This is very common... at least with the people I know. As an example, one of my bands formed an LLC, raised $20k in "VC" and went on the road. Once we got a good enough following, our LLC put together a deal with a record company for distribution. Everyone was happy and we had a good run.
If I may add a nice rant, I hate it when people bitch about evil record labels. Seriously, if an artist gets screwed by a label, it is their fault for not taking the time to learn the business or finding someone who will learn.
I have to disagree. Labels are so omnipresent that until very recently, you couldn't get any sales unless you were attached to a big record label. In many ways it was a 4-company monopoly.
Now things are easier for independent labels, but it's still very one-sided. The big names need to be attached to a big label, and that means they're going to have to get screwed.
I don't agree. We were able to get sales (including international sales) by being on a tiny label run out of a guy's 1 bedroom, ant infested apt in chicago in 1999.
I agree large labels make it possible to make a good living, but even back in the day it was possible to eek out a living by touring constantly and getting distribution from a one-man label.
Comments
This is very common... at least with the people I know. As an example, one of my bands formed an LLC, raised $20k in "VC" and went on the road. Once we got a good enough following, our LLC put together a deal with a record company for distribution. Everyone was happy and we had a good run.
If I may add a nice rant, I hate it when people bitch about evil record labels. Seriously, if an artist gets screwed by a label, it is their fault for not taking the time to learn the business or finding someone who will learn.
I have to disagree. Labels are so omnipresent that until very recently, you couldn't get any sales unless you were attached to a big record label. In many ways it was a 4-company monopoly.
Now things are easier for independent labels, but it's still very one-sided. The big names need to be attached to a big label, and that means they're going to have to get screwed.
I don't agree. We were able to get sales (including international sales) by being on a tiny label run out of a guy's 1 bedroom, ant infested apt in chicago in 1999.
I agree large labels make it possible to make a good living, but even back in the day it was possible to eek out a living by touring constantly and getting distribution from a one-man label.