do artists have to pay for their first video?

Question

i'm just wondering if rap artists have to pay for theire first video out of there pocket or does the record company do it, and after there album hits gold status they pay for the second video or do they wait until the album ships over gold, how does that work does
anybody know?

Answer 1

well, for REAL videos (like ones you'll see on tv) the record company covers all of the cost. They're the ones making the most money off of the videos, so usually they'll be the ones overseeing that whole process. Basically the way the industry works is that 90% of the records and videos they make cost the record company a fortune and they never make a return on it. But the 10% that DO make money make so much money that it makes up for the other 90%. Some rappers may pay to make a promo video (like Protect ya Neck by the Wu) but normally there's someone who stands to make money off of the artist who will finance the video.

But for a first video, most artists have no money... and even if they're bigtime crack-swingin pimps, a video can cost upwards of $1M, so why pay that when a record company, with a studio and video producers and technicians on staff, will pay it for you.

The artists are basically told when to come in, where to stand, what to wear, etc (they get some input, of course, but they're held by contracts so they have limited say in what goes on- they can't just be like f-this, i'm goin home! they'd get sued and they'd still be bound to the contract).

The record company hires all the people involved- directors, techies, consultants, crews, marketing teams... they do all of the promoting to get the air time on tv, and when the money comes in, they get most of it because they put in all of that investment (and because they know how to get rich better than an artist does).

The artist gets their percentage of royalties, and that's their paycheck. None of their cash has to go back into touring or videos or makign a record when you're signed.

Those are the + and -'s of being on a label... they take care of all your business and business costs, but they also take most of the money you rake in. But they're awesome at selling records because that's all they do, so a rapper gets a lot more money making 10% of what a record company can get them in profits than to make 100% of whatever little money they'd make trying to produce and promote their own music without industry support. Thus, getting signed is crucial. Muzic Biz 101.

Answer 2

Think of it like this Sweets,
There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!
I'm not dissing you I'm just saying, if you think about it, you can figure this one out by yourself.
The CD/video/MP3/whatever is the product.
The artists provide talent and the record companies invest $$$ into producing the CD (coming up with the product).
View the scenario from both sides and you can see what's going on.
If you're the record company and you believe an artist has talent worthy of your investment you sign him/them/her to a contract.
Contracts are a whole other thing but I don't want to digress,
So the record company spends X amount of dollars and expects to make X + n back, resulting in P (profit).
If you're the artist you shop your talent to the Record company. If you get an agreement to make a deal, you persuade, cajol, posture, politic, plead and whatever else is acceptible to you code of ethics and priciples to get the best deal you can.
Here's where so many young artist lose sight of the actual business model. See, when you get signed, the record compny advances you funds to do your thing. To many artists that apparently means buying "Bling, Bling", but remember what I said at first about the free lunch? Recording that CD, filming/shooting that video, and producing the end result thereof, costs money. Your money.
See the deal you make with a record company is essentially saying, I (artist) will produce product X if you (record company) will bankroll me.The record company is in business to make money off of the records you make that they bankrolled.
That's why it's best for artists to learn how to do as much of what has to be done by themselves.
When you go to the record company with just talent, you're in a weak negotiating position.
Try this;
If you can swing it, you record some tracks and burn a CD. Then take that CD and have it duplicated. Nothing big, say 1500 copies. Mastering? What's that? Don't forget the Plastic CD holders; What? too expensive? Okay just go with a paper sleeve. But you have to have some art work done if you want to make it presentable. Then if you get through that maze, now try to sell the 1500 CD's. Even if you find a store that will shelve your product who knows it's there to be bought?
...and on and on and on.
Look man, I'm not trying to discourage you. In fact, what I hope you take away from this is a perspective of the reality . Shooting videos and making CD's or whatever is the medium of the moment, is what you're aiming for and it's do-able. But unless you want to go into the record company business you should, if you're an artist, focus on you craft.
By that I mean not just your lyric writing and you instrument playing, but your entire craft. Find out what it takes to produce a complete finished product. Recording, engineering, mixing, mastering, editing. Learn all you can about the process and all the factors needed to produce the end result. You may discover that you don't need a record company. But if you do, you'll be in the driver's seat when you start negotiations.
Aaight den, I'll hollah, Stay up.

Answer 3

The record company pays for it, but it's really a loan.