The freedom to make records. Deep down, most artists want the ability to create the music, art, and image they love. The problem comes down to deciding between art and business. In Art, you can do almost anything you desire, that’s different than business. Sometimes you’re lucky, and they both live in the same house and at other times, they live in separate residences.
A friend and I discussed composers who write experimental orchestral or synth music. While not all of them, many of them were professors of music. Their primary income was from teaching, not a composing career.
I’m being vague, but that’s not important now. While some composers can make a living straight from their music, it certainly helps if it appeals to the masses. While John Cage is a well-known composer, he never sold as many albums of his playing a cactus with a feather as Taylor Swift did with any of her songs. Taylor Swift appeals to a more significant population segment.
I was surprised watching a video where an expert talked about record sales and mentioned that each genre had different silver, gold, and platinum qualifications. The expert explained if the goals for selling records were the same, no jazz artist would ever receive a silver record since their sales couldn’t reach the heights of popular music sales. You needed more extensive sales to receive a silver album in pop music than for jazz.
My point is that my private record label is similar to John Cage and the jazz genre. I have the luxury of making the recordings I want without any stipulations or profit (I say with a smile). My income is from the job I love, teaching, which frees me from the business end of the recording.
