Let Me Be Honest

If music is your true love and you are an aspiring artists there are some harsh truths you should know. Did you know that Tina Knowles supported her family with her successful beauty salon. Yes she owned her own salon in Texas, I believe it is still there, and it was/is a success! You need income people!

I have watched many aspiring artists make the mistake of quitting their day time jobs. Don’t do it!. Scott Storch, the famous music producer, is in a financial rut as are many big named recording artists and producers. Of course you don’t see that in the music videos. Many of the lavish homes and cars you see on Cribs and in their reality shows are purchased on credit, not on liquid. In many instances the the homes, cars, etc. are purchased under businesses or the record labels themselves. For example, Kimora Lee Simmons has Baby Phat. How do you think she makes big purchases? Guess what, it is also a tax right off under the business. My point is simple, keep your day job.

I’ve worked with a number of talented but delirious independent recording artists. I’ve also worked with a number of talented yet delirious parents as has one of my cousins. My cousin worked as a waiter in an exclusive club/restaurant in Atlanta, GA. In his free time he and his partner put together an all girl group called Dream. You may remember Dream, white female girl group that my cousin and his partner managed and signed with Diddy’s Bad Boy. After the girls signed with Diddy my cousin started working as an A&R for Arista. One day he sent my mother and I a ticket to watch the girls perform (they opened for N’Sync). We hung out with him at his mother’s (my aunt’s) house later that week.

My Cousins’ Stories
I remember him telling me stories and explaining how difficult the parents are to deal with. “They’re living their dreams through their daughters, its sad. One day we were getting on the bus after a performance and a one of the girls mother’s was with us. The girls were excited after the performance, started giggling laughing and whispering to each other. The mother through a fit because she was not included. The girls are 15 they’re supposed to be excited, but the mom was jealous. It’s crazy. She always wanted to be in a band or was in one when she was young but it did not pan out, something like that. Now that her daughter is she’s trying to live through her she wants to be included in everything and wines like a baby when she’s not.”

I never forgot that story. I also never forgot what he explained to me about education and recording artists. The girls, Dream, were around 15 years old when they got signed and started touring. As a result they were pulled out of high school and my cousin and his partner had to tutor them on the road. I remember him saying “I hope these girls sell a lot of records because they’re gonna be dumb as hell.” He was not trying to be mean, he was concerned. They had zero education and very limited social skills, a terrible combo. He was right. Dream never took off and where are the girls now?

Pulling your kids out of school is not a good idea unless they’ve signed a record or distribution deal and they start touring at $30,000 a performance. In fact Beyonce even attended the University of Houston for a semester. Due to success of Destiny’s Child she had to quit, but that was an excellent decision and she got paid to tour. She did plan on attending school. Brandy attended college, clearly an excellent decision given the status of her career. Before Keyshia Cole hopped in the car and drove to get her record deal at Geffen records, she first stopped at community college and tried to enroll to become a veterinarian. They told her she was not eligible for financial aid and she needed to complete her GED. She studied while on the road touring, received her GED, and still plans on opening up a vet clinic.

Parents’ Ignorance = Death of Music Career
It is scary when parents say “we have faith this what our kids are destined to do”, but have not done their homework when it comes to the industry. If they did, they would know the Beyonce story, Keyshia Cole’s, Brandy’s, Dream’s, and countless other recording artists. Kanye West even attended college, but dropped out AFTER he had secured his status as a music producer. Once in the industry he later became an artists and named one of his albums college dropout. He did attend college.

Another scary thing is the fact they’re ignoring the decline of the music industry. I remember Dexter Redding telling me he “would not put one million dollars cash into the music business.” Dexter has done well financially, is a former recording artist/producer for Sony and son of legendary singer Otis Redding. If he says this, you may want to re-think about entering the music business. They cannot stop the illegal downloads, please understand the magnitude of this problem.

Recording Music While in School
Don’t quit your day jobs and don’t skip out on education. I myself have a degree from the University of North Carolina. It’s easier to focus on your music as a student, than working two jobs. Also student loans have low interest. Susan Orman, the world famous financial advisor, admits that education is one the best investments. As an independent artists you can use some of that student loan money to build a home studio or even buy a house.

Word of Caution
Young ladies and men, hold on to your financial aid and loan money, don’t just give it to your parents. Don’t feel bad for them, you did not ask to be born, tell them to get a job. They got to chase their dreams and make mistakes and you should be allowed to pursue yours. It angers me a parent can be so selfish. If you have one of these parents, more than likely they were in a band or music is their passion and life dream that never came to full bloom. Now they have put it on you. Millions of people have beautiful voices, that does not mean everyone is destined to be a recording artists. What do you want to be? I’m asking you, not you’re parents, friends, or loved ones.

Many parents, especially fathers (I don’t know why), use the excuse “I can’t work, I have to promote my kids music and handle his/hers affairs.” Uhhh no, you need to get a job and set an example for your kids. Also when labels see this, it is a big red flag that says crazy over controlling delusional parent who is a pain in the ass. Labels will not work with you if you have a parent like this. They music industry’s first concern is trying to solve the illegal download crisis and downsize their record labels. An annoying parent is the last thing on their agenda and mine for that matter.

Independent artists you don’t have to get a degree, but at least give yourself options. Faith is faith and ignorance is ignorance. Don’t be ignorant. Even ignorant people have faith and when you combine the two you are a danger to yourself and others. Educate yourself and avoid ignorance.

Till next time,

By Jamille Luney
Music Analyst