Why Don't Record Labels Believe In Young Artists?

In this episode I discuss and question why record labels don't have more faith in artists writing their own material and the current rising trend of older artists selling their publishing rights for millions.

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[SoyanOsman]

I can pretty much follow this every day on my job at a record label and it boils down to a few very common things in the industry:
1. Recorded music pays much less. Say its due to streaming, the gradual decline of physical sales, the immense oversupply of music to listen to - artists and therefore labels make less money on new releases than they did 20 years ago. That means there is less money to invest in new artists - especially if the label can't expect to make a return on its investment. So instead of going with a new generation of good writers, most A&Rs are going with artists that have already established themselves and an audience instead of building one with them - meaning its less about songwriters and more about marketeers.
2. Lets say there is a decision to invest heavily in an artist: they don't have 7 years to "break"- they pretty much have a few singles and one album if they're lucky. If that doesn't do it they're dropped and that is a tag you usually don't want.
3. Just business in general. If you can put out re-issue after re-issue and sell more at a higher price than spending money on a small artist, then that decision comes pretty easy to most who have to focus on the bottom line.
Is that a smart way to go about things? Definetly not, I totally agree with Rick here. Its a trend that especially the rock and metal scene should also be worried about. Constantly focusing on the big artists of the past leads you to not having headliners tomorrow. It dries out a genre and its a thing thats happening.

[musicbyhavens]

As a young artist who writes his own material, I loved hearing this insight from Rick. I hadn't looked at it from this angle. It's funny, but if Dylan were 18 today and trying to get his music heard, the labels and radio would have no interest at all. He'd have to go to YouTube/Instagram and compete for views with everyone else. A genius like that. Imagine. Now think of all the talented young writers in this position today. It's nothing short of tragic.

[mostly_buckethead]

Right on Rick, don’t ever stop doing what you do. This is public service at its finest. Thank you

[alandalaku]

There's a great interview with Dick Dale where he says, "Want to make money? DON'T sign with a record label."

[kultan]

An artist said that she overheard a top Producer say that they didn't want to sign people with talent who could song write etc. Because ARTISTS are trouble and are hard to control but people with no talent NEED THEM to steer their career.

[davidnassur]

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” Hunter S \thompson.

[terminal]

We are a portuguese rock band that is right now releasing our first record.... and it is frustrating the lack of support and help we get in our hometown. Last year we released an EP and we almost needed to beg in local clubs and bars to let us play live... They only want cover bands, playing the same old rock songs and dont give a shot to the new musicians that create and produce all their music.. the only gigs we booked were about 100$ for the whole band.
It hurts and its like joking with your work and passion, but we aint gonna stop... The love we have for music, and creating music will always prevail. So if this new album wont let us play live more often and get a bigger fanbase, next year we will record a new album, and we will never stop!
The music industry and radios have to wake up!!!!

[Justinmeatybonds]

It's not just record labels and publishers that lack the vision. It's everyone in positions of power. It's the artists that have the vision.

[BecomeTheKnight]

8:09 my guess is (haven't finished video yet) they're more concerned with the "artist" having the best possible "customer-facing" image regardless of writing ability. More focus is placed on appearance and performance. Think of the performer as the sales person and the composer as the manufacturer of the "product" they call music. They'll need co-writers even if they can write great, so why put an emphasis on that skill when the gap will certainly be filled? This is what happens when business becomes the priority in art. As a business decision, you need a guarantee that the only person who is customer-facing is the most presentable and approachable on your team. It doesn't matter what your manufacturers look like or how they speak but they need to be able to produce the most consumable music possible. Makes sense if you realize most of the authenticity is sucked out of the music label womb like an aborted fetus. All they care about is money. Period.

[Macknsteez]

They're buying the catalogues so they can't be sued for plagiarism when they cop every riff/melody/harmony ever written and say that their latest Instagram Model-turned singer wrote the song.

[BBullet]

Labels don't want to sign people who can write their own music because they want to keep their products formulaic and familiar because they sell more.

[ElijahStanfield]

May I suggest that you start featuring new/ young indie artists music occasionally on this channel? What makes this unknown song great?

[timothythompson]

You'll love this one, Rick. (Sarcasm) A UK based fishing channel I follow had agreements with record labels to use music in their videos, turning over revenue to the artists for YEARS. Out of the blue, some of the labels began demanding additional payment. 5, 000 GBP per year for a single video. They didn't have it to give, so they wound up with a copyright strike. So now they've deleted somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 videos to keep from losing their channel. So now they've lost years of work, artists don't receive ad revenue and recognition from their videos, and the label still doesn't get £5K per year. EVERYBODY loses! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. These record label dumbasses sure do love stepping on dicks, including their own

[hillie]

"Bands like Nirvana are 30 years old!"

Thanks for punching me in the gut on this nice and sunny Monday morning Rick! :-)

[DinoDiniProductions]

It's not just "Young people". I'm 55, but have been writing songs for 40 years. Of course, I was getting nowhere and then had success in another field. To solve this problem, I developed a career and my musical skills over that time so that now I can fund myself in recording my music with my day job. I do not do this because anyone cares. I pay musicians to play with me, because it's just too damn hard to get commitment (and quality) otherwise. I advertise my music which stands little chance of making any money - just so I can in effect pay for an audience. Why do I do this? Because I believe in music and I owe it to all those inspirations that have come my way through my life. Music is important to me and I believe all music is important to humanity. I will regret not getting it out there at the end of my life if I don't do it. That is what music is about: Music. Not money, not fame, not power or influence. The music industry I feel has largely forgotten that it is really about. So why do these people at the end of their careers want to sell off their works? Frankly, I would do the same in their position, but not because of the money - I'd do it because that would be the best chance of my work staying alive - of the legacy being looked after. We creators of music have a duty of care to music which chose to manifest itself through us. I might be flawed and inadequate, but my songs damn well chose me and I am going to do my best to take care of them.

[blazemordly]

"Welcome to the machine" came to mind more than once during this episode.

[sosilly]

A lot of young artists don’t sign to labels, they just do it themselves through the internet. These older artists are just the last thing they are holding on to

[gilli_e]

It's the same problem in the film industry; the loss of risk taking and only excepting huge success straight off the bat.

[charlesmurray]

I appreciate this content! As a young musician, knowing that there's someone out there caring for the younger upcoming artists motivates me quite a bit.

[anthonyhale]

The Black Keys did an interview with Joe Rogan where they touched on this topic at great length. They brought up how labels aren’t willing to invest in mid-tier artists who bring in mid-tier revenue anymore, as they’re increasingly looking for ways to minimize costs and maximize profits.