Too many people have unrealistic expectations about getting rich in todays music environment - or to even break even. Exceptional music will always be appreciated, but it will not always make money. Think of your favorite song - chances are, the person who wrote it didnt make any money on it - or very little money. If that song is under 10 years old, chances are, they lost their shirt on it. Doesnt mean they regret they ever wrote it, but you have to approach the business of music with your feet firmly on terra-firma. There is more great music than there are buyers.
I wanted to append this post because I have some pretty strong I deas about how labels are surviving in the age of downloads and dwindling CD sales. A label always considers its own survival as being superior to the survival of its artists - its obvious, without them, you are nothing, so, the will do whatever it takes to stay in business. Remeber that they will always pay themselves before they pay you what they have agreed to pay you. If you were on a typical small to mid sized label, you will likely see "expenses" increase as your CD sales increase - just enough to keep them from having to send you a check. You are at their mercy as far as reporting sales. My label also sells my CD in electronic format - funny, how Ive never seen a single electronic sale on my Quarterly report, though I've sold over a thousand CD units. the math just simply indicates that the label is pocketing the digital sales and not reporting them to me. electronic sales account for about 20 percent of all sales and having zero electronic sales and over 1000 units sold simply makes no sense whatsoever.
This may not be the case with all labels. The sad reality is, I think my label is pretty typical. They simply do not believe our contract is enforceable from my end. I have to request my quarterly reports - usually several times, before they are sent. This year I have only seen one. After multiple complaints I have determined that I just need to move on and not bother with them any more. Every label will pay itself before it pays you, and then somehow the books always reflect enough expenses that you still owe them. I'm not stupid, I can tell when I've been owned.
The rule I will live by is that an agreement or contract is only as good as the person you make the agreement with. Trying to enforce a contract using the force of law is simply not feasable unless you have more money than you know what to do with. Labels arent going to do more than they are forced to do. Thats general music business knowledge. My label would defend itself by saying " you made the agreement, We were assuming you are a grown up and knew what you were getting into" - I was strongly encouraged not to sign, but just continue on my own, but I thought: " Unless I try, I will always wonder what could have been" So I went for it. I've lost around 10k. I'm past the point of complaining - its just a fact now. Please, dont get tied up with a label unless they are sharing in your sacrifice ( with money up front, or putting up manufacturing costs). My label has, and is still making money off my CD. I havent, nor do I expect to anymore. My sales could be higher than have been reported. I will never know. You are much better off with 850 CD's in your own basement, than 4000 in someone elses.
