Record label contracts and their structures might sound very overwhelming to some artists , but they are essentially based on a mutually beneficial deal wherein the more successful the artists become , the more the record label earns . An artist ’ s success also gives them greater authority to renegotiate their contracts and ask for favourable changes .
A report from IFPI claims that it takes around £ 1 million of investment for a new artist to break into the mainstream . Record labels are the catalysts that can take care of the manufacturing , promotion and distribution of an artist ’ s music in exchange for the rights to their music .
Big Indie Bang , a subsidiary of Big Bang Music believes that labels help artists look at things with a 360-degree view and accelerate their journey with marketing support , better distribution and overall support .
An official from the label said , “ I look at it like this - you can go
publish your own book at a printing press and can be successful at it too . A book publisher will make sure that the book is available everywhere and on the first shelf when you walk into a store . I think successful labels do that for new music releases and artists - they leverage their networks to get maximum visibility for the artists .”
In this digital age , some of the big record labels also offer 360 deals to their artists that give them a commission from all the artist ' s work which includes album sales , media appearances , and product endorsements .
Another label that houses a lot of famous acts under their belt is Azadi Records , and its Co-Founder Uday Kapur thinks that every label that has been essential in defining the sound of an era has elevated itself beyond handling the ' business side of things and stood for something - a sound , a community or an idea . He says , “ The role that labels have to play from a creative standpoint is geared more towards elevating the artist ' s vision ” However , he also believes that labels aren ' t the only
MANYA MASIWAL
axis through which an artist can be successful , and it totally depends on whether they are the right fit for each other .
Should a new artist run after a record deal ?
A few decades ago , new artists could not even fathom getting recognised without a big name backing them . Now that social media and the internet have revolutionised music , releasing music on your own has never been simpler . Nevertheless , record labels still hold their stand of accelerating an artist ’ s career in 2021 with companies discovering new talent on YouTube or in a live show every day .
An artist should always keep in mind what their goals as a musician are and look for labels that are ready to work at the same wavelength . It is the artist ’ s choice to associate their music and hard work with a company or independently try to break it into the industry . In the end , it all comes down to what feels true to them and their music .
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