Snoop Dogg EXPOSING Music Industry: Michael Jackson & Taylor Swift (via Full Send Podcast)  

Man, it's so cool to hear Snoop legitimately talk business.

For the record. Micheal made 131 million while the record label made 4 billion off of Thriller

Michael Jackson was Business Savy and knew alot about the business at a very young age Mike had game and he outsmarted the industry and the labels him and Prince made historic moves.

That’s why Michael Jackson bought half of Sony Music. He became the record company 😄 what a Smooth Criminal 🤭😄👑

Prince spoke about this in the 80's and he got a shit load of flack for it. He said artists were getting robbed

never sign a contract be an independent artist and keep it all.

Prince knew that shit.

Prince has been telling us about this long before he passed on.

Taylor learned from Frank Zappa, who said, "KEEP YOUR PUBLISHING, KEEP THE RECORD COMPANIES AT ARM'S LENGTH."

Taylor Swift knows her shit

The labels also dictate to the artist what they will and will not do. That is why PINK left and wrote a song about it.

mmhmm that's right, rereleases and remasters are usually the artist getting their license so they can sell their music for their pockets

TLC explained it best. 3 cents a copy and that was split 3 ways.

“It’s called royalties and shit.” Genius advice.

Snoop said the thing that of lot of people need to start doing: Looking that shit up! Stop being lazy and do your research about things like this!

That’s why singers are always touring. They have to. They owe the label because they are owned by the label. Even the old school A-Listers like The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle. They are worth $300 million and still touring, and they’re damn near 80 years old.

Anytime a song says “Taylor’s Version”, that is her remaster that she gets money from

Snoop is absolutely right that this is how the industry is set up. The artist doesn't make any money off of their first record deal, and that's because they're willing to make that compromise, at the time, in order to try and make it big. Or, they just get geeked about signing the record deal and don't read the contract at all. The company gives them a bonus, they spend all the money because it's more than they've ever seen in their lives, and suddenly they're fighting with the record company for a better deal when everything takes off. This was why Taylor Swift tours so much, even after she did the remasters--because concerts and merch sales are where the artists tend to actually make most of their money.

Lisa "left eye" Lopez from TLC Told us the same damn thing over a decade ago too.

Michael Jackson was $200 million in debt which is why he was trying to do such a long tour when he passed away

“She’s quite new” Bro is so articulate I love it

Snoop got a point. That's why Michael went into acquiring published songs like the Beatles Catalog.

He just said the label wasn't the bad guy, and explained why they ARE the bad guy. . .

Facts, MJ made most of his money by buying the rights to the songs of other bands like the Beatles. Ironically, the advice to invest in other bands was given to him by Paul McCartney, and once MJ outbid him on the Beatles songs, their friendship was terminated by Paul

"It's called points and percentages and shit" - Snoop Dogg

Miley Cyrus is another example, Disney was not going to let her go so she created a fake character doing some weird shyt during grammies and rapping about drugs and doing sexual shyt. And those were the number one rule Disney does not tolerate. And now she is free and back to herself with some really good music. She is a very smart woman.

Yep. Record labels are absolutely awful. I was in the scene from 03’-11’ in a couple decent bands (my last band signed with an indie label, equal vision records, with major label distributing, good shit). I was friends with a band from NY called “The Sleeping”. They signed to the biggest indie label at the time, Victory Records. My old band used to tour with them, and the singer actually produced and sang on our 2 EP’s. Super cool guys. We played a weekend with them after they got signed and I was talking to the guitarist about the label. By that point, they’d had a song on guitar hero, covered “staying alive” for the “Crank” movie soundtrack, we’re on NFL Madden, and several other tv shows and games. They never saw one penny from any of it. Because guitar hero was so big at the time, their album sold fairly well, and they barely got a couple thousand for the sales. For anyone wondering, the song is called “don’t hold back”. The owner of victory ended up selling the label for I believe around 30 million. So many incredible bands got totally fucked because of them. They sing bands to multiple album deals, pay for them to record and then pretty much take all of the earnings. It’s absolute bullshit. The only labels I know of that treat their bands right are labels started by other band members who know what it’s like. Epitaph records and equal vision records are pretty good labels. But screw it, labels are becoming obsolete these days. Just put your music on RU-vid and do the independent thing. Keep all your money and the rights to your songs.

That's why Mike bought 100s of artists catalog.

Even Michael Jackson is having remastered albums. The idea of the Remastered albums came back way before. ❤

Kanye tried to tell people about this...

Prince, James Brown and Michael Jackson all talked about this years ago. This isn't new information!

But Michael was the first to force the record companies to give the highest percentage per record/album! He broke down/through many barriers before the industry thieves got together to destroy him! His legacy should be studied in colleges as business models/principles 😊

That’s why Michael Jackson bought HALF of Sony publishing and own (the Beatles, Elvis and many other artists) catalog

Snoop kept it 💯. Taylor is smart for remastering her album. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Prince, said it Lawyers and Accountant running the labels....

i love this side of snoop

Prince called out the music business in the 90-ies. 💜💜💜💜❤️

The artists should make their own label company.

Michael was the highest paid per album sold in the 80’s-90’s he was making I believe close to $4 per album which was never heard of before in the 80’s .

People need a legend like snoop to tell them that big corporations are bad until they open their ears

Uncle snoop dropping some gifts of knowledge.

This is why MJ bought the publishing to A LOT of artists (yes the Beatles too) but he did give many of those artists their royalties back too.

TLC explained this as well

**proceeds to buy a record label** 😭

Michael was getting $2 for every copy of Thriller sold. That was the highest royalty rate in the music industry!!!

The vast majority of profits should go to the artists who make the music. The recording industry should be paid a fair share for their service, and that's it.

This is so true. Every artist is saying the same thing.

The world's best musician and dancer Michael Jackson. His style of dancing and singing music never seems childish. He always sang music in deep voice, so his songs are hit and catchy. Moreover he always wrote teachable music. He was the only person in the world who performed dance-music together in front of live audience. May her soul rest in peace'''🇧🇩🎵🎧🇧🇩

TLC said the same thing even Prince too, Nipsey said it

Snoop not afraid to bring the truth 😊

Similarly franck ocean released endless as a phony album for the record label he was signed to, and this ended his contract, the 24 hours later he released blond

Being signed to a label seems like taking out student loans. They are loaning you the money to make you a star. You have to pay them back through touring concerts albums etc. The goal should not be to stay with a record company forever (ie taking out student loans forever) but to become a household name, pay them back by completing the terms of the contract, then use your star power and the few coins you made to have your own businesses and manage your own affairs.

People should be entitled to the fruit of their labor. Not their boss. Manager. Or suited execs in a corporate office!

Michael was able to negotiate with Epic and he made bank off Thriller. I believe it was over 2 dollars per album which was unheard of.

That’s why you make your own record label. Don’t let them take the profit

Knowledge is key here. You can record and mix your own for next to nothing these days. You can release your own album to all platforms for about 25 dollars a year. You can pay for professional ad campaign creators for like 300. Learn how to do things at a young age so by the time you hit 30 you don't need to rely on this massive system (with 100s of employees to pay)

Censoring snoop doggs casual swearing should be a crime.

TLC was attest example. Sold 10mil albums. When CDs were about $15/ea. $150mil in revenue and I think they received something like $300k/ea. Then you gave tm repay money for video shoots on top of that.

Man this ain't the first time I've heard this, a lot of these record labels take advantage of their artists and don't pay them what they're worth, TLC was a prime example of this.

Mj was a king for suree❤

That bleep sound is awful

And just in case you wanna back out of the contract or leave them. They’ll just kill you or frame you and say you’re crazy

And this is why performers absolutely have to go on tour...I think I heard once that only the top 4 songs on the charts might make any "real money" from sales (at least back when record stores were alive)

Michael Jackson was owning 50 % of Sony !!! Snoop always talking allott of BS!!!

For any artist who doesn't get it: if you sign a 360 deal of $2Mil and the label wants 3 albums, You've literally sold them 3 non existent LPs for $666K Each. Why the fuck would they let you OWN that or let run off without fullfiling the deal?

That's why big labels sign very young artists. New to the game..easily led. They don't figure out they are getting less til they are older.

Several artistes fought back: Neil Young, Hendrix, Ray Charles, Prince, MJ... even a boy band NKOTB iirc. Kashif even wrote a guide about the industry

Labels will always find a way to make more off of the artist one way or the other

That’s why artists immediately need a lawyer and if they’re not getting paid, bring up the word audit to the label. That’s their safe word.

This is why musicians started leaving record labels and going independent like Nipsey Hussel

Snoop is not lying at all. These artists are not making money like that. Yes, they make more money than us (for the most part) but in reality, they're only making the label wealthy.

Yet people still sign these contracts even after being told you'll be f***** over. Truly the devils game.

Prince was saying this and people called him crazy for writing "slave" on his face.

Master P taught Snoop Dogg WELL!✊🏾🔥

Michael was buying everyone else’s music production and catalogs😂😂😂😂😂

The no talented scumbags rob the artist . I make some of the best music on the planet . I am on I Heart ❤️ Radio today . I will not release another song til the industry changes or I will take it to my grave . It's a shame the greed of the world robs the world of the music.

With mj.. he actually was gonna buy out sony.. he even said it with all of his music rights cuz he already earned it at the time. But they didn't give the man his roses here on earth... they instead took him outta here..... sadly. Rip🐐🕊🎶

Steven Tyler talked about this on his interview with Joe Rogan about record labels

That's why Michael always refused to sell the rights of his music

So sweet to hear Snoop praising Taylor Swift.

This is why most Artist goes to be a Independent Artist than to get Signed by a Record label and I don't blame them

No different than you remixing this interview into your own short and making a few bucks

If they want to make all the money, they need to do and pay for everything: Make your own record label; make your own contracts; distribute, advertise, produce, write, compose your music.

All these aspiring artists need to take a course on music finance so when a contract comes their way, they understand what they were offered and what they can ask the label.

Correct me if im wrong cus i might be but the producer/s usually take 50% royalties, if the beat was sampled that artist could get 10 -15%, streaming services take a little bit as well i think maybe 5% or so, then the record label takes most of the overall %

Michael made 1 dollar per album sold which is why he went to court to get 2 dollars. The record company still made 8 dollars. Basically, the record companies take 90% every time an album is sold, even today.

Thats why Prince handled his business the way he did.

Honestly I love Snoop I don’t listen to his music or anything but I just love him as a person. He seems like he would be mean but he’s actually super sweet and smart! 💗

"Industry rule number 4080, record company people are shady." -- Q-Tip 1991 Should actually be rule number 1

Wowwwww hilarious yet sad but true!

Be like elon musk , twitter wanted to ban him then he came back as the owner 😂😂😂

A lot of it comes back to signing contacts without understanding what you’re agreeing to

For him being so down on Prince at one time, he sure is picking up the mantle. But even then, Prince wasn't the first one, he was just the first one to put a spotlight on it.

I disagree with this fully. And so should anyone who knows all of the information. The record label does all of the work that gets you from being in bars and clubs, to arenas. They FRONT the money (before you make them a dime) to promote you, manage you, record you, write for you, print your records, photo shoots, ship the records worldwide, hire a team to manage, plan, and execute a tour, and so much more. All you have to do is sing. That’s a slight exaggeration but my point is the same. The label MAKES your talent marketable and profitable. Without them, you’re playing to 200 people if you’re lucky for $300. If snoop dogg didn’t get signed, he’d be a nobody. The label MADE you man, by investing MILLIONS.

If the artist does all the work, how much do you think the label should make off albums?

That is the old math. MJ owned the publishing for Eminem, Cher, Bob Dylan, some Elvis, owned Graceland, the Beatles and all of the original Jackson 5, his solo work and all unreleased works of both J5 and himself just to name a few totaling somewhere around half a Billion dollars. Forbes called it the largest catalog in history owned by any single artist. To say MJ ain’t made no money is loose talk. Thriller was certified Platinum 34x - highest selling original album of all time.

To be fair, if the labels were the bad guys (no shit), he wouldn’t tell people that AS the owner of a label 🤣

The audience doesn’t care about all the work the record labels did to get the artists to where they are the audience only cares about the artists talent and the audience is paying for that talent

Love Snoop, he always talk real. Prince stated this same fact similar about the record company

Snoop is an awesome dude very supportive of lgbtq people also always loved his music growing up!!!! Awesome guy!!!!!