Sooo…Do Independent Recording Artists Make More Than Those Signed to Contracts

[CrimsonTider]

HE’S THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF ALL TIME

Which is why he shouldn’t be referenced because even then you can’t compare him to a successful mainstream act

independent artist have to pay for everything from flights to the ability for songs to be added to playlist

Independent artist is why People like Karen Civil continue to get over on people. They claim to be able to leverage their network and connections to get artist in rooms and placements that a major label would already have their artist in

 

[hex]

He isn't even the expection, does holmes make more per album? Yes, is he on all the playlists? On Radio? Headlining Festivals? Filling Arenas? On TV? have non music deals? Nope.

None of that necessarily means anything though.

Everything you said applies to some artists (TLC comes to mind) when in reality they were broke as fukk. It comes down to what kind of deal they have.

Fred.

 

[Sccit]

Which is why he shouldn’t be referenced because even then you can’t compare him to a successful mainstream act

independent artist have to pay for everything from flights to the ability for songs to be added to playlist

Independent artist is why People like Karen Civil continue to get over on people. They claim to be able to leverage their network and connections to get artist in rooms and placements that a major label would already have their artist in

THE POINT IS THAT ITS DOABLE IF DONE RIGHT

 

[Wiseborn]

None of that necessarily means anything though.

Everything you said applies to some artists (TLC comes to mind) when in reality they were broke as fukk. It comes down to what kind of deal they have.

Fred.

It's sorta like being a juinor partner in a small law firm or being a dude who owns a corner store. The lawyer makes way more than the candy shop owner but the business is something that can be passed down to the 3rd generation.

 

[3rdWorld]

I can't think of anyone other than Chance who could fill and arena and even Chance ain't doing that now. Indies don't get oppertunities to headline festivals. The Festivals work hand in hard with the labels. Coi Leray is doing shows only because she's not a industry plant but a whole forest.

Problem there is Chance is already in an over saturated market..
So it comes down to the genre and your own ability to market yourself.

 

[Legal]

He isn't even the expection, does holmes make more per album? Yes, is he on all the playlists? On Radio? Headlining Festivals? Filling Arenas? On TV? have non music deals? Nope.

Those aren't really effective criteria to use as a flat difference, though. Almost everything you named is stuff that that label now takes care of for the artist as part of a 360 deal. And since it's part of that deal, the label is not only taking a bite out of any revenue generated from those opportunities, but they're also holding any and all work to make those possible against the artist as expenses. That's how we've ended up with so many stories where an artist talks about how their songs were everywhere, but they were eating grilled cheese sandwiches every night.

Even beyond that, a lot of hit songs arent songs as.much as they are assembled products. So, before an artist even has an opportunity to lay vocals, the label has paid a bunch of other people to basically get them stems, a hook, and probably a reference track.

It's obviously not a universal thing, but a lot of independent artists stay independent just because they can make those deals on their own with whoever they can get access to/afford, and simplify the math on how everybody gets paid.

 

[Consigliere]

Large percentage of a small pie

Small percentage of a big pie

 

[CrimsonTider]

It's sorta like being a juinor partner in a small law firm or being a dude who owns a corner store. The lawyer makes way more than the candy shop owner but the business is something that can be passed down to the 3rd generation.

Huh it’s not like that at all

 

[L&HH]

Why do y’all always reference Tech 9 because he was on a Forbes list a decade ago

It's funny nikkas talk about all this money "indie artists" are making but only name the same 3 indie artist. Neglecting the fact that a "successful indie artist" (that wasn't signed to a major before they went indie) is a rare feat in itself.

 

[Vandelay]

Every deal is different. People hear 360 and shut their mind off from what the deal is actually being presented. A label can get 5% of everything in a 360 or they can get 50%. That 360 can only pertain to first week, month, year sales or it could be in perpetuity. You have to read it and you have to have a good lawyer.

There are no easy across the board rules. People need to stop thinking there are.

I scoff at what I hear Joe Budden's Spotify deal might've been that he turned down for this very reason.

 

[Wiseborn]

Those aren't really effective criteria to use as a flat difference, though. Almost everything you named is stuff that that label now takes care of for the artist as part of a 360 deal. And since it's part of that deal, the label is not only taking a bite out of any revenue generated from those opportunities, but they're also holding any and all work to make those possible against the artist as expenses. That's how we've ended up with so many stories where an artist talks about how their songs were everywhere, but they were eating grilled cheese sandwiches every night.

Even beyond that, a lot of hit songs arent songs as.much as they are assembled products. So, before an artist even has an opportunity to lay vocals, the label has paid a bunch of other people to basically get them stems, a hook, and probably a reference track.

It's obviously not a universal thing, but a lot of independent artists stay independent just because they can make those deals on their own with whoever they can get access to/afford, and simplify the math on how everybody gets paid.

I think the vast majority of independants would take the bag as evidenced by damn near every independent that you heard of ending up signing with a major.

Think That 'Ye wouldn't have taken his slave deal even if Jay gets a piece of every pair of Yezzy's sold ( if that's the case) but yeah some nikkas really are ok with being the nicest dudes around the way. And some artists know that their music won't resonate in the mainstream. Just thinking of DMV artists Fertile Ground rocked shows in DC but they were super duper Hotep I guess they didn't want to water it down like Raheem Devaughn did.

Ultra Nate is big in Europe but she rather do shows at the Paradox (long after it closed) and do club music that ain't even a thing in Baltimore than to do an R&B track.

I guess some people want it/ don't want it more than others. I know semi talented Peoplelike Rihanna ain't mad that Universal takes half of their multi billion dollar cake if they get to touch a billi.

 

[CrimsonTider]

It's funny niggs talk about all this money "indie artists" are making but only name the same 3 indie artist. Neglecting the fact that a "successful indie artist" (that wasn't signed to a major before they went indie) is a rare feat in itself.

Right

I just saw the Shanice unsung documentary and she basically went broke from trying to be an independent artist

she basically said that no one tells you how expensive it is to be independent. Studio time, travel, features, etc is all on you and when you’re signed the label handles all of that

 

[Wiseborn]

Every deal is different. People hear 360 and shut their mind off from what the deal is actually being presented. A label can get 5% of everything in a 360 or they can get 50%. That 360 can only pertain to first week, month, year sales or it could be in perpetuity. You have to read it and you have to have a good lawyer.

There are no easy across the board rules. People need to stop thinking there are.

I scoff at what I hear Joe Budden's Spotify deal might've been that he turned down for this very reason.

Yes and you can buy your way out of the deal or simply wait them out Meg got Jigga to essentially "buy her out" of her deal. Carl still gets a piece but he has no control of her. Kendrick obviously just waited out TDE and if an artist wanted out bad enough all they have to do is make a wack album and get dropped.

 

[High quality poster]

Y’all gon have to name these “independent” artist who’s making more bread that signed artist.

Depends. Frank Ocean is independent and owns his masters in the prime of his career. An artist of his caliber is certainly making more than most signed artist. It depends tho.

 

[Wiseborn]

Right

I just saw the Shanice unsung documentary and she basically went broke from trying to be an independent artist

she basically said that no one tells you how expensive it is to be independent. Studio time, travel, features, etc is all on you and when you’re signed the label handles all of that

That's another thing frankly you need clout. I Love your smile wouldn't work now, she'd have to do Please eat my ass with Cardi B while wearing a weave and nothing else to get hot now.