Man....This has got to be the greatest post in the world. lol FINALLY someone else who shares the same vision. I've been posting hear in posts about the same thing. Im glad you made this and it grew so much.
Cats just dont realize this is a business. You wont walk inside the mall and say "im going to take this jacekt for free." No your going to get arrested. You pay or your dont recieve. I love music, I love production and engineering. Whether I never make another dollar again I will still do it until I part this world. However that doesnt mean im going to devalue myself. The amount of time reading posts/blogs/books on mixing, monitoring, acoustics, classes I take (instead of my actual major), traveling out of town to music conferences, upgrading equipment, the list goes on....
If an artist cant afford a $35 non-exclusive license then there full of shit because them J's on there feet cost 3x that. I used to do the "free/promo" beats when I was getting my name out there. I no longer do this as my name has substantial rep now and i work hard for it. This .99c 10 for $10 has got to stop. (I know it wont) but its still something to hope for. Thats literally working less than mimimum wage. Each Producer should take pride in their work. Im sure you all have heard the line "man i want to work with you, you've got dope material." Then once you tell them your rates they say "imma let you know,/get back to you."
If you as an artist cant invest in YOURSELF you dont deserve to even consider yourself as an artist and need to relequish the mic to someone else who does. Of course it isnt the 90's which is funny because I would think that the money would increase, not decrease. Im developing and managing my own two artists and although im working with them I still try and maintain material for my other clients.
People ask me can you sample this and give it to me...No I cant. Im very busy and if your not paying then quite frankly thats disrespectful to me as a person and to the role as a producer/engineer. These "artists" want people to buy there mixtapes, come to there shows and PAY but cant even put the producers name as a credit. TF?! I dont get it. your single would be nothing if some producer didnt make it. Of course nowadays artists are producers and vice versa. Everyone is teachers but no one are students.
If you dont want to pay go work with someone else. Website design/upgrades/data storage/travel fees/promotion and all of that isnt FREE; even if you do it all yourself. So for you to say "man $35 non exclusive is a lot" but your ass is at a drake concert where tickets are $150+ your full of shit.
Pardon the rant. Im just glad @yoTrakkz posted this. These cats have NO IDEA of what it takes to make it. MONEY. The XXL Freshmen list isnt comprised of the "best" its comprised of people who had the money and paid for a slot. Radio promotion is PAID for, not cause you have a hot song. Smh...if these cats only knew......