People's Weird Perceptions about Owning a Label

Most of the time, I just roll with whatever people think and say about how cool it must be to own a record label. I honestly never thought of it that way, its just something I do because I am passionate about music. But there are days, like today, when I just want to throw my hands up and say "What the F**K?"? Are you really that lame? I write a newsletter every couple of weeks to let subscribers know about what's going on here at the label. Its fun for me, and it's a great sales tool. This is a business first and foremost. I'm trying to make a living doing something I like, and hopefully in the process, release something positive into the world. People seem to think that I control alot of what happens in the music industry, which is crazy. I put out a record, and do my best to promote the band and the music, and hopefully make my money back so I can work on the next project. Its all a leap of faith, all I can do is be honest with myself, my customers and my band, and the rest is really out of my control. One of the things that people really don't seem to get is that I do not have the resources to put out every band that contacts me. First off, I don't have the resources to put out every band that I LIKE, much less than those who send me a demo with hope in their hearts that I'll sign them. There's so much that goes into my decision to sign a band; I wrote about some of those things a few posts ago. But here's the deal: I listen to EVERY SINGLE DEMO that gets sent to me, honest to God! It may take me a few years to write that band and let them know I listened to it (if they had the sense to provide a current and correct email address). But I never ever tell that band they're bad, even if they are, and believe me, I get alot of demos that I could say that about. Music is SUBJECTIVE, and what may turn me on, or off is just my own personal taste. So if I'm rejecting a band, I may give them some pointers to help them pull things together, or I may just say, its not what I'm looking for, which is the truth! But it might be what someone else is looking for, who am I to say? I'm not God, I am not the arbiture of taste! But what really bums me out is emails like this, that I just got today sent from one Paul Hill :

You do not support my band and I do not suport yours.

So Get Screwed!

Thanks!

I have no idea who this is, or what his band is or what he thinks I did to deserve an email like this. I know I never ever decline to work with a band in a rude way. Anyone who knows me knows I'm very polite, and have a policy of not dissing a band. If I don't like it, I don't work with them, or write about them, or engage in any way. There's too much negativity out there already, what purpose would it serve to diss a band? Does this person think that because I didn't sign them that I'm not supportive of new bands and artists? I thought it was self evident that I can't work with every band I like, much less every band that contacts me. I get hundreds of emails and demo submissions, and I may sign one or two bands a year. It's attitudes like this that make me hate what I do. I try really hard to let people make the kind of music that makes them happy. It has nothing to do with me, yet people like our friend here seem to think my stamp of approval on their band or lack of it means I'm supporting or not supporting them. I don't get it, what kind of person thinks this? Who cares what I think? I'm just one girl, running one small company, working with one very small segment of the music out there that comes my way. There's nothing I can do about an attitude like that, except hope that whatever his band is, if he is having a good time playing, that he keeps on playing, no matter what people say. That's the beautiful thing about art, music, writing, poetry, or any other creative out put of self expression: you do it for YOU, and no one else. You can't control how people respond. All you can do is be honest, be kind and try not to hurt any one intentionally. After that, its all out of your hands.