deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup
Moderator
Those numbers are accurate CURRENTLY. Keep in mind this is to break an artist on a major scale. And the money isn't going in the artist's pocket, total opposite, they owe it back to the label.
We're not considering the small stuff. Paying out engineers, producers, writers and performers, dancers, directors on songs/videos ahead of time(if you get it for free and blow before it's taken care of, it costs you MORE because then they have the leverage, if you don't meet agreements then, the song can't be released). Putting together a tour(which while generating money takes alot to get rolling in the beginning). Advertising and promo? C'mon, son.
I think guys up here are lying to themselves to convince themselves it's easier than it is. Think of what was invested in Iggy just for her to have a 45-50k 1st week. Think of the push Tove Lo has gotten since back when she 1st dropped. "Stay High/Habits" is a "recent" song. Like last 6 months on radio in heavy rotation, I was bumpin that shyt like early 2013.
Consider vids like OT Genesis "CoCo" or Rae Sremmurd "No Flex" that were redone to apeal on a wider scale/break in the artists. Just consider the budget spent creating the song and video for Gangnam Style. It doesn't take much to go "viral", but to package and sale songs is a completely different hustle.
That's not knocking an underground approach(there's plenty of money there if you work hard), but "do it yourself" doesn't pack arenas, get syndicated radio rotations, appearances on anything from the late show to superbowl halftime show. AKA Real exposure.
We're not considering the small stuff. Paying out engineers, producers, writers and performers, dancers, directors on songs/videos ahead of time(if you get it for free and blow before it's taken care of, it costs you MORE because then they have the leverage, if you don't meet agreements then, the song can't be released). Putting together a tour(which while generating money takes alot to get rolling in the beginning). Advertising and promo? C'mon, son.
I think guys up here are lying to themselves to convince themselves it's easier than it is. Think of what was invested in Iggy just for her to have a 45-50k 1st week. Think of the push Tove Lo has gotten since back when she 1st dropped. "Stay High/Habits" is a "recent" song. Like last 6 months on radio in heavy rotation, I was bumpin that shyt like early 2013.
Consider vids like OT Genesis "CoCo" or Rae Sremmurd "No Flex" that were redone to apeal on a wider scale/break in the artists. Just consider the budget spent creating the song and video for Gangnam Style. It doesn't take much to go "viral", but to package and sale songs is a completely different hustle.
That's not knocking an underground approach(there's plenty of money there if you work hard), but "do it yourself" doesn't pack arenas, get syndicated radio rotations, appearances on anything from the late show to superbowl halftime show. AKA Real exposure.