music slaves

Required reading for anyone interested in the music business: a new article by Simon Napier-Bell, an experienced band manager, who takes the music industry to task in the Guardian Observer: link.

For artists and managers, this is the moment to take things into their own hands. Artists no longer need to be held for 10 years and they no longer need to sign away ownership of their recorded copyrights. These days, an artist working closely with his manager can ensure that everything is done in the artist’s best interest. Majors have never done that. And never will.

With the success of independent bands, it looks like the tide is turning, at last.