You have a label. Artist is in his prime. Do you make them hold on to the music or flood the market

[Maschine_Man]

lets not act like Jay and the Wu didn't flood the market at one point tho

did they though?
cuz wu dropped albums every millenium or so. And even solo acts were only fulfilling partial wu. Fans were still yearning for that Wu project.
Not just that but they never really released free music like that. They were retail albums.

It only may have seemed flooded just because of the sheer number of members.

But Jay?
he played the game perfectly IMO.

release albums, ride, do features, ride, prep, release new album etc.
and in between albums he did some collab stuff.

 

[BmoreGorilla]

I still don't see how flooding hte market with FREE average mixtapes really helps anyone though. Its such a terrible business practice. I don't get why they do that.

I mean, releasing a new free song here and there is one thing. but full mixtapes? nah.

People don't buy albums so their only real source of income is through shows. And with so many people rapping these days you gotta keep your name out there

 

[BmoreGorilla]

did they though?
cuz wu dropped albums every millenium or so. And even solo acts were only fulfilling partial wu. Fans were still yearning for that Wu project.
Not just that but they never really released free music like that. They were retail albums.

It only may have seemed flooded just because of the sheer number of members.

But Jay?
he played the game perfectly IMO.

release albums, ride, do features, ride, prep, release new album etc.
and in between albums he did some collab stuff.

I can agree with this

 

[TrebleMan]

The thing is, what good artist who has really flooded the market played themselves out in the middle of their run?

Right now I could imagine myself as a youngster and being every time my favorite artist drops new anthems for the weekend.

I think you have to really strike while the iron is hot and strike for a prolonged period of time to really solidify yourself. That way when you come back people will know who you are still.

 

[director_of_bands]

the window of opportunity is only about 5 years anyway so I say flood the market (strategically)

 

[Maschine_Man]

People don't buy albums so their only real source of income is through shows. And with so many people rapping these days you gotta keep your name out there

that I agree with. But giving away all this free music doesn't help with that.

I mena most rappers really only need ONE mixtape, which is your demo. And if that doens't pop off and get you some buzz then you keep dropping mixtapes (demos) until you catch on.
Once that happen, the mixtape game needs to die like that.
Focus on that hot single and the album. do some features.
once you ride that album out by touring,etc., (you should have been preparing your next album/singles)drop a free song or two on radio or online(the new radio). to keep that buzz going.
put out a compilation tape out with other rappers on the label or in your circle, where you drop a song or two. Keeping your name out there by doing features on other artists projects.

Then when your album is ready you drop that first single and let that simmer for a month or two. then drop another single....then you drop your album.


even that is alot of music out, no need to do more than that.

 

[Maschine_Man]

the window of opportunity is only about 5 years anyway so I say flood the market (strategically)

Flooding the market with your presence is actually really good(see Drake,etc.)

flooding the market with free music is actually terrible.

 

[CrimsonTider]

There's no such thing as over saturation

There's no guarantee fans will care about you next year

Album sales are the main source of revenue for the industry

 

[CrimsonTider]

Flooding the market with your presence is actually really good(see Drake,etc.)

flooding the market with free music is actually terrible.

Who doesn't flood the market?

Cole dropped 3 mixtapes before his last album

 

[CrimsonTider]

I still don't see how flooding hte market with FREE average mixtapes really helps anyone though. Its such a terrible business practice. I don't get why they do that.

I mean, releasing a new free song here and there is one thing. but full mixtapes? nah.

Because money is made from your buzz

Music is so cheap to make these days so you throw music out there and hope a song or two make noise

 

[CrimsonTider]

But who's really buying this shyt? I didn't buy either of those albums. DL'd them all on Google Play, gave them a listen and deleted them when I realized they weren't all that good.

I remember once upon a time in the early early 90s when going Gold was the shyt then the game stepped and more people became interested in the music and then it was all about going plat. What's the climate now? How much does a rapper have to sell to be considered a success? I honestly don't know anymore.

No one is buying albums. You can't measure success from album sales solely

 

[BmoreGorilla]

that I agree with. But giving away all this free music doesn't help with that.

I mena most rappers really only need ONE mixtape, which is your demo. And if that doens't pop off and get you some buzz then you keep dropping mixtapes (demos) until you catch on.
Once that happen, the mixtape game needs to die like that.
Focus on that hot single and the album. do some features.
once you ride that album out by touring,etc., (you should have been preparing your next album/singles)drop a free song or two on radio or online(the new radio). to keep that buzz going.
put out a compilation tape out with other rappers on the label or in your circle, where you drop a song or two. Keeping your name out there by doing features on other artists projects.

Then when your album is ready you drop that first single and let that simmer for a month or two. then drop another single....then you drop your album.


even that is alot of music out, no need to do more than that.

But lets be honest breh. Whose making demos in 2016? You got kids who get found on youtube these days just fukking around. With so many people rapping these days it makes it that much harder to establish any longevity

 

[Maschine_Man]

But lets be honest breh. Whose making demos in 2016? You got kids who get found on youtube these days just fukking around. With so many people rapping these days it makes it that much harder to establish any longevity

no one is making "demos"(conventionally) but a mixtape IS a demo.

just not as conventional like it used to be. Putting your mixtape on Datpiff and being found or putting music on youtube and being found IS your demo.

 

[Maschine_Man]

Because money is made from your buzz

Music is so cheap to make these days so you throw music out there and hope a song or two make noise

I never said NOT to put out music. I'm saying though, a song or two or a video or two is better for keeping your buzz then a full mixtape.

especially when ppl ain't really got time checking for mixtapes like that. but a song or two is perfect. Plus doing features and songs with other artists.

Music is cheap to record, its not cheap to make. Those features are NOT free. and most rappers nowadays are doing mixtapes where every song has a featured artist or two. and they may get some free features or some quid pro quo shyt but nothing is free.

 

[Maschine_Man]

Who doesn't flood the market?

Cole dropped 3 mixtapes before his last album

what mixtapes?