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[Hogisbald]

After reading an Interview with Opeth who are currently doing very well with the new album, I was suprised to read that their roadcrew get paided more than they do. I think Roadrunner are a bit dodgy but people like Pete Steele has said similar things.

Im sure most of the people here who would love a record deal would like a deal so they can play music but if you are earning below a McDonalds wage, isnt that a kick in the teeth when you sell shit loads of records?

[Dave]

A record deal normally brings better distribution and wider exposure for bands, but it's not necessarily the gateway to riches. For a band touring on a small to medium scale, the money gained from gigs is usually eaten up with equipment, staff and accomodation costs. The real money is made from royalty payments from album sales, radio and tv play etc, and being on a label will greatly increase a bands chances of doing well in those markets. Were they taking that into account when they were comparing salaries?

they may not get "paid" as well, but they get loads of advances/loans.
thats just how the music industry's always operated though.

[jester1470]

Originally Posted by Hog

After reading an Interview with Opeth who are currently doing very well with the new album, I was suprised to read that their roadcrew get paided more than they do. I think Roadrunner are a bit dodgy but people like Pete Steele has said similar things.

Im sure most of the people here who would love a record deal would like a deal so they can play music but if you are earning below a McDonalds wage, isnt that a kick in the teeth when you sell shit loads of records?

Fish was signed to Roadrunner for a while and left purely because they are quite dodgy, they set a reasonable royalty scheme but then add on a lot of 'extra costs'. It's just the way it goes if you're signed to a label, Marillion make similar amounts now despite selling 1/20th what they did once upon a time because they do everything themselves. What being signed to a label allows you to do is potentially build up a fanbase that might be able to support you for the rest of your career if managed properly. A record company can build up a strong fanbase by getting your products reviewed etc, get you played on radio, a lot of things that make things easier to 'break'.

Cheers

Stuart

[Spoonie]

so the secret is to get your shit spread out, get signed, 3 album deal, go massive, set up a label of your own and organise distribution, move to that after 3 albums. then it's fucking cash money all the way!!

/x

[milner]

Originally Posted by Spoonie

so the secret is to get your shit spread out, get signed, 3 album deal, go massive, set up a label of your own and organise distribution, move to that after 3 albums. then it's fucking cash money all the way!!

/x

haha when you say it that way it makes it all seem so easy

[catherine]

bands rarely make profit.

some bands go for a massive advance and just live off of that and never pay it back fully.

or others may go for a very small advance, pay for stuff themselves and then they'll pay the advance back quickly and start actually making a profit.

its all about the negotiation :-) you could negotiate a massive point like 20-22 then you'll make it abck quickly... or get stuck with something crap like 11 points. and be in debt for EVER

its a crap business really. i say lets be a manager and make 20% of everything.

[jester1470]

Originally Posted by Spoonie

so the secret is to get your shit spread out, get signed, 3 album deal, go massive, set up a label of your own and organise distribution, move to that after 3 albums. then it's fucking cash money all the way!!

/x

Thats pretty much about the best way of doing things imo, after that time you have the name and the independence.

Cheers

Stuart

[Spoonie]

Originally Posted by milner

haha when you say it that way it makes it all seem so easy

come on man, stayover obviously just aren't working hard enough

/x

[Demon Of The Fall]

you'll also have to remember Hog that Opeth are the masters of a pisstake interview and most of what was printed was total bollocks (metal hammer have a habit of not printing any realy facts about them) Mike for example is a very modest man who has said many times he think of opeth as just any other band and has never claimed to be anything special and yet in the interview they are quoted as saying "we knew we were the best band in the world from the start"

opeth enjoy taking the piss out of the media so i wouldnt buy too much into what you read