Affectionately known as MGK, Machine Gun Kelly has voiced what so many other signed artists have wanted to over the years: F THE LABELS!! MGK and other artists alike are fed up with the control record labels have over artists, and MGK took it to another level by releasing a mixtape against his label's advice. But was this the right move?
Let's look at the situation. Machine Gun Kelly, a prolific rapper and "almost-famous" hip hop artist enjoyed quick but short success in 2012 with his debut album "EST 4 Life", released by Bad Boy Entertainment (P Diddy's company). Since then he has been touring and performing the same songs, all while wondering when the heck the label is going to release his next album. Since then, his popularity has faded, along with his patience. He has been a victim of what's called "shelving", where the artist's music is held unreleased by the label due to politics.
What are these politics? Record labels can have may reasons for shelving an artist's album, but they all point to money. Labels want to make the most money they can, so often that involves waiting until the right time to release, which unfortunately could be never. Labels look at the current music industry, what people are looking for, and if the costs to market an album will be worth it over marketing say another artist's album. Record labels are all about the economics of the music business which is something MGK could care less about. MGK just wants his music out there. He doesn't want to get left behind by the constant barrage of new music and pop sensations taking over the airwaves. But the labels just want to make money... for MGK and Bad Boy. So who wins?
The contract wins. A recording contract is the friend of both sides, as long as both sides are willing to read and understand the whole contract. But unfortunately, when one side is a young man and the other side is a huge corporation with acts such as Notorious BIG on the resume, usually the young artist ends up on the sour end of the stick. That clause saying the record label can own you and shelve you for years is the fine print hidden by the bling of P Diddy being on your team and sure success. But the real question is, what does that contract say about releasing mixtapes?
Ultimately, both Bad Boy and Machine Gun Kelly are responsible for meeting their ends of the agreement. If the contract allows MGK to release his own mixtape 'F-- It', then he for sure made the right move because of all the resulting buzz in the music world about it. If the contract says the label decides when any music is released, then MGK has made a legal mistake that can have consequences for the rest of his career. Let's hope it's the former... so MGK gets what he wants... new music out, and the record label gets what it wants.. more money!
Slick
Top 10 Billboard producer, saxophonist, husband and music lover.
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