Yesterday I spoke about the screwed up major label, big indie and independent label deal structures and how they keep artists unrecouped forever.
Today, I'm talking about another thing that blew my mind when I first got involved in the music business.
Before I start, imagine this.
You walk into a coffee shop that looks just like Starbucks.
Like most coffee shops, they offer way more than just coffee.
You wait patiently in line, scanning the menu.
Your mouth waters thinking about the extras you're going to purchase.
That toasted ham and cheese sandwich looks perfect.
The fresh fruit salad catches your eye.
And that blueberry crumble muffin?
Irresistible.
You place your order for coffee and ask for all three extras.
But then there's a problem.
A big problem.
It turns out the guy selling your coffee doesn't have the rights to sell you the toasted ham and cheese sandwich.
He also doesn't have the rights to sell you the fruit salad.
Or the blueberry crumble muffin.
"How can I purchase them?" you ask.
"Well, the people who sell those aren't here," he replies with a shrug.
"And I have no idea when they're coming back."
You're thinking to yourself: this is a very stupid setup.
And you're absolutely right.
It IS a very stupid setup.
But let me add another layer of stupidity to this nightmare scenario.
The coffee guy comes up with an amazing promotional plan that he believes would 10x sales for the entire business.
He presents it to all the other rights holders.
The sandwich seller loves it.
The muffin seller is on board.
But the fruit seller says no.
So the coffee seller presents Plan B.
This time the fruit seller agrees, but the sandwich and muffin sellers reject it.
Frustrated, the coffee seller now presents Plan C.
This gets rejected by everyone.
In a final, desperate attempt to get something happening, the coffee seller puts forward a stripped-back Plan D.
Even though he knows this watered-down version will make little to no impact at all.
But at least it might get approved.
You're probably thinking: "This coffee shop would go out of business in a week."
And you'd be right.
No successful business operates this way.
Except one.
The music business.
This insane coffee shop scenario?
That's exactly how the music industry treats artists and their careers.
Your music is controlled by one company.
Your publishing by another.
Your live shows by a third.
Your merchandise by a fourth.
To add complexity to the equation, oftentimes rights are sold off territory by territory,
And when someone wants to create a comprehensive strategy to maximize your success across all revenue streams?
Good luck getting everyone to agree.
One rights holder will love the plan.
Another will hate it.
A third will want to modify it beyond recognition.
And the fourth?
They're probably not even returning calls.
Meanwhile, your career momentum dies in committee meetings and contract negotiations.
This is why most artists never reach their full potential.
Not because they lack talent.
Not because there isn't demand for their music.
But because their business is fragmented across multiple parties who can't agree on anything.
The coffee shop from hell would never survive.
But somehow, this is considered "normal" in music.
It's time for a different way.
A way where all your rights work together under one roof.
Where strategy doesn't die in committee.
Where your success isn't held hostage by fragmented ownership.
On September 10th in Mexico City, I'm revealing exactly how we're solving this ridiculous problem once and for all.
The time to do is now!
Kind Regards
-The Baker
Solving The World's Problems Through Art | #thetimetodoisnow