💡✍️ ADN:016 - The "2 For 1" Strategy: Boosting Your Income by Separating the Artist From The Music

Hey Friends -

Welcome to the Artist Development Newsletter.

Every Sunday, I send an email providing actionable tips for artists and industry on one area of the music business.

Last week we talked about making music for the people that like your edge in the “F*cK The Middle” edition of the ADN.

You can re-read last week’s newsletter here if you want to refresh.

Today we will discuss boosting your income by separating you, the artist, from your music.

Let’s jump in.

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There is a simple strategy I suggest for independent artists I manage with music out in the world.

Let’s call it the “2 for 1” strategy.

Most artists think of themselves and their music as one and the same.

“I am x artist, and this is my music.”

While this is true on the artistic side, on the business side, this removes a huge opportunity from the table that should be in your bag of tricks.

As an independent artist, try saying this:

“I am x artist, and this is my record label.”

In a world where an artist can record and release music from an iPhone and build an audience on tour or the internet, there has never been a better time to separate the artist and their art.

How?

It’s simple.

You are the artist, and as the artist, you own the rights to your name, likeness, and everything that comes with it.

You are also your record label; as your record label, you release and own the rights to your recordings.

See what just happened?

With a little distinction, you went from an artist that is 100% attached to your music to an artist with an entity (a record label) that you can do business through while separating you (the artist) from you (the record label.)

Sure, if a major record label called you tomorrow and gave you an offer you couldn’t refuse, you could sign to the company as an artist and hand over your music.

But…

You could also answer the call and say, “my record label would love to discuss partnering with you.”

By making that one slight distinction, you can now license your music under your company to a more prominent record label and negotiate the term they get to participate in business with your label.

In doing this, you can strategically retain ownership of your music for the duration of your career.

Using this leverage can afford you the resources you need to continue to grow without giving up ownership of your music.

I encourage every artist that releases music independently to attach a record label name to their releases.

As your audience grows, your artist value will grow, and so will the value of your recordings and, in turn, your record label.

TL;DR

• If you’re an independent artist; start an independent label.
• If a larger label approaches you to work together, do business via your label, for you, the artist.

In some personal news, I co-founded a new record label with Warner Records that we announced this week.

Below is a link to our landing page where you can also follow us on social media.

War Buddha Records

If you would like to read more about War Buddha Records -

Rolling Stone

Billboard

Hits Daily Double

I’ll be writing more about how War Buddha came to be in the near future.

If there are any questions about anything in this newsletter or any of the previous ones, feel free to email: [email protected]

Don’t forget to incorporate the “2 for 1” strategy.

The “2 for 1” strategy.

See you next Sunday!

Neil Mason

Artist Development

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