What Makes BAY AREA Artists Want Deals?

[SMMWest]

I have seen a lot of BAY AREA rap artists on siccness.net whom are searching for Record Contracts. I just wonder why?

Is it to have Radio Rotation around the country of which your label is just going to hire a Radio Promoter for $20,000 and charge that back to your account as $50,000

Is it to film a Video at $250,000 and have it shopped to B.E.T and MTV. And have 50% of that Video Budget recouped from your account?

Is it to have Magazine Ads placed in the Source, XXL, and Murder Dog for an entire year straight?

Is it to be put on a Promotional Tour of which you are not allowed to sell your Cds or Merchandise and the Label recoups the entire cost of the Promo Tour from your Budget?

Is it for an image?

Is it to be in debt?


I recently met a GOSPEL artist who "HIRED ME TO HANDLE HIS MEDIA" and while meeting with this artist I got to see him do his Day Job. This artist shines shoes. He has shinned shoes his entire life. He has raised his Family off of shinning shoes and supported his Wife off of shinning shoes.
In the first 25 Minutes of meeting with this artist I saw him do 2 $25 shoe shines and a $10 shoe shine. He also sells his GOSPEL singles for $7 a piece and sold 1 to each of the people I saw him do a shoe shinning for. So in the first 25 minutes of meeting this man he put $81 in his pocket.

I learned something from this as a Grown Man and as an Artist/Label Owner (as such I don't care what this man does as a living and was proud of him as a man). 1. You can sell anything. 2. You have to have a Niche'/Target Market and "KNOW" that Market 3. To be successful you have to Work Hard. 4. You never need any Machine behind you, you can do it by yourself. 5. It was time along time ago to completely die to self and shut out the outside world (those whom read the bible know what I am talking about).

Check Out this guys cd single. Proof you can sell anything to your Niche'/Target Market. Without need to go outside of it:

Don Ellzey (GOSPEL Artist)
http://www.cdbaby.com/ellzey

 

[leftcoast415]

A Deal = Greater chance of fame

A Deal = Potential to have 50 Cent Money

A Deal = People doing work for you that you would've otherwise had to do yourself

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Deal = People having control over you and your music

A Deal = You having to wait hella long just to put your album out

A Deal = Not even worth it in 2008

 

[Beasty]

A Deal = Greater chance of fame

A Deal = Potential to have 50 Cent Money

A Deal = People doing work for you that you would've otherwise had to do yourself

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Deal = People having control over you and your music

A Deal = You having to wait hella long just to put your album out

A Deal = Not even worth it in 2008

A Deal =More bitches on yo line.Thats why niggas want deals.

 

[Dz Nutts Radio]

hope they dont become a 1 hit wonder like most cats . 1 descent album or maybe song then the next release or single be bootsie

 

[yung-g]

imma be honest, we all know wat makes ppl want a deal.........MONEY, it really does make the world go round, lol. cant do nuthin but respect a nigga hustle tho, niggas is hungry.

 

[Sydal]

A record deal isn't even worth it. Artists make most of their money from publishing and touring. Most of your record sale money goes back to the label, plus they dig into publishing if they can. So, with that said, hustle your shit, get it heard, do your tours and get your publishing straight. You'll do just fine if you can pull it off that way.

50 Cent didn't get 50 Cent money from music. 50 Cent got what he has now by making good investments. Remember, when 50 Cent sells records, he pays Shady, Aftermath, and Interscope. Well, he did. I'm not sure what his deal is now. He made most of his money off Vitamin Water and clothing/shoes. So if somebody wants 50 Cent money, they just need to become savvy businessmen. OR, hire people that know how to invest money.

 

[SMMWest]

imma be honest, we all know wat makes ppl want a deal.........MONEY, it really does make the world go round, lol. cant do nuthin but respect a nigga hustle tho, niggas is hungry.

Who was the last person you heard of from California that "MADE" money from a Major Label Deal? Actually Recouped? Game?<---- NO! Ice Cube?<----- Yes! Ice Cube was most likely the very last California artist to profit from a Record Sale. I am in close circles of artists like Snoop Dogg and I am here to tell you Snoop Dogg doesn't profit from his records. Be does profit from Touring and Guest Features. He also profits from his Clothing and his TV show. You guys with simi names in the Bay can Tour outside of the Bay, do Guest Features outside of the Bay, and Create a Clothing Line that will sell overseas.

Stay away from the "UN"dustry and the Major Machine. Control your own destiny. BLESSINGS.

 

[SMMWest]

A record deal isn't even worth it. Artists make most of their money from publishing and touring. Most of your record sale money goes back to the label, plus they dig into publishing if they can. So, with that said, hustle your shit, get it heard, do your tours and get your publishing straight. You'll do just fine if you can pull it off that way.

50 Cent didn't get 50 Cent money from music. 50 Cent got what he has now by making good investments. Remember, when 50 Cent sells records, he pays Shady, Aftermath, and Interscope. Well, he did. I'm not sure what his deal is now. He made most of his money off Vitamin Water and clothing/shoes. So if somebody wants 50 Cent money, they just need to become savvy businessmen. OR, hire people that know how to invest money.

Very good post. Publishing is a big key and Major Labels want half. Also 50 Cent did get a $500,000 Watch from Eminem upfront in his deal and another $500,000 check from Dr. Dre to sign.

50 Cents money breaks down between, Universal (who owns Interscope), Interscope, Aftermath, Shady and then 50 Cent's G-Unit gets anything left over. Of which there won't be anything.

Eminems deal was even worse. Eminems money breaks down between Goliath Management, Web Entertainment (the independent label he was signed to), Universal, Interscope, Aftermath and then Shady Records gets whats left over. Of which there won't be anything. 6 Companies eat before Eminem eats. His touring deductions are bad too but we won't go into that.

 

[radiostationrep]

it isnt the money.

its the team of people who can help push you as an artist. if its for the money, your lying to yourself. there isnt any. independently you have an oppurtunity to see a very small return, if that.

 

[localstar907]

So what would you suggest? I mean some times an artist doesn't have money to put behind his music for promotion. Me myself right now I know I don't have the money for promotion or touring.

 

[yung-g]

Who was the last person you heard of from California that "MADE" money from a Major Label Deal? Actually Recouped? Game?<---- NO! Ice Cube?<----- Yes! Ice Cube was most likely the very last California artist to profit from a Record Sale. I am in close circles of artists like Snoop Dogg and I am here to tell you Snoop Dogg doesn't profit from his records. Be does profit from Touring and Guest Features. He also profits from his Clothing and his TV show. You guys with simi names in the Bay can Tour outside of the Bay, do Guest Features outside of the Bay, and Create a Clothing Line that will sell overseas.

Stay away from the "UN"dustry and the Major Machine. Control your own destiny. BLESSINGS.

first off, no where in my post did i say an artist actually makes their money off signing that "major deal".........i've been fuckin wit music & enuff artists and ppl (who been in the industry longer than me) to know that. but wat we do ALL know is that signing that deal can provide a wider range of networkin possibilities (tours, features, endorsements, etc.), that u prolly wouldnt get plug on as easy wen indie......its all on ur hustle and how u play ur cards. and as u said most niggas do make most their chips off tours and features and all that (no dispute), so im just sayin that the "major" deal can definately open doors.

 

[SMMWest]

So what would you suggest? I mean some times an artist doesn't have money to put behind his music for promotion. Me myself right now I know I don't have the money for promotion or touring.

Its makes more sense to go to the Bank and get a Loan and repay them then pay a Major Label. Or go get a Credit Card with a good interest rate. It gives you a smaller debt ratio and you are still borrowing money. Don't borrow that money from a Major Label.

 

[SMMWest]

first off, no where in my post did i say an artist actually makes their money off signing that "major deal".........i've been fuckin wit music & enuff artists and ppl (who been in the industry longer than me) to know that. but wat we do ALL know is that signing that deal can provide a wider range of networkin possibilities (tours, features, endorsements, etc.), that u prolly wouldnt get plug on as easy wen indie......its all on ur hustle and how u play ur cards. and as u said most niggas do make most their chips off tours and features and all that (no dispute), so im just sayin that the "major" deal can definately open doors.

Re-Read what was written. It wasn't responding fully to you. It was a general post of which responded to the idealism of your post. I don't know what you have done or whom you have worked with. Therefor the post wasn't geared towards you but instead towards breaking down whom from California made money from a Major Label Contract off of Cd sales alone.

One Luv

 

[radiostationrep]

make good music.

So what would you suggest? I mean some times an artist doesn't have money to put behind his music for promotion. Me myself right now I know I don't have the money for promotion or touring.

if signed or even borrowing money, try and make what you put in back. dont expect to make money. the biggest problem is artists think theres money. worry about getting your name out there and creating a buzz. but once again, DONT DO IT FOR THE MONEY! THERE ISNT ANY UNTIL YOU'VE EARNED IT!

 

[localstar907]

Its makes more sense to go to the Bank and get a Loan and repay them then pay a Major Label. Or go get a Credit Card with a good interest rate. It gives you a smaller debt ratio and you are still borrowing money. Don't borrow that money from a Major Label.

LoL Wish I could but moms fucked my credit a long time ago. But thanks for the info this is a good post for this board.

 

[yung-g]

Re-Read what was written. It wasn't responding fully to you. It was a general post of which responded to the idealism of your post. I don't know what you have done or whom you have worked with. Therefor the post wasn't geared towards you but instead towards breaking down whom from California made money from a Major Label Contract off of Cd sales alone.

One Luv

fasho, all good......but i mean u did quote my post with no specifics, so i went off wat i seen. its good tho bra......1

 

[SMMWest]

LoL Wish I could but moms fucked my credit a long time ago. But thanks for the info this is a good post for this board.

Thank You man for seeing the direction of what I am trying to do with this post. I don't want to see artists get robbed man. If I can stop just "1" artist from getting robbed by a Major Label because they think back to this post then I have given back to the BAY AREA INDEPENDENT RAP "BUSINESS" that has feed me and those around me for many years.

 

[radiostationrep]

if you sign a contract that puts you in debt.

you deserve it.

 

[localstar907]

if signed or even borrowing money, try and make what you put in back. dont expect to make money. the biggest problem is artists think theres money. worry about getting your name out there and creating a buzz. but once again, DONT DO IT FOR THE MONEY! THERE ISNT ANY UNTIL YOU'VE EARNED IT!

I been rapping before I even knew artist where making money so Im not doing it to make a quick buck. As an artist trying to do it myself I have no budget. I have to do all my promotion by hand with flyers knowing 90% of those flyers handed out will either go in the garbage or get thrown on the street. Getting radio play on a station like KMEL or Wild is a long shot without paying. I break it down like this,This is how I see it in my eyes. It cost money for street teams,It cost money to get your music played on the radio,It cost money for ads in magazines,It cost money for flyer/posters/promo disc,It cost money for features and production. So at the end of the day an independent artist is kinda fucked without a label backing them or a private invester.

 

[SMMWest]

I been rapping before I even knew artist where making money so Im not doing it to make a quick buck. As an artist trying to do it myself I have no budget. I have to do all my promotion by hand with flyers knowing 90% of those flyers handed out will either go in the garbage or get thrown on the street. Getting radio play on a station like KMEL or Wild is a long shot without paying. I break it down like this,This is how I see it in my eyes. It cost money for street teams,It cost money to get your music played on the radio,It cost money for ads in magazines,It cost money for flyer/posters/promo disc,It cost money for features and production. So at the end of the day an independent artist is kinda fucked without a label backing them or a private invester.

Homie. You need to take your music to "COLLEGE" Radio. Get them to support you. Supply them with everything you can. Have a Rep from the "COLLEGE" Radio Station on each Campus going around Campus hanging up posters for you and handing out flyers. I promise you homie, it is the way you "WILL" win.