How music labels work! Rwandan artists need to know this

Almost every successful artist has the team behind their musical success. The team behind that success is probably the label that helps them in their daily music activities.

Aug 16, 2021 - 14:09
Aug 16, 2021 - 14:13
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How music labels work! Rwandan artists need to know this

By Evode Uwiragiye

Thefacts.rw collected you the major things that label in which they take the consideration before signing the artist.

 First and foremost, the labels have to stalk the artist before signing and having talks with the artists. By this time, stalking isn’t going stealthily but checking out all their music achievements that are done low-key. This is where the team considers the streams of an artist on music platforms like Deezer, Audiomac, Spotify, Boomplay…, YouTube views and comments, the number of comments under their songs, the tours of artists, performing capacity on the stage, business understanding in terms of the music industry, and so forth.

 

At least four over six musicians wish to be signed under a certain music label. But not all of them that get the chance to be signed as they all don’t match the requirements that could result in their music career.

 The above considerations are what made Sonny Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, the best labels around the world that every artist could wish to sign for.

 To make it more clear, at the beginning of 2021’s August, the audit showed that Sonny Music earned above 26 million USD, while Universal Music earned over one billion USD from the music streams.

 The Universal under the management of Garson signed famous artists like Post Malone, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, without forgetting the renowned Alicia Keys.

 In 2020, a third of all the released songs globally were from only Sonny Music and Universal Music. This marks how labels are not a joke.

 

The seriousness and impact in this one

 The assumption shows that these music labels release 40,000 tracks a day, on different music streaming.

However, some artists happened to criticize some of the labels regardless of their general impact. Some labels were criticized for not fulfilling the signed agreements.

 Let’s be the time travelers and hence go back in 2010’ April when the musician ’Amanda Palmer’ decided to get out of her music label ‘The Roadrunner Record’ didn’t want her to release her songs for free while signed. According to the Guardian.

Not long ago that Taylor Swift departed from her music label ‘Big Machine Label Group’ after realizing that they don’t pay her as agreed. The label didn’t follow the contract.

 Although some artists criticize labels for this, a lot of artists wish to be signed in labels as they find how much it would contribute to their career development.

 Are the above aspects taken into consideration when signing the artists in Rwandan music labels? Do both sides work hand in hand as agreed? Do Rwandan music record labels help artists as it is supposed to be?

Peacemaker MBARUBUKEYE-Etienne-Peacemaker is a professional Journalist who holds bachelor degree in Journalism and Communication from University of Rwanda. CEO of Media and Development Consultancy Ltd, this company is specialized in media consulting, training, promoting social media as well as doing research. He was the digital lead at Jobcenter.rw a company of Afrimedia ltd. He worked as a senior journalist at Isango Star (Radio and television), co-chief editor, and documentarist (Isango Sobanukirwa), Program director (Sunday Night show) as well as social media manager. He worked at B&B Fm-Umwezi as journalist and documentarist. He was a content creator at Fine fm and City radio. He worked at Inyarwanda.com/TV. He worked at Empathy Manor Organics (Nigerian company based in Kigali) as an interviewer. He is the Social media content creator. He was director of Sunday Choice Live (The leading entertainment TV weekly show in Rwanda aired at Isibo Tv). He is a House and Roadshow DJ. Since May 2023 he works at Inyarwanda.com /Tv email:filousteven@gmail.com, Tel: 0786126175