Only about 1 in 10 signed bands make money for the record labels. What does that mean? How can they possibly continue to operate with that astronomical failure rate? It's simple: they use a complex system of charges and counter-charges to bleed the successful bands of money to cover their losses with the unsuccessful bands. Why is this allowed? Because artists are inherently random and disorganized and unconcerned about the legal implications of the agreements they sign with the record company. And if you ever hear an artist say they are completely satisfied and happy with the deal they have signed you can be reasonably assured that they don't understand it. Not one bit of it.
I have no respect for anyone
working for any major label in any capacity whatsoever in the executive.
They're all liars. They're all mediocre people with no talent.
They don't know talent. They don't understand music in any way
whatsoever.
Genesis P'orridge , Psychic TV
Anton started using heroin heavily.... Dig!
You can learn almost anything important there is to know about the music industry by watching the film "Dig!", about Anton Newcomb and the Brian Jonestown Massacre, his band, and Courtney Taylor and the Dandy Warhols.
The Dandy Warhols, having deeply impressed the A & R department, was signed by Capitol Records who put up $400,000 to film a video for one of their songs. Their concept for the video was a bit weird and, after spending the $400 K, they didn't sound too sure they even liked it.
Is the video about Anton Newcomb? He may have thought so. After the Warhols produced an album called "Not if you Were the Last Junkie on Earth", Newcomb produced an album called "Not if you Were the last Dandy on Earth".
The Brian Jonestown Massacre received money to record an album. Anton Newcomb took the money and built a home studio with it instead, so they could do a lot of recording at minimal cost. Then he failed to produce an album because he "started using heroin heavily".
Anton Newcomb has "issues". He screams at band-mates during gigs and sometimes assaults them. He informs staff at the record label that he is going to make them a lot of money-- a LOT of money. He seems obsessively jealous of any attention given to the Dandy Warhols.
The Warhols sold a song to cell phone company in Europe which turned the song into a hit which made the Warhols very successful, in Europe. They had some difficulty translating that success into America.