‘Cash Me Outside’ Girl Signing Marks The Official Split of the Music Industry
here are now two completely separate music industries.
And most don’t even realize this. It has been a long time coming.
One, you have the traditional music industry. I call it the Superstar Business. And it’s run by the major labels. For a while now, of course, they have been solely focused on how to make the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time. This year. This week. This day. This moment.
Their vision and strategic timelines have been getting shorter and shorter. Gone are the days where a Columbia records sticks it out through two failed (full length) albums because they believe in an artist – like what happened with Bruce Springsteen.
Now the majors won’t even sign you unless you’re already proven — with the numbers to tout.
If you hadn’t lost all respect for major record labels yet, well you have now. Atlantic Records just signed someone who is not a musician. Is not a rap “artist.” Is not any more talented than the next 14 year old kid who can kinda rap. But has a following. A massive one at that.
If you have been living under a rock the past week, you may have missed that Atlantic Records just signed (a 360 deal no doubt) Danielle Bregoli (a.k.a. Bhad Bhabie) — who got shot to stardom by her colorful appearance on Dr. Phil. The “Cash Me Outside” meme (and remix) was born. And in true Kardashian fashion, she has since gained millions of Instagram followers.
Atlantic records doesn’t care about art. Doesn’t care about musicians. Doesn’t care about artists. All Atlantic Records (and their execs) care about is money.
We live in a capitalist society. So this is all fine and dandy I guess. But don’t think for a second that when you (or your artist) sign to a major that you will get some personalized attention because you have some artistic purity or integrity. Or because you think your music is great. Unless you’re going to make them a lot of money this year, don’t even bother walking in the front door
Let’s remember that Bhad Bhabi charted on the Billboard Hot 100, not because she has millions of fans. But because she has millions of people who wanted to see what all the fuss is about.
Myself included. You don’t need to buy records today to do this. All you need to do is head over to YouTube or Spotify and play the song for free. And Billboard tracks every stream. 1,500 streams equals a Streaming Equivalent Album (SEA) purchase – hence the Billboard charting. Let’s note that although she hit #1 on the US Viral Charts on Spotify, no one is buying her song on iTunes – she didn’t even crack the top 200 trending songs as of Monday (2 weeks after the release).
Yes, she has millions of Instagram followers. But I consider fans to be those who would actually spend money on their favorite artists. Attend concerts. Buy merch in a non-ironic way (see “Cash Me Outside” sold out Ts).
Or maybe she does have fans. I suppose she is perfectly emblematic of American culture right now: Lead by a bombastic misogynist as President supported by an aggressively anti-PC base.
What do we expect? We live in a reality TV nation — where people believe the way to “make it” in music is to either win a TV singing contest or go viral and get signed to a major record label.
When in reality this doesn’t prove to be a path to sustained success in the music industry.
And the major record labels know this. And really don’t give a flying fuck. They are set up that way.
The major labels are in the business of making money — not developing or showcasing talent. Period.
So get rid of that misconception.
And what is the other music industry existing right now? I call it the New Music Business. And it’s much more encouraging.
It is an industry existing completely outside TMZ culture. One that is not being written about by any of the culture rags. Or even Billboard very often. Because it’s not very sexy.
It is the industry of the independents. The working musicians. The DIYers damning the system and proclaiming they are not in it for quick fame and instant success, but because music is at the core of who they are. And they would rather build a career than chase fame.
There are literally tens of thousands of independent musicians, managing sustainable music careers, making middle class livings (or oftentimes 6-7 figure incomes), who you have never heard of. And Variety or TMZ will never write about.
Every creator on Patreon. Every artist touring clubs and theaters. Every musician running Kickstarters and PledgeMusic and IndieGoGo campaigns. Every indie artist making a living licensing songs on TV shows, commercials and films. Every artist making a music career happen in a creative way in 2017. There’s no one way to make it in the New Music Business. There are a hundred. And you haven’t heard of 95 of those ways. None of them have to do with getting signed to a major record label.
Because this is the new industry we are living in.
The “other” music business. The New Music Business is not supported by the major record labels. It’s not about a hit, but a career. It’s not about capitalizing on hilarious memes, but building relationships with fans.
I don’t care about Bhad Bhabi. And neither will anyone else (especially not Atlantic Records) in 3 years time. I’m not going to trash a 14 year old. That’s not cool no matter what you think of her or her perceived success.
Getting signed by a major record label is NOT a marker of success.
When 99% of all acts that get signed to major record labels fail (i.e. do not recoup the cost of their advance and get dropped), the odds are actually worse for you if you attempt to work within the traditional music industry. You might as well go and buy a lottery ticket.
So, both of these industries are existing. Simultaneously. One run by musicians defining their own career destinies. And the other by money-hungry opportunists. Which do you want to be a part of?
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This originally appeared at Digital Music News. And I thought it was worthy enough to be reposted here since we all know that links do have an expiration date, most of them really.
My Take: The major labels have been a joke focusing on the bottom line of making money. Atlantic Records is no longer a trustworthy name, they have not been since their founder died 10 years ago. The signing of the Cash Me Outside girl is another reason why not to trust them. The old Atlantic would have kept the ole R and B acts and most rock bands going for two or three albums tops. Bhad Bharbie will be long forgotten by this time next year. Empty headed rap pap pop music that nobody will remember next week. They're already laughing at her.
Good luck Danielle Bhad Bharbie. It just might get you a job at Popeye's once people move on and Atlantic don't have two cents or two shits to care anymore about you. Welcome to reality.
And learn to spell.
And learn to spell.
2 comments:
The publishing business has worked like this for a long time. How much money can be earned from the latest release is the driving force. The "quality" of the item is taken for granted. More time is spent on the package than what's inside. And unless you're Stephen King, forget about having your latest work promoted.
Books are all cans of beans to the publishers and distributors, and there'll be a whole new batch of them out there trying to make more money 30 days from now. Few of them make any REAL money anyway, which is why new hardbacks cost $30 and new paperbacks cost $9 (last time I looked).
This is that Brave New World of plenty and too many choices we all thought we wanted when we were kids. Trust people to make the worst possible use of "creativity." Sure this signing is a betrayal of "the old Atlantic," but the old Atlantic's been gone for awhile. You've gotta swing with the times. And corporations have no memory.
Thanks for posting this, it's a good lesson. Real music usually ain't on the radio. It's in the club, bar, garage, bedroom, theater or meeting-hall just down the street. But of course you already knew this....
Good points there Tad!
With each merger and each passing of a music lover such as Armand Erutgren, Atlantic has turned into a company with only to please the bean counters and stockholders. Major Label Music has been forgetablle since 1998 it seems. Hell with making music or art, just make something that will make money. The hippie dream is over. And the corporates own just about everything anyway.
Questions remain. Is rock and roll really dead? It's not, but the prime movers and shakers are now senior citizen and most of the kids would rather autotune and rap their way to the top. God bless them but it's not my music or era. Corporate classic rock radio's playlist are stuck in the past, anything after the death of Layne Staley and nobody plays things, unless you're Green Day or Pearl Jam. The only way of making money for a band is play on the road and hock their t shirts or CDs, Atlantic don't give jack shit anyway, They haven't done much with the new Lindsay Buckingham/Christine McVie album. I doubt if Blad Bladie or whatever Danielle Whatsherface calls herself will be more than one album jaunt and already Cash Me Outside's expiration date has come and gone.
The best music remains local. And usually the bands playing have daytime jobs. What it amounts is a hobby when you play anywhere these days. I know from experience. ;)
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