M Pire Magazine August 2014 | Page 13

A major record deal will plug you into the deep pockets, leverage its contacts to your advantage, fast track and short cut you to the A list. It is, right now the only way to super-stardom. For now, the idea is to make your music and your persona as an artist more attractive, more valuable and more viable. The idea is to level the playing field through self-release and promotion and develop some bargaining power of your own. You will cut a better deal. You will retain more of your rights. You will have some say in your art, your career and your future. If you build it they will come, they will court, they will bend and you will be ready for them. But don’t get all starry eyed and impatient. Unless your career is smoking