Hip-Hop Record Labels & Big Business

(Source)

Rap is big business! It's (estimated as) a 3 billion dollar industry. Although hip-hop has traditionally been a genre of music where an artist doesn't necessarily have to depend on radio play (because a lot of stations won't play the music), getting a song on the radio can do wonders for your career. Press involvement is how you get a buzz and the more you (or your label) network(s) and get(s) individuals, groups, and organization to feature your music, the better your release will do.

The problem is record labels are like a bank, they loan you money, and they want their money back with a lot of interest. The conditions on your contract are like the conditions on your loan. In real terms, all the label wants is "your two hit singles" so they can make their money, and fast!

As a general rule, the record labels don't care about the artist. They would rather see the artist "act a fool" and make money then do something respectful and dignified (because that doesn't create a lot of attention). They try and exploit the artist rather then empower them.

Not all the problems are the fault of the record labels. Most artists don't know when there suppose to get paid, how much, or (even) how. They don't read the terms of their contract and end up finding themselves in a situation that could have been avoided by consulting legal representation prior to signing.

It seems that the really good rappers/hip-hop artists go into business for themselves by making their own label--or become the CEO of the label that "put them on." If you go the independent route it is important you "focus on yo business." Getting into production, owning your own pressing plant, and running your label so professionally you can acquire other artists and companies is important to be sucessful with your indepenedent label. If you can, get into publishing, synchronization, and ques on film. The point is to treat your business as an asset and accrue capital from owning copyrighted material.

I personally started my own record label because I don't want to have to depend on anybody or have people (I don't necessarily trust) run my life. I want it to be about the music and not necessarily just the money (although, I don't care what anyone says, money is an important factor, by necessity, to running your own label).

I have a pretty good idea what's going on in hip-hop and eventually I wanna give talented artists the opportunity to make money and sell their original stories instead of requiring a gimmick for quick sales. I know hip-hop is (suppose to be) the representation of (oppressed) peoples and I want to give them a voice.

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