林育廷

The future of the record business is actually exciting and full of opportunities.  Think about it, the chaos is leveling the playing field and to some degree we have a blank slate.  I believe there will always be a need for A&R and record label services, in a new incarnation of course.  But I do NOT believe record labels have a right to own the artists' masters.  Our responsibility as record label representatives is to be both the creative and financial steward for artists.  We are to establish an environment that allows the artists do what they do best, which is to: create, create, create.... perform / execute their conception.  Further, we are responsible for teaching, educating artists.  Yes, artists are out of their minds.  It is because they are out of their minds that make them great.  But that gives no person the right to exploit them which has been second nature for record executives.  I get it, labels provide the funding to record an album, market and promote the album, establish the artist's brand, etc.  But they still have no business owning the rights to the artist's creation.  It is our responsibility to identify talent we are passionate about, form partnerships, and to turn their art into a viable business... so they can create more art.  Yes, we should provide creative direction given our expertise on the marketplace.  No, we should NOT take full creative control just because this is a new artist releasing their first record.  We need to partner, manage, A&R, market, promote, brand, sell, invest on behalf of our artists.