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Forum nameGeneral Discussion
Topic subjectPeople are going in on poor Megan Thee Stallion
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=13369787
13369787, People are going in on poor Megan Thee Stallion
Posted by lightworks, Mon Mar-02-20 02:07 PM
Because she wants to renegotiate her record deal and because of that her label won’t release any new music..

Folks going on and on about how she shoulda read the contract but she was a kid and being managed by her mom, don’t fault her for not reading everything, executives are assholes they aren’t in the business of being saints.
13369793, its a cut throat business.
Posted by lsymone, Mon Mar-02-20 02:16 PM
i wouldnt let her out of the deal regardless she was a teen, her mother should've sat down and educate her. and if her mom didnt understand what she was signing her daughter into, they should've hired a lawyer.

#nosympathyfrombusinesspeople #itsadogeatdogbusiness #acontractisacontract #welcometotherealworld #pickone:sugeknightorpuff
13370020, Cut throats and dog dealers
Posted by The3rdOne, Mon Mar-02-20 09:37 PM
13369794, then those people are fucking idiots.
Posted by PROMO, Mon Mar-02-20 02:17 PM
yes, she signed the contract. that happens to countless artists.

it's almost a rite of passage to sign a bad contract when you come into the industry. and the reason they are bad (for the artist) is because you are an unproven commodity and the label/production company/manager is going to be dumping a fair amount of time (and usually a significant amount of money) trying to make you pop.

however, in Meg's case, she has popped in a MAJOR way and has proved her worth and at that point, if the label had any ethics, they'd re-negotiate a deal that is fair for both parties. they shouldn't just be allowed to reap the strip-mined rewards of your talent while you get nothing for years and years.

the lay of the land has change at that point and the terms should be re-negotiated to reflect that.

13369809, .....
Posted by Selah, Mon Mar-02-20 02:28 PM
>if the label had any ethics

:/
13369814, right. i mean, they should, but....yeah.
Posted by PROMO, Mon Mar-02-20 02:36 PM
13369844, Right. It's not like she could have negotiated a better contract at the time.
Posted by Buddy_Gilapagos, Mon Mar-02-20 03:16 PM
She had no leverage, so she had to sign a shitty deal. Now she has leverage, she is making a public campaign to renegotiate her contract and is trying to use her star power and public support to create leverage for herself.

It's a tale as old as the record business.

And I've been thinking about it for some time I can't figure out a better system.



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"
13370926, RE: then those people are fucking idiots.
Posted by howardlloyd, Wed Mar-04-20 05:11 PM
she fired the people and hired jay

they are merely cut in because of the original deal

if shes worth all that... jay should try and buy out the contract ... or she should
13369810, you cant be a "boss ass bitch" and clown folks on twitter
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Mon Mar-02-20 02:31 PM
For legitimately wondering what kind of deal you were in and being worried about you. only to get up on IG live begging to be able to put out music cause you signed a fucked up deal.
13369822, who was she clowning?
Posted by lsymone, Mon Mar-02-20 02:41 PM
13369830, some random ppl on twitter replying to her
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Mon Mar-02-20 03:03 PM
this was maybe 6 months ago when news came out that she signed to Rock Nation. ive already seen it get retweeted a few times yesterday

i remember seeing it when she tweeted it and thinking it's gonna come back to bite her soon but this was quick
13369848, #4080
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 03:20 PM
13371434, ^^^sees it^^^
Posted by exactopposite, Thu Mar-05-20 11:27 PM
13369852, Check the Rhime, released in 91, & we’re still falling for the trap
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 03:26 PM
13369854, our culture is like the Wile E. Coyote of society
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 03:29 PM
13369862, This ol' excuse, huh:
Posted by flipnile, Mon Mar-02-20 03:39 PM
>but she was a kid

"kid" @20yo. lol. Should've did the damn homework in HS.
13369864, People want to be on the industry.
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 03:43 PM
while it’s the same old same...

Let’s not act like the 40 hour worker is really getting over on their employer after all these years.

How many of us were working in strong as industries with some strong ass benefits at 20?

13369876, true..
Posted by tariqhu, Mon Mar-02-20 04:01 PM
and that industry so shady, the age doesn't always matter as much. the experience in dealing with those contracts and people just out to take advantage of you. most of us don't have to deal with that in our chosen careers.
13369908, LOL @ skrong ass benefits, worker bee mentality ass
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 04:28 PM
13369891, Bunch of people who’ve never seen a record contract
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 04:12 PM
blabbing on about what somebody else should’ve done. Because THEY know.

Twitter is just a whole bunch of people who haven’t been told to shut the fuck up enough.
13369902, nah, but thats what Lawyers are for jackass
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 04:24 PM
how much material shit do you think she bought before seeking counsel?
13369915, If only she had hired you, you could’ve saved her
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 04:30 PM
>how much material shit do you think she bought before seeking
>counsel?

I don’t know or care, to be honest.
13369930, doesnt work that way, i see where your frustration comes from
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 04:45 PM
13369934, Neither you nor I know how she spends her money
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 04:48 PM
She’s trying to leverage her success into a better situation. Why would anyone have a problem with that?
13369940, welp, we know what she didnt spend it on
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 04:51 PM
and no one has a problem with her trying to make her current situation better, thats your emotions talking
13369960, please teach us all to be like you
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 05:33 PM
*Hand fart*
13369992, you dont want a solution, you want to point fingers
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 07:47 PM
13370005, Oh, the irony
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 08:34 PM
All you do is point fingers at Black people.

Ole self hating ass

13370030, LOL, if looking in the mirror produces CHANGE, ill be dat
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 11:05 PM
who raised you defeatist ass niggas
13370044, lol @ producing change
Posted by Mafamaticks, Tue Mar-03-20 06:56 AM
that's the problem with this situation.

You and the rest of them twitter niggas are so self-important that you think grandstanding behind y'all screen names, talking shit and pointing fingers at Megan for signing that deal is bringing about change.


All y'all really doing is filling yourselves up with a sense of superiority. the majority of y'all be the same ones beefing with your landlord over pet fees talking about get a lawyer to read over your contract.

Why don't y'all go after the predatory labels like y'all going at Meg so other up and coming artists don't have to deal with that? Or is it easier to hold artists solely responsible for the record industry?



13370060, ^^^^^^^
Posted by DJR, Tue Mar-03-20 08:35 AM
13370106, i cant control a predatory label, i can only control myself
Posted by seasoned vet, Tue Mar-03-20 10:15 AM
13370137, lol
Posted by legsdiamond, Tue Mar-03-20 10:49 AM
13370165, *edit*
Posted by Mafamaticks, Tue Mar-03-20 11:27 AM
not even worth it
13369903, How do record contracts differ from other contracts?
Posted by flipnile, Mon Mar-02-20 04:25 PM
Are they written in Latin?

Do they use too-small 4pt fonts?




What is the secret about record contracts that us mere plebs don't understand?
13369910, these mfers don’t even read articles beyond the headlines!
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 04:29 PM
acting like they’re up on some damn contracts. Tired of these Twitter know it alls who are experts on everything but somehow magically have nothing better to do than run their fucking yaps about successful people, for 3 likes and a retweet.
13369995, we hire lawyers to do the reading for us, they went to school for it
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 07:52 PM
well, everyone not within our culture does

13370010, Damn bruh, you been slurping white people these past few days.
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 08:44 PM
13370031, i know it hurts.
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 11:08 PM
13370140, If it hurts... don’t slurp so hard.
Posted by legsdiamond, Tue Mar-03-20 10:51 AM
13371010, RE: How do record contracts differ from other contracts?
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 08:41 AM
Inherently the industry standard is more exploitative.

They arent like a bank giving you a loan to open a bakery.

So what you are negotiating is very ambiguous and clouded language purposely looking to obfuscate.

On TOP of that... it is in the lawyer's best interest to not push back too much (especially if they are a local or up and coming lawyer) because their career relies on relationships in the business they are negotiating against.

I know an artist who was told that (this major label deal) was not going to happen if their novice lawyer was involved. So they had to go with a more reputable one in the game but his allegiances lie in staying in the game, not necessarily the artist.
13369925, in 20+ years i've never been more tempted to use q sig quote
Posted by Selah, Mon Mar-02-20 04:42 PM
>Twitter is just a whole bunch of people who haven’t been
>told to shut the fuck up enough

of course that is true for pretty much the entire internet if u really think about it
13369928, Lol, Twitter is just extra with it
Posted by DJR, Mon Mar-02-20 04:45 PM
Just not a fan of the hot takes gang up thing from a bunch of people who don’t actually know what they’re talking about.
13369920, People with good lawyers also sign bad deals
Posted by Damali, Mon Mar-02-20 04:36 PM
why?

cuz 1. the shit is written to purposely obfuscate

cuz 2. nobody can predict the future...sometimes the shit says "xyz after 20 years" and that shit never sounds like a problem till 20 years have passed, then you're like

FUCK.

point is, even a well-read contract can be shitty in hindsight.

d
13369935, people also die in accidents w/ their seatbelt on
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 04:49 PM
our culture is hell bent on avoiding basic economic literacy when doing business
13369939, I don't think it's about not understanding the contract...
Posted by Buddy_Gilapagos, Mon Mar-02-20 04:50 PM
I think its more likely that an unsigned artist has no leverage to negotiate these contracts. They put it in front of you and say sign, if you try and push back and negotiate they move on to the next hot artist at the moment.

One could argue she should have gone independent and build her own brand, but there is no telling that would have worked and the only reason we may have heard of her is because she signed a shitty contract and got exposure.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"
13369970, that too
Posted by Damali, Mon Mar-02-20 05:57 PM
i saw people saying how Taylor Swift had every resource available to her when she signed her original contract, and still got got by it decades later


d
13369972, facts. if you don't have any money and no other way to get some
Posted by Rjcc, Mon Mar-02-20 06:08 PM
PLUS you don't have decades of industry experience.

you're coming to the table with nothing

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at
13369979, Season Vet blaming Blacks when the industry is corrupt that's why
Posted by Lurkmode, Mon Mar-02-20 06:40 PM
bad contracts are signed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ynyxmHCkY
13369990, you cant control the industry, you CAN control your ignorance
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 07:43 PM
but we wont.

we’ll continue to expect our oppressors to treat us fair
13369994, Damn sounds like a very bad deal:
Posted by lightworks, Mon Mar-02-20 07:49 PM
https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/02/megan-thee-stallion-lawsuit-contract-record-label-1501-certified-entertainment/

One thing is they get 60% of her income and the 40% she takes home she still has to pay back engineers and things...

I know when she signed she probably was thinking “40% of anything is better than 0% of nothing” but still, wow.
13370955, RE: From What I've Seen 40/60 is Above Average
Posted by Thee Phantom, Wed Mar-04-20 07:04 PM
Especially for a new artist. Most of them get 25% or less. Unless she came to the table with 1M fans, 25K+ units sold and a tour history, it looks like she got a good deal for a new artist.

I don't think she had any of that before the deal.
13370971, better than the worst means its still shitty.
Posted by tariqhu, Wed Mar-04-20 09:30 PM
13370973, RE: better than the worst means its still shitty.
Posted by Thee Phantom, Wed Mar-04-20 09:55 PM
Have you ever been presented with an actual recording contract?

No judgement. Just asking.
13370977, not presented, but I have seen a couple.
Posted by tariqhu, Wed Mar-04-20 10:21 PM
it was bunch of years ago, so I don't remember much at all about them.

I completely understand the dream part of this whole thing. that helps folks sign shitty deals. a label deal is viewed as a way out of bad living situations, into potential fame, and maybe some money.

entertainment in general isn't fare to the artists. its made worse when the fame actually happens, but the money doesn't.
13370981, RE: not presented, but I have seen a couple.
Posted by Thee Phantom, Wed Mar-04-20 10:33 PM
40% isn't shitty by any means to an artist with little to no bargaining power. It's actually a pretty good deal. They gambled on her marketability and the fact that Cardi was a smash.

They dumped money into her and built her from scratch and she ascended pretty quickly.

For perspective Master P had an 80/20 deal with Universal. TI had a 60/40 deal. She got 40% and ownership of her Master's when most new artists get 25% or less.

The idea that this is a shitty deal is preposterous. The tour money is even touching her hands first and she has to then break the label off. She hasn't paid them a percentage in months. Most new artists get paid after the label touches the tour money.
13371097, I get that it may be better than some deals.
Posted by tariqhu, Thu Mar-05-20 10:44 AM
my point is that its still not a good deal. you're right, they took a chance on someone that had no leverage. she popped and they win.

with all that, its still a predatory industry. most folks don't realize it until they're actually signed up for the dream.
13371182, RE: Not some... MOST
Posted by Thee Phantom, Thu Mar-05-20 11:39 AM
>my point is that its still not a good deal.

What is your point of reference for this? What new artists with zero track record that you can point to that have a 50/50 split or better with royalties?

I get that the industry is terrible as a whole. This deal isn't indicative of that. The fact that she has partial Master's Ownership, makes this deal favorable in fact.
13371216, I think we're just giving the diff vantage points.
Posted by tariqhu, Thu Mar-05-20 12:08 PM
>>my point is that its still not a good deal.
>
>What is your point of reference for this? What new artists
>with zero track record that you can point to that have a 50/50
>split or better with royalties?

new artists don't get that.
>
>I get that the industry is terrible as a whole.

we agree here.


This deal
>isn't indicative of that. The fact that she has partial
>Master's Ownership, makes this deal favorable in fact.
>

I agree that that's a win for her in the long run. but I'm also saying this being a better deal than others doesn't equate to a good deal.

maybe the deals going forward will be better if they renegotiate or let her sign elsewhere. she got some juice now.




13371009, RE: Damn sounds like a very bad deal:
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 08:36 AM
This is better than a normal major-label contract... lol

In her BEST case scenario, we are talking about a 50/50 deal and (a pie in the sky scenario) shared costs on recording, production etc..

Most companies cut you an advance check. With that check, you are responsible for delivering that album, videos, artwork to the label as a final product. With your % you must recoup the advance + marketing and any additional costs the label incurred before you begin to make any money.

The trick was that while the label was spending to blow you up you would make immediate money on the road, sponsorships, etc... then labels smartened up and said.. oh we are creating stars with all these revenue streams and not benefiting from them... then came the 360 deal.

What I think is happening is Big Bank Take Little Bank. Roc Nation wants more bread and probably wants to get out having to deal with a 3rd partner. So they can use the guise of "bad contracts" and goodwill to break the contract and get rid of the little guys.
13371215, thats exactly J Prince mentioned in his IG memo
Posted by lsymone, Thu Mar-05-20 12:07 PM
13371220, Dude in the photo got that steroid head
Posted by flipnile, Thu Mar-05-20 12:16 PM
Probably be roid raging.
13370003, BEP is suing their label
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 08:29 PM
They are no longer on Interscope

But let the experts in here tell everyone how to game the industry.

The Industry is undefeated.

13370033, of course, so just walk in with no drawls on then
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 11:10 PM
dumb fuck
13370004, Stallone robbed of Rocky ownership
Posted by legsdiamond, Mon Mar-02-20 08:33 PM

https://variety.com/2019/film/features/sylvester-stallone-rocky-ownership-stake-1203275639/

but yeah.. it’s only our culture who doesn’t read contracts or signs bad deals.


13370018, it's like people just heard of the entertainment business
Posted by Rjcc, Mon Mar-02-20 09:20 PM
everybody gets jacked

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at
13370032, no, not everyone.
Posted by seasoned vet, Mon Mar-02-20 11:08 PM
13370053, of course, not everyone.
Posted by tariqhu, Tue Mar-03-20 08:15 AM
but enough folks to show that the industry needs to take better care of the artists. sure they should read more too, but there should be some better mentoring for artists when they come in.
13370076, Someone above said it best.
Posted by legsdiamond, Tue Mar-03-20 09:15 AM
If you have no leverage you aren’t getting a sweet deal.

That first deal is rarely a good one.

Best bet is betting on yourself or signing a short deal but that’s a huge gamble and plenty of people can’t cut through the noise



13370111, of course it does, thats no reason to not hire a lawyer
Posted by seasoned vet, Tue Mar-03-20 10:20 AM
13371011, No.... EVERYONE
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 08:44 AM
The entire business is a jack move...

The question simply is how bad...

and as you gain more power those things begin to change.
13371024, ^^^^^ correct.
Posted by legsdiamond, Thu Mar-05-20 09:10 AM
Anyone thinking they are getting a great first deal has no clue how the industry works.

At best you can stay indie and pray you pop.

and most of these “indie” artist aren’t truly independent.



13371038, RE: ^^^^^ correct.
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 09:49 AM
The entire basis of the business is built on exploitation.

Recoup is the devil in all these contracts... a creator has to make a product and even at a 50/50 percentage they must "recoup" ALL the costs incurred to create and promote that product before they make money. But their "partner" who put up the money makes a profit on their end from day one.

13370155, Why couldn't she have sought legal help?
Posted by Kira, Tue Mar-03-20 11:15 AM
Artists today have no excuses for signing bad record deals due to all the info available. Wasn't she in school at the time? Go have someone break down the contract for you. There are thousands of books, artist testimonies, and info available on record contracts that didn't exist in previous years. Why is Megan signed to a label anyways? What can that label do for her that she can't do independently?
13370207, RE: Why couldn't she have sought legal help?
Posted by lsymone, Tue Mar-03-20 12:26 PM

there's a sucker born every minute-PT Barnum, a businessman
13370209, the moguls of the 90’s and 00’s been saying this
Posted by seasoned vet, Tue Mar-03-20 12:27 PM
on Youtube and social media for at least 10 years now
13371013, RE: Why couldn't she have sought legal help?
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 08:46 AM
The legal help would probably be not much help.

"Megan also claims Crawford has been using his relationship with Rap-a-Lot Records founder J. Prince to intimidate people in the industry."

13371130, J Prince had time today
Posted by lsymone, Thu Mar-05-20 11:06 AM
go to twitter or IG.
13371151, J Prince has spoken...
Posted by double 0, Thu Mar-05-20 11:17 AM
https://twitter.com/DatPiff/status/1235557128858775552?s=20
13371209, thats some "office hours are from...." type steeze
Posted by Selah, Thu Mar-05-20 12:04 PM
i see a countersuit on the horizon
13371271, I don’t know I kinda see his point 🤷🏽‍♀️
Posted by lightworks, Thu Mar-05-20 01:13 PM
13371286, Megan responds:
Posted by lightworks, Thu Mar-05-20 01:41 PM
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9XKm8jFQQl/?igshid=f1hm8162kc19
13371287, Meg had time today
Posted by lsymone, Thu Mar-05-20 01:47 PM