It is not uncommon for people, mainly musicians, to have bad opinions about the music industry. Some would go as far to say that it is a ruthless business that cares nothing about the artist because the artist is only a brand and not a person. On the other hand, some people see the music industry as a great way to gain exposure and that it is the best way for artists to receive funds for doing what they love to do. Like everything, the music industry has its pros and cons, but the real question is, are the cons worth the risk?
In a recent interview with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, Yorke expresses that it is “only a matter of time – months rather than years – before the music business establishment completely folds.”
He then urges all upcoming musicians to not seek the aid of the industry in their musical venture, but to self release their music and take the independent route. Yorke’s band, Radiohead was signed to EMI but after their departure, sold their latest album In Rainbows as a “pay what you want” deal which many fans took advantage of.
I sort of agree with Yorke on this one. I’ve always heard stories about the industry in all genres of music and they are all virtually the same. They get signed to a label, the label tries to change the artist, the label puts major pressure on the artist to sell songs, the artist doesn’t come through and then the artist gets dropped. It gives off the sense that the industry makes the artist and the artist has no control of their music unless it’s what the label wants to hear. It seems as if you only have two options: do what the industry wants or do it all yourself.
Personally, I’m tired of seeing artists, especially ones that I like, sell out to this conspiracy. I always value originality and true freedom of expression and loath any constraints being brought onto anyone. I believe that the industry should let the artist do what they want and just sit back and do their job as promoters and managers. The problem is that the industry is about money and they need things that sell. If being naked on the cover of Playboy or participating in lesbian acts gets results, they will make you do it.
One example I recall is the female duo T.A.T.U. who are the pop band from Russia who came out in the early 2000’s with their hit song “Not Gonna Get Us.” They originally portrayed themselves as lesbians where they even kissed while performing their song in the MTV Awards show. Later they came out and said that they weren’t lesbians and one of the members even had a child by a man. Being that the group was formed by another person, it wasn’t their idea to portray themselves in this way, but it was the industry in which they worked for that brought this on. So here we have two teenage girls being told to portray themselves as lesbians just so they can bring in a certain crowd which ultimately worked. The Gay community however felt betrayed after learning of the group’s deceit which the duo apologized for.
Now if T.A.T.U. was really a lesbian couple, I could deal with that, but when you start sacrificing yourself for fame and notoriety then I have a problem because no one should have to give up who they are as a person just to satisfy another human being. Period.
Even though Thom Yorke’s band is already famous it would seem easy for him to make the assumption that people should sponsor their own music brand, but when you think about it, what record label started off on top. It takes time and effort for these things to happen but in the end it’s better than selling yourself to someone else’s image. I have mad respect for Jay-Z for not dealing with the already set industry and making his own brand. I remember watching Vh1 Behind the Scenes on the New York rapper where in his beginning stages he and Dame dash went to a record company hoping to be signed and the person they went to see asked Jay-Z to rap and Jay-Z responded in saying “I don’t rap for free.”
After saying that, Jay-Z left and started his own brand which, as we all know, has gone to be the most prolific brand to ever have been made in the music industry. This has always stuck with me and it just shows how faith in your abilities can get you further than what you might realize.
In conclusion, fuck the music industry. That’s why we have the bullshit music that’s coming out now because the industry wants to sell records but not stay true to what music is all about. Yeah you might be able to give a lot of artists great recognition but if I have to sell out to do so then fuck that. I’d rather be a slave to myself than a slave to another man or woman. It was these same pressures that got to Kurt Cobain where he got to a point where even he recognized it was all just a big joke. Having your own people criticize you for what type of music you make is not at all encouraging, that’s why after making Nevermind, Kurt went back to his grungier roots and made In Utero which is one of my favorite albums: no glam…just rock.
Later Days…
P.S. Shout out to Nouveau Music for staying true to the music and not the B.S. propaganda…
