DISQUS

Matthew Ebel: Why You Don’t Need A Label

  • Jim · 1 year ago
    Hey Matt!
    I would have to say that you have a good grasp on this issue. I'm glad I don't
    deal with it anymore... It was easier "in my day"... but it was turning even as I was getting out... I ended up producing the last 3 albums on my own, and even though I felt the work was better than the previous, sales did not start to approach what it was with "the label" & management... but... here's the good news. We made more money in the long run. Sales were lower but profits were higher... and lets face it, that's what we're talking about here. You, yourself, as the company or your band as the company.

    Keep doin' it, dude!
  • Matt Searles · 1 year ago
    I'm with you, growing up Frank Zappa was a major hero of mine.. and spoke endlessly about the problems with the music business.. I grew up feeling like if I wanted to make music my way, without compromises, Id have to do it all my self.

    But now, lost in space some place, I wonder if it might not be a good idea too hook up with an indie label.. if for nothing else, for the guidance they might have. Major labels might not have done real artist development for years, but the indies still do...

    But yeah.. maybe what I really need is marketer... but I don't really have any idea where to turn on that. I mean you probably really want someone who kind of specializes in the genera you're in...

    I've made mentors of the cc's, mitch joels, joseph jaffee's, chris penns, etc.. but I feel like.. to do what I want to do.. I need to synthesize that guerrilla publicity, guerrilla marketing, and kinda music industry particulars.. mad more complex when you conceptualize your self more broadly as a media artist..

    So I guess there's a feeling of.. well still wondering where the rest of the people are.. finding a community of people wrestling with the same challenges, all that kinda thing.