Comments on: TIBERIAN VOCALIZATIONS: CORMORANT’S ARTHUR VON NAGEL GIVES YOU THE ANATOMY OF A RECORD CONTRACT

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 02:25:10 +0000

Wow. I was basically under the impression that bands sold their souls when signing to labels, but this makes it rather apparent that, since the band aren’t getting much financial benefit at all from the deal, the souls aren’t really being sold, but rather effectively thrown to whomever like beads on Mardi Gras.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:48:47 +0000

Y’know, artists always talk about record deals being hell.

I didn’t realize how much they were right.

There go my hopes and dreams of being signed to Roadfucker.

By: Reaper-X

Reaper-X — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:51 +0000

Steve Albini would be proud.

This is a very important read. I’ll be sending this to everyone I know.

By: Sacha

Sacha — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:31:09 +0000

Good on you for putting this information out there, the amount of ignorance on the workings of the music business if fucking staggering.

By: deab

deab — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:05:38 +0000

record labels are evil

they just want to make money and screw over bands

most bands los emoney from tours

in england i think they get 7% of record sales 6% of digital sales

fucking sucks ass

im never getting signed

By: Manfred Nuggets

Manfred Nuggets — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:55:19 +0000

Ha, I’m 16 and stupid, and this is all very scary lookin’ stuff. It’s a little disheartening, to be honest.

By: Chris Uber

Chris Uber — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:51:40 +0000

Guitar world actually has this whole year had good columns about how to record yourself. Very informative and a definate money saver if you have the equipment to do so.

By: grobi wunder

grobi wunder — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:20:37 +0000

as long as that doesn’t mean WoP-boxing gloves, I’m okay with it.
GREAT post by the way!

By: vecima

vecima — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:49:31 +0000

good read!

I’m eagerly awaiting the self release “How to”. I’ve got a band going with some friends, and we want to do some recording and putting stuff online. I think the difference between us and most bands is we don’t want to quit our day jobs. why take a pay cut when you can METAL in your spare time?

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:26:07 +0000

“Oh Andy”

By: JustGrimace

JustGrimace — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:25:43 +0000

I’ll second that on how amazing this post is. I’m helping my buddies’ band as their “manager”, and this post alone has taught me more than most of everything else I’ve ever read. Thank you for doing these.

Also, have you played any shows where your pay(or wether you even play) is based on presale tickets? All the major venues in my region do that, and the band and I find it damn near impossible to sell tickets for 15 bucks a pop to a place two hours away. What are your opinion on those kind of deals?

By: Benjamin Nelson

Benjamin Nelson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:08:23 +0000

“Now while those of you with law degrees may be masturbating furiously at this very moment”

I lol’d IRL.

By: Arthur von Nagel

Arthur von Nagel — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:43:32 +0000

Shows are on a case to case basis depending on how many people show up. On a really good night, we can make maybe $500. On a bad one it can be nothing. When you’re small like us, you can’t really demand guarantees on payment. But hey, at least it’s not the bullshit they pull in LA where bands actually have to PAY TO PLAY if they don’t pull a large enough crowd. Such bullshit. Never accept pay-to-play gigs.

I’ll stop by Rasputin when I’m in the area, but with my work schedule I haven’t had a chance to stock the local stores yet. I really need to hit Amoeba Records too. They have our EP somewhere, but not Metazoa.

Thanks for all your support, by the way. :-)

By: Malacoda

Malacoda — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:15:01 +0000

Oh, and excellent first post. If every post is of this quality, I will be satisfied for quite a long time.

By: Malacoda

Malacoda — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:14:36 +0000

Wow, that’s terrible. One thing I was wondering is how much do you guys get paid for shows? Obviously not a lot since you’re playing small venues (I live in the Bay Area as well and will be at your next sure for sure) but I’m still wondering. I do have a suggestion for you guys – go down to Rasputin Records in Mountain View and tell them about your new album! I went in there looking for Metazoa and they didn’t carry it. I asked the metal manager (who I am friends with, and who likes you guys) why they didn’t carry it, and he said it was because of the fact that little labels have to sell their music to Rasputin. If you guys take my advice, ask for Corey and say that the teenager with dreads recommended you to him. I’ll do all I can to hellp you guys out!

By: Arthur von Nagel

Arthur von Nagel — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:44:49 +0000

This was a small to mid-sized label. Respected roster, great albums, but fell on some hard times. Expect buttfuck from any label, big or small. There ARE exceptions, but they are rare. I’ve heard good things about Ipecac for example, but of course that’s artist-run. A lot of independent labels I really love have been hit hard by the recession coupled with the death of the CD, so they’re forced to offer ridiculous terms, especially to new/unproven bands.

My suggestion if you want to be able to negotiate better terms is to tour your ass off and self-promote like crazy.

By: JustGrimace

JustGrimace — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:36:18 +0000

Just curiosity: was this a high tier metal label(RR, CM), or a smaller one(sensory, ect)? Do the smaller labels employ the same level of buttfuck, or do they typically put forward more manageable terms?

By: infern0

infern0 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:29:23 +0000

This is probably the most actual substance filled article I have ever seen in a metal website/blog/magazine. Bravo and fucking kudos on the amazing information.

By: hikizume

hikizume — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:02:49 +0000

I figure by this time what I’m about to write must have been said to death already but I must do so anyway: great column. As soon as I read the headline I knew it was going to be interesting. There’s a lot of useful information here.

I haven’t ever signed a record contract. We recorded our album ourselves instead because we also think going this way is the answer but now we’re about to sign a distro deal and out of the gate it doesn’t look very good either.

Anyway looking forward to more of your stuff.

By: cougar party

cougar party — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:19:37 +0000

Thanks, Arthur. That is very helpful!