More a comment regarding your post than the title question but to give my own experience on what artists get from legal downloads:

I had a release signed with Cloud 9 Dance a few years ago. For anyone that isn't familiar with them, they are (or were back then) a major label.

The contract gave me 16% of the net profit after everyone else has had their cut. Another words, jack shit. But they were a big label so I thought the connections and exposure they could give me justified the crap royalty rate.

A few months after release, I had heard nothing so emailed them asking for statement. Replied telling me the statements were a little late.

Couple more months pass, I email again, and get similiar answer.

Several more emails over the course of another 6 months and still, no statement, no payments, nothing.

I have long since given up and frankly no longer care. But it gave me a good insight into the industry, realising that any money I pay for downloads either won't ever reach the artist or if it does, it will be a small amount to the point of being insulting.

Whilst I know there will be people with more positive experiences, I have a strong feeling I am far from alone in the way this was handled.

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Listen to and download all my tracks at www.gregnicot.bandcamp.com

Cloud 9 = Armada.
Same office, same PO box, partially same people. Just a different LLC. We're talking about the same btw.

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Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

I would like to throw in another point that has a lot of importance to me at least in this whole discussion.

Why would costumers pay for a song that is made using illegal downloads too?

Seriously, seeing how many established producers are using cracked software is making this whole discussion sometimes a huge contradiction. For myself, as a producer AND a fan. I sometimes feel weird diving into discussion like "oh just download the crack" or "just download the song". Feeling I'm part of the minority.

So why do I say that?

There is an overall strange attitude around. Labels and producers are a part of that. There should be a proper control about certain aspects, regarding the release of music. Especially when money is involved. Then again, a lot of the over-compressed, cheesy stuff around isn't for me anyway. I rejected all agreements and just enjoy music making for myself or to record a DJ Mix sometimes. I don't really care for getting a release out there. Not for the people that run labels and not for "listeners".

quote:

Originally posted by Coyke Why would costumers pay for a song that is made using illegal downloads too?

Couldn't agree more with what you're saying but that is a while discussion on it's own and I'd rather assume (even though it's completely false) that artists have legal software. Just for the sake of keeping this discussion on track.

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Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller Short term solution for artists? Remove the middle-man. Do everything yourself. You'll get 100% instead of those 14% deals.

There was an interesting story on NPR (National Public Radio, a liberal radio/news station in the US) last week about a guy doing just that:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011...-star-tells-all

(you can listen to the full interview by clicking on the icon at the top of the page)

quote:

Originally posted by G-Con I have long since given up and frankly no longer care. But it gave me a good insight into the industry, realising that any money I pay for downloads either won't ever reach the artist or if it does, it will be a small amount to the point of being insulting.

Yup, I've encountered the same situation here. It almost makes me want to download the tracks for free and just send some cash directly to the artist's PayPal account.

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cryophonik.com | facebook | soundcloud

Sonar Platinum | Ableton Live 9 | Logic Pro X | Access Virus TI2 Keyboard | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4R | NI Maschine

not in my case. lower than zero? well i did pay for one track to get on iTunes so well, id actually earn more (from minus to zero) if it was just pirated.

Great thread here. Reading Storyteller's post and then all the responses basically confirms my exact experiences as well. It is nice to know I'm not alone.

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-Facebook- -SoundCloud-

oh and i run a label. i still havent "earned enough" to even be able to invoice them. i might as well just give it all away for free, sending wavs and mp3 all over the place. thats my next move, gonna do some crazy spamming once i have a new alias out. watch out. im not into the game for any money at all.

and for my releases on other labels? havent got shit for it so why bother? they cant even seem to promote it right so you might as well do it all yourself. atleast until you are above decent which im clearly not lol.

This thread is a waste of time imo. No offense to the OP.

Its clearly known that artists who solely produce don't make shit in this industry. Even bigger names don't make anything, take Blueman for instance, its the whole reason he stopped making trance.

If you get into this industry to make money, then you're an idiot. I'm sorry but you are. So I don't think illegal downloads hurts the artists, they had no real chance in the first place. I'm more likely to buy a track from an artist that doesn't even have a label. I've even tried to buy tracks off people on here that don't have labels. My whole philosophy honestly is fuck labels and fuck DJs. If producers as a whole stopped distributing their music in the first place, we could lock up the entire industry and put control in the hands of where it belongs.

Although thats somewhat utopian hippy type thinking. But no it doesn't hurt them imo.

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox My whole philosophy honestly is fuck labels and fuck DJs.

One of many reasons I'm kind of done posting in here, for the time being.

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Now with extra singles!
my old stuff, not quite up to snuff - but I still dig it - UPDATED 9/23/2012

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Blueman for instance, its the whole reason he stopped making trance.

another blueman thread. face it, he sucked and therefore didnt make money.