The other day, “my favorite rapper friend” said “Artist these days are like girls that give it up too fast, why would you spend money on a chick, if she’s putting it out for free!” It’s the same way with rap music these days. Rappers give it up way too easy. Why would customers pay for something they can get for free?
Someone answer this for me. Why do you have to give away 3 CD’s if your first one built the buzz you needed to make the next one sale? PLUS the buzz was off that one hot single is playing on the radio. New artist that do Country, Rock, Pop, or RNB don’t give away nearly as much music as rappers do. So, I have to ask the question at what point do rappers stop giving away their music for free in the name of buzz building, and start selling it the minute they book paid shows, get un paid for radio play and know they are hot?
Dear Rapper,
Did you not know that you have fans loyal enough to buy your free CD way before you get your deal? Did you know that 70-80% of urban music sales are CD’s that are sold in stores!?!?
By the time the record deal is signed, finally the album comes out, and everybody has an entire album by you already. As a matter of fact they have 2 or 3 of them, each one with new music. So now, you want them to come back and get their favorite single again which was your only hit single that they either got for free or paid for once before. I’m going to quote Travis Porter…your loyal fans are going to say ”Hell You Talmbout!”
Which means the label spent a little money on you to make a new album; you gave money away when you gave away he last 3 “albums”; plus all the shows you had where you should have been selling product instead of giving it away at the door walked right out on you with free product. GWAP GONE! PROOF OF SALES GONE! EPIC FAIL!
Believe it or not “Mr. Free Digital Download I’m Trying to Conquer that Internet Fan Base as Well as the Streets”; your fans…they would have paid for it…in stores and online. They probably already have.
So, in essence, you went to the studio, recorded your heart out, and made good sellable music that created a movement you never knew you would have. Then you left the studio and gave your “good sellable movement music” away for free???
Welcome to the new music industry, featuring all the free rap music you can get! And they never listen to me! SMH
November 16, 2009 at 11:57 pm |
Man I 100% agree with you. I DO NOT believe in giving away whole mixtapes and NO DJ street albums. Especially when you are independent. I work hard for my money and its just a waste of it to pay for studio time, mastering, pressing up copies of a single, mixtape, EP, etc. just to give it away…
It might be ok to do it for a single, but anything past a single is just not smart. Plus, as I have learned, especially it has come to booking shows that if you come in and give away your single… they expect you to even do shows for free…