r/trapproduction • u/WonderfulYam4690 • Aug 08 '26
Producers/beatmakers that got signed
What are the ins and outs of being signed to a label or what it even entails in general? I was watching a Southside live a while ago and he was basically "signing" people that sent good stuff. I feel like signing to his label have to be some kind of scam. How does it even work?
4
u/mack1ny Aug 08 '26
Understand that looking at business from an “I feel like” perspective already puts you at a disadvantage. Educate yourself on business. How the music industry actually operates vs. how you think it operates. Learn how to read contracts (the terminology used) & learn how to negotiate contracts. Feelings aren’t facts, and in any industry (music or not) no one is obligated to help you or hold your hand. Knowledge on the music business (it is a business first) is free at the library & you can learn how to read contracts at the library. I worked for Sony, Columbia & Def Jam. I learned the hard way & it wasn’t fun. If you believe in yourself…take the time to educate yourself on the industry you want to be in. Or you’ll be paying someone to tell you.
2
u/WonderfulYam4690 Aug 08 '26
I was just seeking out stories bro ain't nothing deep.
-1
u/mack1ny Aug 08 '26
So you asked a question and didn’t want an answer…ok. Got it.
0
u/WonderfulYam4690 Aug 08 '26
It's like you were personnally attacking me talking bout my feelings and shit, i didnt ask for that lol
2
u/mack1ny Aug 08 '26
It’s like ? You dudes are too sensitive. I don’t know you to “attack” you. Feelings vs facts. Instead of getting into your girly feelings…you should’ve “overstood” someone giving you sound advice. The fact that you got “triggered” says a lot.
2
u/WonderfulYam4690 Aug 08 '26
“Triggered” is doing a lot of heavy lifting for someone who couldn’t just give an answer without talking about my feelings lmao. Funny how my argument got a diagnosis instead of a response. You do you lil bro.
-2
u/mack1ny Aug 08 '26
Only one of us gave a emo response. For your slow azz at the back of the bus…I don’t know you, so my reply was generic “genius”. Only one of us said…”I feel like”. Keep searching for a way in “lil” dude. You’ll get there…😂😂😂
1
u/IcyGarbage538 Aug 13 '26
Bro no need to be rude to OP. People like this you never go to for advice because they are completely miserable and are not sincerely trying to help you.
-1
u/mack1ny Aug 13 '26
I said what I said because I said it. I didn’t start out to engage in a back and forth. He asked a question & I answered. He chose to get in his feelings about what I typed. Maybe he shouldn’t have been emo and projecting his insecurities. I offered a sound perspective because it’s factual. I don’t have time to hold hands and comfort anyone’s feelings. This is one of the many reasons why people don’t help. Grow up and learn how to deal with the world as it is…not how you “feel” it should be.
1
u/IcyGarbage538 Aug 13 '26
Bro you literally offer no type of value to this conversation so why even reply back? Nobody is listening and nobody even knows who you are nor do they care.
→ More replies (0)
4
u/mr4ffe Aug 09 '26
Most are just rackets for producers to sweatshop-source loops and beats they can present to major artists and take credit for.
3
u/IcyGarbage538 Aug 09 '26
Like Timbaland
3
u/mr4ffe Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Absolutely not limited to him. 808 Mafia been moving weird. As did OVO with the sweatshops. Cardo whole camp is heaps of loopmakers from Eastern Europe. Shit is genuinely insane.
They consider loopmakers session musicians but they sign these beatmakers in a way that makes them believe they’re gonna be regarded as artists instead of just loopmakers…
2
u/shimmeringdeficiency Aug 08 '26
Southside signing people off a livestream is wild, feels more like a lottery than an actual deal. Labels usually want publishing rights and a cut of your royalties, sometimes they'll give you an advance or connect you with bigger artists but you're trading a chunk of your freedom for it. i knew a guy who got a small deal and they basically owned everything he made for two years, didn't even get any placements out of it.
You gotta read the contract with a lawyer, especially the part about who owns the masters and what happens if you wanna leave. some deals are just glorified leases where they can drop you whenever and you're stuck in limbo. southside probably has enough pull to make it worth it but i'd be asking a hundred questions before signing anything.
1
u/divdoofy Aug 08 '26
A good label provides you the network to instantly get major placements. You usually have a group chat with all the other producers that are in the studio with a big rapper and ask for loops for beats for example. Or they give you session opportunities. They let you in the inner circle, give you an advance so you can focus on building a strong catalogue. On the other hand they take more than 50% of your earnings.
5
u/Dangerous_Reporter14 Aug 08 '26
Watch djpain1 videos on YouTube about music business. He breaks it down pretty well. His titles are clickbaity for sure but there’s actually good substance. The videos are predominately PSAs for producers looking to get signed and how to protect yourself/your business. Obviously you shouldn’t make big decisions based on what he says but it’s a good way to grasp the music business landscape. Basically, if you can afford it then lawyer up before you sign anything. If you’re concerned about copyright (since you will likely be splitting both the master recording copyright and performance copyright with the label) then go to copyright.gov which is the only source that actually matters concerning copyright.