Frank Ocean’s album, “Blonde” is the exception, not the rule.
The recent move by Frank Ocean to independently publish his new album, “Blonde,” has left some ripples in the music industry. Ocean left his label, Def Jam, to release the album as an Apple Music exclusive.
Although this may be profitable for artists who have major connections outside of labels, it by no means indicates that independent publishing is a road to success for most musicians.
Think about it. For every successful artist we hear about who has come up through the ranks of SoundCloud or Bandcamp, there are easily hundreds who we’ll never end up listening to.
People who try to release music without the help of a label leave themselves without many beneficial resources.
They generally receive little to no feedback from professionals in the industry, and they don’t have access to the advanced equipment and software needed to create a complete work.
Tracks made by independent musicians often contain poor sampling, audio feedback glitches and improper post-recording editing.
The polish isn’t there.
This often leads to obscurity. When someone who wants to be a musician has no skills or equipment to ensure the quality of their production, they won’t be a major success.
Even artists who have hit it big through independent publishing have had professional help to get to where they are. Chance the Rapper’s publicist also represented Donald Glover (also known as Childish Gambino).
This allowed Chance to go on tour with Gambino, leading to the first real widespread interest in his music. Without that relationship, Chance might never have blown up.
Similarly, the only reason Frank Ocean could leave Def Jam was because he made a seemingly sneaky deal with Apple, granting Apple Music sole rights to “Blonde.” Trying to leave his label without the help of a major corporation would have likely been a nightmare.
Without a label, even the most popular artists need connections. That’s all it boils down to.
It doesn’t matter whether a musician’s connection to fame is through a major label, a corporation, or just knowing the right individuals, their solo efforts are not the only thing getting them to the top.
What we found interesting is that people like Chance and Frank Ocean are creating a new wave of young artists who believe that self-publishing is the way to stardom. They think bypassing the hassle of a major label will mean more money, more freedom and more listeners.
They’re wrong.
It’s not any easier if you don’t have a connection into the scene.
In fact, it’s more challenging. If you’re solely responsible for everything from vocals, beats, sampling, editing and distribution, there’s a lot more to worry about and a lot more that could go wrong.
The problem with millions of Bandcamp and SoundCloud hopefuls is that they seem to have a “Field of Dreams” mentality.
Just because you record it doesn’t mean the listeners will come.
Independent publishing is perfect for artists who already have major connections with the music industry. It drives profits through the roof compared to paying a label to polish and distribute your work.
It is not, however, a viable avenue for the average artist.
