/Deadspin meme for a Topspin post.

I too would love to know how much Topspin is going to make from each artist?

I like the idea, but ultimately shouldn’t the artist just do it themselves instead of paying a fee to Topspin? How hard is it to start your own blog, sell downloads and merch, and market to other taste maker blogs?

But you could get it in a REALLY fancy box if you wanted. Or not.

Also they sold downloads.

Last time I checked, that’s what everybody else is doing (and has done).

I’m happy to break down how a label financially ‘screws’ the artist, but it’d be a long read and most you may already be aware of.

i’m aware non-established artists aren’t likely paid commensurate with their success/overall profitability, but isn’t that just a result of their hedging their futures by signing with a label in the first place? by signing, they get the guaranteed revenue of the advance/signing monies (plus marketing power), but give up the potential to reap the massive rewards of great success, yet also don’t have to worry about leaving the business empty-handed. this is what i’ve come to understand, but please correct me if i’m wrong.

assuming the previous paragraph is true, aren’t we more likely to see the successes than the failures? successes are the bands we listen to and constantly receive space in music news/reviews. failures are likely to be unheard and unseen. thus, outsiders (myself included) are more likely to conclude that the ‘industry’ is screwing the artists, when in fact its possible that only the successful artists are being harmed when they in fact chose this path to avoid ending up like failures. in the face of their new found success, they believe they should be more highly compensated and then the image of ‘being screwed’ is created.

i’m not saying the ‘industry’ is not culpable, their excesses have been detailed enough it’s tough to disagree with the assessment of poor management. i’m only wondering if they truly did ‘screw’ the artists, as i don’t believe major label financial success and artist compensation are as necessarily related as they are made out to be.

if anyone with more info could please critique this (“you’re wrong” will suffice), it would be appreciated, i’d really like to have a more educated opinion and idolator seems to be the only place i frequent that is truly interested in educated opinions.