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Toilet
music contracts
A
friend of mine really happy a few weeks before told me that he’s
going to sign a contract with an international record company for
a cd. The very same friend a couple of weeks after told me about
the contract and I think all my joy for his success vanished in
the trap he was in. suddenly the voice of George Michael in his
BBC interview was in my mind.
I
think my friend has a wonderful voice, real pop style and every
possibility to make it. I think that an international record
company would never ask him to sign if they didn’t share my
opinion. But then how do I know? My professional past is in the
marketing of retail business and how could I compare a new brand
of toilet paper with an artist. Obviously no since the conditions
and the rules of the game in marketing toilet paper, much far
better than an artist.
His
only chance to succeed as a singer is after having as many gigs he
can to be picked up from a record producer or executive and make a
cd. My friend did that and the producer came. The whole adventure
meant something like ten years on the road, singing and playing
music in weddings, children parties and big festivals, anything
that could help him to build up a reputation and an audience.
So
the big day came, the executive with the Armani suit came and the
contract to sign came, only … but let’s take the contract from
the beginning. For every cd they sell the group takes 8% and
that’s before tax. Of course the marketing of the product is
expensive and the market demanding so they need at least one video
lip. Now here is the trick. The band pays for the video clip which
as it says in the contract they start taking their 8% after they
sell 20,000 CDs. Wow! But if they sell 20,000 CDs that means they
made it, they are wanted in every show or big music event which of
course means more money for …the record company!
Here
comes more, of course the group has a certain style and that
covers from their clothes to their hairstyle. Who pays that? The
group of course! And please never forget that they have to pay
their manager. These people actually need a real job to pay all
that.
And if you think that is over you are wrong, more is coming. The
record company wants a contract for 1 + 3 records. Which
translates in if their first record has success then they have to
make with the same company three more records. But most of the
groups make 4 to 6 records in ten years. If anything else this is
called slavery to remember again George Michael.
Let’s
get now to real numbers. When a new CD is released costs to the
customer 26€, 8% of that is 2.08€ before tax. Because the
group is four people that means that each one of them will take
0.52€ and after tax will be 0.30€. Now don’t forget that
these people will get money after 20,000 CDs and that an average
record sells something like between 10,000 to 30,000 CDs in a year
except of course the bright exception but not everybody is Michael
Jackson, thanks god! So after a year these people will have made,
if everything comes ok of course, 3,000€.
My
friend lives in a small studio which costs 450€ a month and he
needs another 500€ to survive. That means that he needs 950€
or better 11,400€ a year. Of course then he needs clothes for
his appearances and some money to do his PR. In total? With only
one word, bankruptcy! Have you got any idea how much all these
executives get? Something like 5 to 6,000€ a month and of course
we don’t have to say anything about bonuses or extras like car,
telephone, gold credit cards etc.
Reading
all that again I feel that is better to work with toilet paper. At
least is less dirty even after use!
From
Ovi Magazine
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