Hate of music industry

LegacyUser

hello, not giving out much details here as a quick google will find me, going to keep it short.
being playing all my life, the band im in at the minute are quite big, we have been together 4 years and have got rather big my point in the f ucking p rick holes in the insdustry they turn my f ucking stomach put me off doing what i love i really dont know what to do there so stuck up there hole well... i need some advice you get what im saying.. right?
thanks.

biko

I think we all know that the moguls that run the music industry are greedy people. What kind of advice are you looking for?

Wibbs

I'm wondering the same. What advice are you looking for? Yes the music business is full of those kind of people. It's the music business after all. "Art" takes second place. If it's creative interference you're píssed off about, well sad to say you may as well get used to it.

Buzz Buzz

Well just quit then and go back to busking on Grafton St. Case closed.:rolleyes:

biko

Is that you Bono?

Sorry mods, couldn't help it

EL_Loco

They trying to dress you up for a new image? not getting on with your band mates? some marketing dude banging on about the 18-30 demographic?

If they're coming down and saying "don't play that note, play that one" then yeah, loada ballix. If you're browned off with the extra layers that go into the music industry other than the music then it's more a case of grin and bear it.

If you've contract obligations then fulfill them. My take on this would be get free and clear of the current situation you're in and then maybe deal with smaller labels, or even just release things yourself. That's half the trouble the music industry is having anyway, it's far too easy for people to do it all themselves these days, just bang up a website and stream your music to the masses.

anyways, as I say, I'd just play ball to get through it. Do what you like after that.

Tommy the Cat

Your chances of making it in this country are pretty slim. How many successful Irish acts have came out of this country in the last 10 years, unless your playing elevator music ala Snow Patrol. If you want to make a go of things then pack your bags and get the fudge out. I myself have been playing music for the past 17 years and those days of making it are long gone. Good luck.

cantdecide

The fruits of your creativity are basically the raw material of a very serious, high cost, high risk, competitive and fickle business.

Your record company's balance sheet will show tons of losses that you will be contributing to, more akin an insurance company. It's the nature of the business. You could have 6 figure sales and be a household name in Ireland and still be a wage slave:(

I would suggest really just trying to not let it all bother you because the pr*cks actually just have different and probably more serious worries that extend far beyond the creative aspect. They have agendas that they are probably very open about and if things go well for them, they're entitled to their luck the same as you are. They are not as concerned about todays successes. They are more trying to legislate for tomorrows risks because there are tons of people and their families expecting them to put money in their wage packets for their daily toils...

I'd love to know who you play with, fancy PMing me:)

Otis Driftwood

Are they trying to get you to change who you are/whore you out etc?

sunshinegirl

i suppose if you stick at it, think of the financial opportunites. Why not find an outlet for your frustration like boxing,yoga,meditation, ski diving,skiing etc.
You will have to grin and bare it if you wish to succeed ,but getting your frustration out is key.

Unregistered

Unregistered wrote: »

hello, not giving out much details here as a quick google will find me, going to keep it short.
being playing all my life, the band im in at the minute are quite big, we have been together 4 years and have got rather big my point in the f ucking p rick holes in the insdustry they turn my f ucking stomach put me off doing what i love i really dont know what to do there so stuck up there hole well... i need some advice you get what im saying.. right?
thanks.

The band you are in at the minute are quite big?

Well then tell whoever it is to go do one!

Ye are the ones with the power. They are not gonna want to lose ye just cuz ye dont do a particular photo shoot or release a certain single etc.

At the end of the day you are their product. They might wish you were a little different, but your not, and they're stuck with you.

Stick it to the man!

Wagon

[quote=[Deleted User];59579153]The band you are in at the minute are quite big?

Well then tell whoever it is to go do one!
[/QUOTE]
I'd agree with this. you don't need the record company. If you have a good following already then you can drop the basatards and go unsigned. Real life examples like Arctic Monkeys, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, etc... did that and then signed up to smaller labels, where they wearn't going to make as much money but were given the freedom to work at their own pace and could do what they wanted. Lets face it, you don't have that now and that's why your posting here.

Big record company doesn't mean success. If the last 25 years in music have anything to prove, it's that they destroy bands and curb creativity. The sum of money looks appealing but it'll inevatably be used to pay off the management. It's like breaking up with a girlfriend you find really really attractive but is a complete bitch. Just ignore the attractive figure and tell them to **** off.

Joey the lips

I am a musician as well ans I am sure not as popular as you. Musicians have known this for years. Prince wire slave to protest it for a long time.

Unless your in your 60's you must have know it when entering. They music industry is no lon ger a hobby its a business like all businesses it constantly changes to suit moods. You think simon cowel does not tell people he will be speaking to them that way.

Get out if your not happy. Izzy did. Live gigs tend to give you more control of yourself.

Best of luck I understand your feelings but we have known this years.

BaZmO*

Why don't you write a song about your "pain"?
Isn't that what artistes do, internalise what ills you and create something beautiful from it.

Joey the lips wrote: »

Prince wire slave to protest it for a long time.

"Slave"??? Ah that makes sense now.

I always thought he wrote "Shave" on his face to remind him to do his whiskers in the morning.

CDfm

OP -its the career you choose and is how you make your living.

The "Man and the "Suits" are part of it.

Get over it and act your age.

Zaph

OP, any chance of a few more details so people can actually offer advice or, given that this was posted at 5am, is this simply a drunken rant, in which case I'll close it.

GigaByte

Cheryl Tweed can hack it, why can't you? Learn to speak up for yourself instead of hiding in the background. Grow a pair of balls for once and don't hide behind "Unregistered" :rolleyes:

Big band my arse, keep blowing it up your own!

Daftendirekt

[quote=[Deleted User];59579153]The band you are in at the minute are quite big?

Well then tell whoever it is to go do one!

Ye are the ones with the power. They are not gonna want to lose ye just cuz ye dont do a particular photo shoot or release a certain single etc.

At the end of the day you are their product. They might wish you were a little different, but your not, and they're stuck with you.

Stick it to the man![/quote]

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work like this. Unless the OP's band is hugely successful(think Metallica, U2 etc.), the suits are the ones with the power.


OP, if you're signed to a label already, then I'd imagine you'll have to fulfill your contractual obligations first of all. Nothing you can do about that, you'll just have to go with the flow for a while longer.

After that, what do you want to do? If you're looking to become bigger, more successful, then unfortunately, your best bet is to keep whoring your music out. If you feel like the business side of things is stamping on your creative freedom, why don't you try releasing material independently? It'll be a lot more work, and chances are you'll remain pretty obscure for the duration of your career, but if this is the path you choose, you'll pretty much be able to do whatever you like(music-wise), free from any record company interference.

It kind of amounts to this: do you see your music as a product, or a form of self-expression/art?

I suppose it's not really that black and white, and a happy medium would be to go along with what's happening now, and just enjoy being able to make a living playing music(assuming that's what you're doing).

Haven't really got anything else to say on the subject. Hopefully I've been some help to you, you haven't given much info to work with to be honest, but there ya go.


Best of luck whatever happens.

Pub07

Unregistered wrote: »

hello, not giving out much details here as a quick google will find me, going to keep it short.
being playing all my life, the band im in at the minute are quite big, we have been together 4 years and have got rather big my point in the f ucking p rick holes in the insdustry they turn my f ucking stomach put me off doing what i love i really dont know what to do there so stuck up there hole well... i need some advice you get what im saying.. right?
thanks.

I thought this post was from The Edge until I saw the '4 years' part.

LegacyUser

OP, as someone who has worked in the music industry I know exactly how you feel. Its a horrible bitter world of greed, egos and just general ****.

I made the decision to sacrifice something Id wanted to do my whole life and make a career change, and I can tell you , I never looked back. To this day I am still shocked at my happiness from NOT working in the industry that Ive always dreamt to be in.

Unless you are the absolute best of the best of the best of the best, then you are already on an uphill struggle, and to be successful after that you still have to have a passion that will outweigh any passion any musician has in Ireland. I have met artists that had that talent to be famous, but not the passion. I have also met artists with the passion but not the talent.

My life now means I work in a job I love, work with modest, friendly , chilled out , decent people who dont have any other agenda than to come in to work, have a laugh, do their bit, and go home. And I dont have to chase anyone for any more money, it comes right to my bank account hassle free.

As cheesy as it sounds, I feel liberated, and the ironic thing is, my passion for music right now is greater than ever, but Im enjoying now, I wasnt then, it was destroying me then.

CDfm

Zaph wrote: »

OP, any chance of a few more details so people can actually offer advice or, given that this was posted at 5am, is this simply a drunken rant, in which case I'll close it.

that would be handy to see what OP dislikes.

Days of old musicians were entertainers and had to work etc - I would like to see what parts of the business he doesnt like?

Stereotypes of musicians are teenagers that havent grown up and have issues with getting out of bed,anywhere on time , and playing their instruments while sober.Oh and they wont to get paid for it. Is this true?

MojoMaker

Glen, you and the lads are doing really bloody well and you're in a position of extreme luxury and really if all that's dampening your horizon is a few poxy suits I would consider yourself very lucky dude! Come out for a few scoops with us when you're back...

The Mad Hatter

OP - I suggest you get in touch with Magnatune.com - they're a good record label. (Their signature phrase is 'We are not evil'.)

They have a 50% split deal with all their artists (which is better than what you'll get most anywhere else), and cover pretty much all genres.

Zaph

OK, it looks like the OP has given up on us so I'm closing this as we've no idea what advice, if any, is being sought.