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Hello beautiful people. Azeeeeh wuna cam small make we check sense so. Record Labels .Yup that’s what’s on my mind but before I proceed ,how about defining what it really is so we can better understand this post.

What!!! Me sef no like reading ,but its good we know what we are getting ourselves into ,so we don’t end up disappointed ,in a mess or worse than we were at the beginning of our career.

What are Record Labels?

Record labels are companies that market recorded music and corresponding videos. They engage in a wide range of functions in the music industry, including new artist recruitment and development (known as A&R, which stands for artist and repertoire), music publishing, and copyright enforcement.

Ok! now that we have the aforementioned out of the way, let’s talk. I`ve seen talent die because a record label takes an artist, revamps him, changes his style completely, doesn’t even push through with the initial agreement.

And at some point when the artist feels stagnant and decides to leave he is charged with breach of contract ( which is correct tho) and asked to pay huge sums of money.

Why would you sign someone because you think they are original,gifted , a breath of fresh air, the next big thing and try to turn them to be like everyone else?? If it’s for commercial reasons , abeg yarn dem before time..make dem know say they are about to loose that one thing that makes them stand out!!it just makes no sense massa!!!

I cant tell exactly what is stipulated in these contracts , but anything put in writing by a lawyer,signed by both parties and backed by the law, and should be respected. If u think u can’t meet up ..separate amicably no be matter!!

Role Of the Artist

In another light, the artist gets to work harder when signed. You have to work twice as hard given that your record Label takes care of everything financially,mentally and physically so that you worry only about producing good music.

Being signed doesn’t make u a winner just yet …your hard work does!! Be Pro active,don’t dissapoint yourself and your fans by strutting around like a peacock,feeling u Don make am… MA man go put in the work….

I don tire for see talent go to waste. Person go be signed to record label but no song released for a whole year. When e even make the song, them no d push e song, no social media publicity ,no tours, nothing!

But make some shaking comot ,you go hear budget ay dem go ask them! Saaah! Cam hear ele bilang for front Camera time for signing, u go feel say na municipal elections campaign!! …repe I say u go wash hand!

If we say we want the music industry to grow let each and every one of us play his role diligently. Lets do what we are supposed to. Lets help each other grow ,together we can be bigger ,better, stronger and undefeatable. Theres enough room for everyone at the top. Cmon people we can do this! #stay true

A lot has been going on lately about organizers asking money from artists before they could perform and showcase their arts.

I will like to use the case study below to make an assessment.

1st) An Established artist


An established artist in my context is some one with a huge fan base, some one who can cause people to turn up for events because of his/her name or influence.
If you are in this category then the even organizer will be counting on you for a successfull event.

Hence, the purpose of the publicity will be to inform the people that their favourite artist will be headlining the show. Now this is where the payment comes.
How can they measure the artists pay package ??Based on the amount of people the artist can pull?Probably!

If it is estimated that the artist can pull 1000people and sell out tickets for 1k each then that is 1m,the organizer will check his expenditure and from there he will know how to pay the artist.

2nd) Performer/Entertainer

There are artists who are really good at performing on stage but they dont have a single fan, artists who can light up any crowd at anytime. When budgeting for the front line artist, the organizer will allocate budget for such a person because he/she is usefull at one point but remember that without a ready made crowd the artist will be of no use since he can’t pull any person.

3rd) Your Regular Artist

No fan base, no performance energy, nobody knows you, nobody knows your song. Now when you see anyone complaining about organizers asking them for money, just know that the person falls under this category.

Hence the person is suppose to pay coz you are actually there to promote your self. Because even if the pull the crowd for this artist he won’t still make use of it. I think artists should know their worth,Know where you are coming from and where you are going to.

You can be popular in kumba but in buea nobody knows you, so do not expect same hospitality in both towns Coz in kumba you are a star while in Buea you are a fan.

Events are set out base on the influence of the artist/artists on board. The turn up is powered and influence by the artists on board. Publicity is just to inform the. people that their favourite artist/artists will be on board. Publicity is not to convince the people but its to inform them.

If otherwise you would have seen anybody or everybody frontlining a concert at paposy ..But they can’t, not because they lack the capital to set up a mega concert with huge publicity… Nooooo Its influence. They are not influencial enough.

Think Bout it!

You will bear with me that there are a lot of event’s whose publicity got to you but you never turn up because you doubted the artists. So I think artists should know exactly “why” they should be paid for a show, they should know “where” and “when”.

Do not follow the crowd
Know your worth
Rate your growth

I saw a post challenging upcoming artists to sell out just 100tickets for 1k each but no artist went for it though there are artists who can do it. yet there are others who cant influence even a single person.

Its a step by step process

Before you complain you should know your stand

My advice is: Be a crowd pulling artist
That will help you a lot