The Dark Truth About Record Labels

Record labels helped build the music industry, but they also built a system that has trapped artists for decades. In this video, we break down how labels went from funding records, pressing albums, and getting artists on the radio to controlling masters, royalties, publishing, streaming, playlists, distribution, and even parts of the independent music world. We get into the rise of the major labels, how the industry slowly turned into the Big Three with Universal, Sony, and Warner, and why so many artists have called their record deals a scam. From recoupment and 360 deals to master ownership and bad contracts, this is the story of how record labels gained so much power over the artists who make the music in the first place. This is The Dark Truth About Record Labels.