The Unsung Tale Of Record Label Woes

Record labels are a double-edged sword. They have been known to catapult an artiste’s
career to the skies,or bring about profound resurgence of a deteriorating career,or
downright see that a career fades into oblivion. Whether by sheer bad luck, or merely just
being victims of errant contractual agreements,some artiste’s careers have been subjected
to this fate all too blatantly.

Xtatic’s career was headed skywise and was deemed one of the most promising
contemporary female emcees in the country. That until Sony approached her and all hell
broke loose. The controversial recording deal saw that she would later end up breaking off
from. It was not a easy as it sounds,as the global record barred her from releasing any new
music until the duration of the contract was over. This saw her go on a long hiatus and
almost been seen as a ‘has-been.’ She has had several attempts at a huge comeback and
while she is still respected in rap circles,she has yet to command her stance as the hiphop
powerhouse she had hinted at being in her debut era.

Taylor Swift is no stranger to news headlines,but she was in the news a few months ago for
a rather unusual reason this time. Her former record label,Big Machine,acquired new
ownership under famed music mogul Scooter Brown. The implication of this ownership
meant that Swift’s ownership of the master recordings of the music at Big Machine was
transferred,in a $ 300 million deal. Swift’s catalogue at the label being the most lucrative,it
makes sense that she went on a lengthy Tumblr rant. She later asserted that she would
rerecord all her old catalogue at the label in her quest to regain ownership. Taylor Swift is
currently signed to Universal Music.

Old school rapper Waka Flocka has for long been one of the most outspoken about the
perks of being a free agent and detaching from controlling labels. He may not be plastered
all over the lists of the most prolific rappers, but he still firmly holds on to his stance on
being a free agent. Rapper Iggy Azalea quit TI’s Hustle Gang for Universal Music, and turns
out the grass did not get any greener. After her career at Universal seemingly stalled for a
few years and an exit could not have been any more timely.

Singer Avril left Ogopa Deejays for Kaka Empire,and her stay at the latter was rather
shortlived. Last time we checked,she is now a freelance artiste.