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Writer's pictureCasey Graham

Beware: The Rise of Ex-Major Label Sharks in the Music Industry



This has always been a staple in the game. However, there will be more of these people in the industry because there will be a major influx of people leaving labels due to technological advancement in AI. These people are essentially Bird Dogs. They look for artists on the rise in cities that are not on the radar of Chartmetric and either help you get on the radar and take you to a label or just straight up take you there for a finder's fee or they will try to sign you so they can become a part of your career. Bad move!


The "Let Me Promote Your Music" Guy

This guy is working with some playlisting company that you don’t know about, and they are inflating the price to deliver your music to playlists that may be developed with bots. Still, to this day! They ensure themselves contractually against any fraudulent activity in their workings that put you at risk of having your accounts taken down all for the sake of sharing in your streaming royalties. You could say they promote by any means necessary to get a cut of your earnings.


The "I Can Market Your Music" Guy

This is the only person I might test the waters with if they can show me how their systems work, what their plans are with me, and what the bare minimum outcome will be. However, they can still take your money because marketing is a long-term process that must be implemented. If they don’t have a fee for the work and they want to sign you for a portion of the revenue made during the campaign, just know it’s really difficult to determine what earnings were truly made as a direct result of the marketing. For that to happen, your business finances have to be in order. Plus, marketing strategies and plans must be paired with promotion to truly work. Marketing cannot be done by itself.


The Fractional COO

Fractional COOs are supposed to implement systems into your business and get it operating before they exit for a temporary fee. The problem is many employees at major labels have not had the chance to actually build a company from the ground up, let alone know how an independent label works vs. all the help they get from each department at the label. Though major label experience is a plus, their track record must be checked based on independent success and not major label experience alone.

I’m going to toot my own horn because I’ve been the only guy on the scene for a while that has built a system that actually works to help you build your label extremely fast. However, there are people who are using my system and redesigning it as theirs or charging you to do the work for you with no experience in how to run an indie label or a business for that matter.


How Do We Spot Them?

  • They usually send these sketchy emails with a fake label name like mark.warnermusic@gmail.com, and you think it's real. It’s not!

  • You’ll spot them in the club with a business card with all the labels they’ve worked with on the back of the card.

  • They’ll have a website with all the artists they worked with, usually in passing most of the time, on their website or Instagram.

  • People who work in the game don’t have to say any of that because the real ones know who they are.


How Do We Know Who's Real?

The people that are doing the real work aren’t running to find you! You know about them, but you have to mean something to them!


How Do We Protect Ourselves?

  1. Ask for a case study.

  2. Try them out on a case-by-case basis.

  3. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.


What If We Do Need a Connection They Have?

See what would make an amicable exchange for the connection they have so that it doesn't cost you your career or your sanity.



Check This Out

If you're a music creative or executive looking to build your label or publishing company in 60 days or less, with a step-by-step foolproof process, grab the 60-Day Record Label Course and get it done today! You’ll gain the ability to get real funding, prevent yourself from getting screwed contractually, and keep the middle-man out of your pockets. Click the link below to get started right now! If you’re skeptical, grab the free guide, "10 Ways to Increase Your Record Label Profits," a free split sheet comes with the download!


Avoiding These People

Keeps you free and clear of wasting your time. The only thing they dangle in front of you is temptation that leads to nowhere in many cases. So missing them keeps you on track to further your career growth.


Getting Suckered by These People

Puts you in a position that builds resentment against this business. It also can take your joy away from making great music, allowing you to never see the light of day.


Conclusion

From wondering how to escape the weirdos and sharks of the industry, you now know a few that you can skate around. You’ll transform from an artist struggling with anxiety and uncertainty into a savvy professional who can navigate the industry confidently, avoiding pitfalls and focusing on true opportunities for growth and success.

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