RE: [acid-jazz] mathematics

From: Steve (scatanzaro4_at_cox.net)
Date: 2004-10-17 03:24:22

  • Next message: t-bird: "RE: [acid-jazz] mathematics"

    t;

    the flip side of that is the labels have massive overhead. Owning a
    manufacturing plant or a studio isn't cheap. as a matter of fact, most
    labels have gotten out of the studio biz, since its unprofitable for
    them; cheaper to just rent massive blocks of time than to pay these
    union cats to calibrate 2" studers every night. Ditto staff engineers,
    etc...

    Seems like the really prestigious studios, in la at least, are mostly
    privately owned,(except capitol, of course) and the labels are competing
    with each other for rates and such.

    As for manufacturing... yeah, they can "make" discs for cheaper than we
    can, but they have to build, maintain and staff a whole plant, which
    isn't cheap. The ac bill alone at the capitol tower is probably more
    than most small labels spend in a year.

    So, it costs labels a lot of money to stay in business. People don't
    just lick stamps and make deliveries and audit books out of the kindness
    of their heart. They have to be paid. And, in cali, they have to get
    their union health benis, and unemployment insurance and fica, and state
    and federal, and property tax, and AFM salaries, and AFTRA salaries, and
    a grip of lawyers, and auditors, and accountants, and top drawer
    producers, and on and on ad infinitum.

    Now, is it true that lots of musicians probably wish they never signed
    their label deal? Sure, especially if they used their advance money to
    buy a 590sl or a land rover instead of some studio gear.

    And many, many musicians are young and immature, ready to sign anything
    they need to be a rock star. And, they get shafted because the label
    makes the call as to what they want to push.

    So yes, its always better to be independent if you can, or to sign the
    shortest deal you can. BUT, my point was specifically about those who
    HAVE made a name for themselves through their relationships with the
    majors.

    Pop stars, generally speaking, are like milk... they start to stink if
    they hang around past their expiration date. But if you've built a fan
    base thru your time in a major, and now you're talking about the major
    as though you were a SLAVE...

    Well, hell, then... why did u sign the deal in the first place? Why
    didn't you just come up with $40k and do it yourself? I never knew a
    prisoner who got a $50-100k advance before they locked the doors on him.
    (And, did you ever see a prison with just about every musician in the
    world trying to get in?)

    PS GO SEE SY SMITH TONITE AT LITTLE TEMPLE

    PPS NP MARK DE CLIVE LOWE, TIDE'S ARISING SAMPLER, HOT HOT HOT!!!