#126 - 5 Ways To Avoid Being Scammed
1. Look for company or peer reviews: Make sure to build yourself a network of musicians and music industry professionals - use instagram and twitter to connect. That way, if you’re thinking of working with a certain company or individual, ask around your network and find out what experiences people have had with them. There’s always websites and blogs for reviews but asking people you trust will settle your fears even more.
2. Don’t pay for streams: Giving yourself a boost with streaming bots might sound like a nice idea but we can’t stress this enough: stay away from people/companies that guarantee you a specific number of streams! No one can guarantee this, unless they are using less than reputable methods. In most cases, these streams will just be removed and you will have wasted your money. In some cases, your actual song will be removed from the platform and in the worst (but not uncommon) case, your profile will be banned. It’s just not worth it.
3. Join organisations that fight for artists’ rights: Because of the hardship of the music industry, there are a number of not-for-profit organisations that help artists at all stages of their career. Organisations like PRS for Music or the Featured Artist Coalition have been created to protect your rights and help you receive the credits you’ve earned.
4. Recording contracts aren’t always the holy grail: This is a bigger subject than we’re able to do justice to in a single paragraph, so we’ll keep it simple: it’s better to be alone than in bad company. There are plenty of labels (generally independent labels) out there that nurture their artists and have their best interests at heart - but there are also a lot that don’t. One of the things that has always bemused us at Laid Bare, is the label that signs an artist because they like everything they’re doing and creating, and then tries to change everything the moment they’ve signed! But this happens all the time, as well as the artist that is effectively ‘left on the shelf collecting dust’ the moment a release doesn’t meet expectations, while the label moves on to more lucrative or newer acts. Recording contracts can still be advantageous, but we recommend first building an engaged fanbase to ensure that you go into those label negotiations with a little more experience and clout, and sign something that’s more favourable. Before dreaming for label involvement, ask yourself: have I taken the project as far as I can myself?
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice: A lot of music industry professionals are often willing to share their experience and wisdom. Some do it freely on social media, others do it when asked. Of course, don’t be weird about it by harassing them in DMs for free advice and don’t take advantage of people. And always make sure to thank them, tip them or give them a shout out for their time and expertise.
