Tech 9 laid the blueprint. Everyone not built to be a real CEO. I get it. But I do not understand why the most relevant artists in the game like the Taylor Swifts and the Drake's aren't signed to themselves.
because once you leave the belly of the beast - say good buy to fame and access
indy Taylor Swift is not getting on SNL or invited to Hollywood or Cannes
indy Taylor Swift means no commercials no cover girl cosmetics no fashion lines etc
in pop culture:
indy Drake becomes dog food any time a rapper like Meek Mills puts reference tracks on front street
indy Drake's name becomes mud in the pop charts and would get sonned on a diss track from Bieber Derulo & Diddy
(real talk I don't think Drake's contracts have real end dates anymore- so he might not be able to leave YMCMB)
indy = possibly rich
indy = no fame no access
I get why he initially signed. The question is why is he still signed is what i'm asking. Why is he not indie?Why does he not have his own indie label without WB getting a cut of his sales?Why do I need a distribution deal when all my album sales are coming from streaming services?
Drake has a 360 contract with YMCMB... (note: so far
NO ONE except Cash Money has been paid off of that deal)
my educated guess:
The only way Drake was able to start OVO and release his one album on that imprint, was to renegotiate his contract with Baby to get the clearance... the only way for that to work was
1. a very large amount of up front money to pay Baby - and additional albums tacked on to contract
2. which meant OVO had to be commercially viable with full industry support- to repay the advance
3. Drake needed protection or a conduit to get paid from OVO with out Baby taking a huge cut
a distribution deal with a major is the only way that works out