I was linked to this essay about 5 years ago so I realize that some, maybe even most, people have already read this, but I think it’s valuable re-read, if only to re-hammer another nail into the coffin of corporatized music.

I say “music” because while Albini’s essay is about rock bands, this certainly applies to all young up-and-coming musicians of any style. I’m thinking particularly of the booming hip hop/r&b industry that’s gone so corporate it makes rock music look almost interesting by virtue of obscurity (I said “almost”). Hell, even fucking Timbaland is producing rock ballad white kids these days.

Not that this is news for rappers, either. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube both quit NWA around 1990 complaining that they were receiving little compensation, despite Straight Outta Compton selling over 3 million copies. Dr Dre quit, formed Death Row, and that didn’t get any better, as he left that label following claims of financial mismanagement and corruption.

The point is - music is big business, involves multiple millions of dollars and is administered by an old-boy’s club power structure that is almost laughably corrupt. It would seem the bigger the label is, the worse their practices are, but I could just be speculating. Anyway, without further ado:

The Problem With Music - Steve Albini

“Some of your friends are probably already this fucked.”

Just another reminder to young bands with talent (as they are many, in Toronto alone) to keep the stars out of their eyes, get educated on the business if you’re going to shop for labels, and get a lawyer you can trust. Or simply do not try to get signed, period.

Radiohead: Artists often screwed by digital downloads

In news that should surprise no one, big labels are signing artists to contracts that strip or severely limit their ability to earn money via digital downloads (those things that are changing the music marketplace). It’s often said that labels don’t understand the new digital market, but it appears they do. Maybe a little too well, as they negotiate deals where artists actually make even less money via digital copies than actual CDs (despite the relatively non-existent distribution costs (no packaging, shipping, printing, etc etc). Keep in mind that it’s become common wisdom that artists earn next to nothing per CD (approx 10-15% of the sticker price if they’re lucky).

I guess the money for their bloated salaries has to come from somewhere. As usual, the actual artist (content generator) takes it in the ass as corporate parasites rake in the billions. God bless America.