![]() He candidly admits that labels have played an essential role in propelling his artists into the mainstream light. “If the artist and manager are putting in all the groundwork by touring and building a fanbase, then why should they have to give the label 20%? If you’re going to be down with the movement, then you really need to be down with it.” Though Robinson may disagree with some of the industry’s new tendencies, he is not entirely anti-label. “I’m against 360 deals unless labels are going to be true partners,” Robinson said. For less established artists, whom the labels believe invoke more risk, these deals are essentially non-negotiable. To combat declining album sales, record companies contrived the 360 deal - an agreement that contractually obligates artists to give a percentage all revenue they receive to the record company. In Robinson’s opinion, recording agreements have repeatedly teetered towards benefitting the record company rather than the artists they sign. “It’s kind of crippled the music.” The decline of consumers paying $9.99 for a single album has prompted record labels to implement multiple-rights deals to protect their investments.ģ60 Deals - “Recording contracts have kind of always been unfair.” “It's hard to compete with people paying $9.99 for unlimited music,” Robinson said. On the other hand, the idea that artists receive pennies for their plays directly affects those who are trying to profit off of the creation. “Kids are choosing what a hit record is nowadays, not the executives,” Robinson said. On one hand, streaming music (be it Spotify,Īpple Music or SoundCloud) has increased the visibility of new artists. Since it’s inception, music streaming has been a topic of debate regarding its impact on artists’ careers. Robinson has witnessed music transition from being consumed via cassette tapes to not even being bought. Music Streaming - “I think streaming helps in discovering new talent, but it killed the album sale.” LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Singer Elle Varner performs at the BET Music Matters Grammy Showcase. We get out on the road early to build the foundation. In the case of his latest R&B prodigy, Justine Skye, Robinson is reverting back to the “low and slow” approach to building her fanbase. ![]() “Executives were looking at her in terms of dollars and cents and not necessarily the creative aspect.” The label pushed me to put her out,” Robinson explained. The hold up? In addition to J Records - MBK’s label partner - folding into RCA Records in 2011, Robinson, “put Elle out quicker than I wanted to. 4 on Billboard’s 200 charts and receiving a Grammy nomination, the singer has yet to get a release date for her follow-up. Despite Varner’s debut, Perfectly Imperfect, peaking at No. ![]() (To note, Robinson and Keys amicably split in 2010.)Ĭountering Robinson’s desired artist development approach lies in his 2011 signee, Elle Varner. The patience practiced by Robinson, and Keys, laid a solid foundation that not only served as the basis for the success of her debut album, but also for her four-time platinum-selling sophomore album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. Though her gift as a pianist and vocalist were undeniable when he initially met her, Robinson allowed the young talent to mature in her song structure before releasing her debut. Keys’ debut album, Songs In A Minor, peaked at No.1 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling over 200,000 units its first week. “It took me seven years to put Alicia Keys out,” Robinson recalls. Managers cut from the same cloth as Robinson believe in building an artist’s stage presence, introducing them to a vocal coach, and enrolling them in media training long before their first single is ready to be released. Solely having a hit record rarely guarantees a sustainable career as a musician.
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