 9-to-5'ing.

Me I plan to be on that business tip outside of rap and maybe come into the game with my own imprint. I want to be like Lil Uzi, A-Boogie, Cardi B, Roddy Rich, Gucci Mane, Burna Boy, Boosie, Kevin Gates, Meek Mill, Trey Songz, Wiz Khalifa, NBA YoungBoy, Ty $, Cordae and all the other stars on the label.

 

[letti cook]

nah, too many albums...how many times do we see artists sign and end up shelved before they can even drop the first joint..now you gotta go through hoops to get out that deal.

 

[TripleAgent]

[

Basically in the scenario you just said dude better come up with a hit soon

Not necessarily. There's merch, and other sorts of branding. At that level, I would keep treading water, and try to get my brand up before going into the mercy of the Atlantic machine.

 

[TripleAgent]

If you're a bum with no support in your city who doesn't want to treat rap like a career/wants to do whatever he wants and isn't smart at all on the business tip sure you'll be 9-to-5'ing.

Me I plan to be on that business tip outside of rap and maybe come into the game with my own imprint. I want to be like Lil Uzi, A-Boogie, Cardi B, Roddy Rich, Gucci Mane, Burna Boy, Boosie, Kevin Gates, Meek Mill, Trey Songz, Wiz Khalifa, NBA YoungBoy, Ty $, Cordae and all the other stars on the label.

Who do you think of those people, were in the situation in the OP, and it worked for them? I don't know these people's contract status, but I see several names that were popping ahead of time, already had careers, etc. Who has Atlantic made a millionaire, that wasn't already popping?

 

[CrimsonTider]

it works exactly like this.

No you need someone to invest in you. Even the rappers y’all think are Independent had investment they just didn’t sign to a major label

 

[JustCKing]

nah, too many albums...how many times do we see artists sign and end up shelved before they can even drop the first joint..now you gotta go through hoops to get out that deal.

If they give you $250K up front and they STILL shelve you before you even drop one album, the label eats the loss. The label can still keep you on the roster and you can't really sign anywhere else unless you are bought out of the contract. If I'm not mistaken, that's how it works.

Artists have to go through hoops to get of deals when they still owe the label albums and want out of the deal. They can't do it because they are still contractually tied to the label. If you drop albums and they flop and as a result, the label drops you, they eat the loss.

 

[BmoreGorilla]

[
Not necessarily. There's merch, and other sorts of branding. At that level, I would keep treading water, and try to get my brand up before going into the mercy of the Atlantic machine.

But it costs money to produce merch and other things. $2500 a show ain’t enough to do all that if you include all your other expenses. You better have another source of income

 

[TripleAgent]

If they give you $250K up front and they STILL shelve you before you even drop one album, the label eats the loss. The label can still keep you on the roster and you can't really sign anywhere else unless you are bought out of the contract. If I'm not mistaken, that's how it works.

Artists have to go through hoops to get of deals when they still owe the label albums and want out of the deal. They can't do it because they are still contractually tied to the label. If you drop albums and they flop and as a result, the label drops you, they eat the loss.

But, they also own you and your name, so there is no comeback unless you go through them and get raped, or buy out the contract, which you may never be able to do. Also, since you signed a 360 deal, if you pop off doing anything in entertainment (acting, producing, etc.), they will probably sue you for it or block you.

But it costs money to produce merch and other things. $2500 a show ain’t enough to do all that if you include all your other expenses. You better have another source of income

T-shirts are cheap as hell. If you sell through Amazon, they can be made to order with no money down. Not ideal, but it can be done. Merch has never been easier or more lucrative. Benny The Butcher is signing Pyrex and reselling them on his site. You just have to be creative.

BENNY THE BUTCHER SIGNED PYREX