Interscope is weird

[Petrichor 4,640]

The amazing late George Michael had a HUGE battle with his record company:

Panayiotou and others v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. was a contract and entertainment law case before the High Court of Justice's Chancery Division. The plaintiff, entertainer George Michael, argued that his recording contract constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade. Michael alleged that the defendant had failed to promote his album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 with due vigour as punishment when the artist decided to downplay his status as a sex symbol. Michael described his situation as "professional slavery" because his contract required that he produce music and cede the copyright to Sony for many years, leaving him no control over how the music would be marketed nor placing a reciprocal requirement that the label invest in promotion. Had the case succeeded, it might have curtailed the practice of signing artists to multi-album contracts. The court wholly rejected the claims.

[SpookyKid 15,153]

Gaga should create her own label and sign young artists 

[Guest]

Create her own label. Plenty of greats have done it. Bey, most recently, and this was arguably her best and most successful year to date. I am 100% confident that Gaga could plan her releases and singles better than a label could.

I've used this as a reference before, and I'll use it again: Gaga's single choices for Born This Way were 1) Born This Way, 2) Marry the Night, 3) Scheiße, and 4) The Edge of Glory. Completely flawless. Not to mention her choosing Alejandro when her label wanted another song. Alejandro became a signature hit for her and was the perfect third single to follow Bad Romance & Telephone. And, not that it's relevant, but I think she would've released A-YO as the lead from Joanne if she fully had her way instead of "coming to agreement" on Perfect Illusion. The label probably thought it was too different from her past albums, but who knows.

Obviously we don't know everything that goes on behind the scenes, but she knows what she's doing, and I wish she could have full control over her releases and singles.

 

[Batwings 12,882]

I've said for years that Interscope is messy A.F. I feel like so many music industry big wheels are totally disconnected from the rest of the world.

[merlot 5,772]

Interscope chose PI as the lead single because they wanted to take advantage of gaga's breakup, they thought that people would associate the lyrics with the breakup and it'll smash! and it didn't work 

i honestly want her to sign with taylor swift's label cuz honestly the promo they did for her during the 1989 era was INSANE!

[Future Lover 2,588]

43 minutes ago, KleinKnight said:

They didn't give her money to promote the rest of ARTPOP, though. That album was over not only because of Gaga's conflicts with her manager but also because Interscope stopped believing in her. To me it looks like Joanne was created to go against all of the ARTPOP aesthetics.

It's not like she couldn't have done some of it herself. I'm sure a lot of talk shows/radio shows would have let her come in for free. She had four broadcasted performances in the US from Dec 2013-April 2014. Four.

Interscope might control the money, but Gaga has to put in at least some effort herself. She had significantly less money in 2008, but look at the determined attitude she had back then.

[Ricardo 7,808]

6 minutes ago, Future Lover said:

It's not like she couldn't have done some of it herself. I'm sure a lot of talk shows/radio shows would have let her come in for free. She had four broadcasted performances in the US from Dec 2013-April 2014. Four.

Interscope might control the money, but Gaga has to put in at least some effort herself. She had significantly less money in 2008, but look at the determined attitude she had back then.

Damn, tell them 

and honestly sometimes the public is not there for the music, so you can really blame the label for that 

[JR Gg 12,985]

We all know Gaga needs Taylor's promotion team. 

[Arkar Phyomin 60]

2 hours ago, M Monstre said:

I thought Perfect Illusion was perfect lead single material

The promo was just messy, though

With the promo

That wouldve been more pathetic 

[sillynate 6,170]

I think it would be great for all artists to leave their labels once their contracts are up so that the CEOs who have little to no knowledge on music can pipe down and gtfo.

That would make fans suffer for a bit because things would be toned down (visuals, interviews, performances, etc.) But once the artists and producers and writers get their checks without 98% taken out because the label "promoted" it, it'll be worth the wait... I think 

[xoxo cupcakke 4,781]

I mean, from the people that I've talked to that have some sort of affiliation with the record label say a similar thing. A label may change the entire sound of a song or album in order to make it more marketable, or, at least, that's the mindset. Apparently, some songs on Joanne were a lot slower, but Interscope told her and her producers to speed some of them up. On top of that, you can tell how polished the songs on Joanne are compared to the Worktapes which, to me, sound way better and more in tune to the message and themes of Joanne as an album

I would imagine the same thing happened during ARTPOP, and that Gaga was really hesitant about changing her music but gave in or something and that's why a lot of the songs ended up sounding almost completely different to their finished products. Labels will nitpick at any detail that they can. For instance, Gaga and her producers think they're done with a song and they go to their label who mostly like the track, but hate the way Gaga sings a certain line, hates the tempo of the songs and asks to slow it down or speed it up, hates a certain verse, thinks the song as whole is unmarketable and asks Gaga to make it more marketable

The thing with Gaga is that she's already made a name for herself and brings in loads of money to her label compared to other labelmates. I guess that's the reason why she's had so much liberty with Joanne, but it also explains her budget this era. In the case of Azealia, she could rot for all I care, but, the Little Azealiaster in me that was an avid Azealia fan in 2012 and 2013 feels sorry for her. I get that she didn't want Soda as a single choice, but the realist in me is saying she should've gone with it if she wanted to make a bigger name for herself. If she was about her artistic integrity and wasn't willing to make compromises, why have even signed with that label in the first place? And judging from Azealia's character online, I have a strong feeling she was not willing to make many compromises with her label then. The non-hetero POC that is me hopes she gets her come-uppins

As for the whole Lana situation, I find that kind of strange since Lana never made herself out to be some sort of mainstream pop artist, but I guess with the success of her debut album her label had other plans for her second album then. Moral of the story, labels can be very evil and stubborn, but when it comes to Broke With Expensive Taste, Azealia should've learnt to bite her tongue which she has yet to do. Maybe if she did, she wouldn't have lost a mass amount of her following that was behind her and supported some of her most problematic statements. She's so talented but you can only do so much for a racist, homophobic counterfeminist Trump supporter 

[Ryl 148]

The point of a record label and record deal is to release your music to the masses and in return a profit is made.

Its kind of like any job... There are rules to follow and expectations to be met. 

Just because a musician can sing or write a song doesn't mean they know what sells good. 

The record labels are the engine into these artists careers. It's the production that goes into their music and performances, it's the hair, makeup and wardrobe team that are hired to make you look good, it's the planes, busses, hotels and security to let you perform your music all over the world and be safe. 

95% of these musicians wouldn't look, sound, perform the way they do or have what they have if it wasn't for their record label. And part of that deal is to listen to the label. 

[GhettoFabulous 18,501]

Gaga needs to get the **** outta there 

1. I think her contract is up....

2. Just imagine if she controlled everything I'm sure the drive of broken promises wouldn't be there lol

3. We'd get slaysuals for days 

4. Then she would need the original Haus or add minor adjustments to the current one

5. If Gaga has the right team and stuff she could slay as and indie artist( don't you dare @ me) 

6. seriously look at chance the rapper 

7. Or she could find a better label that would literally give her more freedom tbh she could even create a label with M.I.A

there's  million reasons for her to stay in the label but she needs one to get the **** outta that bitch. ( They're criminals in suits )(but after hearing all this i still wanna be signed and stuff) @BorisIsHere get TF outta there girl 

[REALITY 76,234]

7 hours ago, Arkar Phyomin said:

With the promo

That wouldve been more pathetic 

Having more promo? All we hear are LM's talking about how PI didn't get enough promo. 

With more promo, it could have been a great hit. 

[gagzus 15,829]

9 hours ago, adammonroe said:

Wasn't Joanne her last album.with Interscope? I think she should get the **** outta that messy **** and found her own label.

Her next album will be her last as interscope classify TFM as an EP or rerelease so to them this is her 4th studio album.