Due to platforms like TikTok and Spotify, artists do not essentially want a splashy file deal to make a well-liked hit. Nevertheless, for artists who’re signed, the label continues to be the massive boss controlling plenty of their profession. A recording contract comes with plenty of professionals, however there may also be a good variety of cons.
Listed below are 16 occasions singers referred to as out their file labels or the music trade:
1.
Accepting the Finest New Artist award on the 2025 Grammys, Chappell Roan stated, “I advised myself that if I ever gained a Grammy and acquired to face up right here earlier than probably the most highly effective folks in music, I’d demand that labels within the trade profiting thousands and thousands of {dollars} off of artists would supply a livable wage and well being care, particularly creating artists. I acquired signed so younger, I acquired signed as a minor. After I acquired dropped, I had zero job expertise below my belt, and like most individuals, I had…fairly a tough time discovering a job within the pandemic and [could not] afford insurance coverage. It was devastating to really feel so dedicated to my artwork and really feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized. If my label had prioritized it, I might have been supplied care for a corporation I used to be giving every part to.”
2.
In 1995, TLC filed for Chapter 11 chapter on the heels of their profitable album CrazySexyCool. On the 1996 Grammys, member Chili stated, “We’re not gonna sugarcoat something anymore. We have been quiet lengthy sufficient…We’re the biggest-selling feminine group ever — 10 million albums worldwide. We’ve got labored very onerous. We’ve got been on this enterprise for 5 years, and we’re broke as broke will be.”
3.
Showing on the podcast We Must Discuss in 2025, Cher Lloyd alleged she might inform “the craziest tales” of what is been stated to her or been taken away from her as a result of she “refused to go and hook up with folks.” She stated, “I bear in mind, as soon as, whereas I lived within the US and I used to be selling my album within the US, I walked into the file label on the time, and so they hadn’t given me a promotional finances to advertise this album. We spent thousands and thousands on this album, however there is not any finances to go get folks to listen to it? So I stroll in, and I say, ‘Look, I actually need some money to try to push this file.’ Mainly advised no, however what I wanted to do to make this file take off is hit a few of the golf equipment and discover out the place [Justin] Bieber is, and I ought to go attempt to get with him.”
4.
Per HuffPost, in a 2024 Instagram Stay, M.I.A. reportedly alleged that, after she signed to Roc Nation, “The very first thing [Jay-Z] requested me to do was get cosmetic surgery.” She stated, “What ladies are you aware who hasn’t had cosmetic surgery round [Jay-Z]? All of them have. I am the one one who didn’t…” She additionally alleged Azealia Banks suggested her to bleach her pores and skin. She stated, “I am not going to bleach my pores and skin, no I am not going to get a fucking nostril job, no I am not going to get fucking filler.”
5.
In 2020, Megan Thee Stallion sued her then-record label, alleging her contract was “not solely fully unconscionable, however ridiculously so” and enabled the label to “actually do nothing, whereas on the identical time taking for themselves the overwhelming majority of [her] revenue from all sources.” In an Instagram Stay, she reportedly stated, “1501 don’t desire me to place out no music. All I did was ask to renegotiate my contract, then it grew to become a complete huge factor.”
6.
In 1993, Prince modified his stage title to the “Love Image,” which he described as “an unpronounceable image whose which means has not been recognized,” as a insurrection in opposition to his label. In a press launch on the time, he stated, “Warner Bros. took the [Prince] title, trademarked it, and used it as the principle advertising and marketing device to advertise the entire music I wrote. The corporate owns the title Prince and all associated music marketed below Prince. I grew to become merely a pawn used to provide more cash for Warner Bros.”
Warner Bros. senior VP of inventive services-turned-general supervisor Jeff Gold advised Selection, “[Prince] was making noise about wanting his masters again, and [Warner chief Mo Ostin’s] response was basically, ‘It’s best to have thought that earlier than you renegotiated your contract.’ So Mo is available in in the future and says, ‘Prince has modified his title.'”
7.
In 2018, Little Combine member Jade Thirlwall alleged to ASOS Journal, that, throughout a radio occasion with numerous VIPs in attendance, “Somebody from our US file label alleged, ‘Go and flirt with all these essential males.’ I used to be like, ‘Why have I acquired to go in and flirt to get my tune on the radio?'”
8.
In 2019, Scooter Braun bought Taylor Swift’s masters from Large Machine Information founder Scott Borchetta for $300 million. Taylor referred to as out the deal in a Tumblr publish, writing, “For years I requested, pleaded for an opportunity to personal my work. As an alternative I used to be given a possibility to signal again as much as Large Machine Information and ‘earn’ one album again at a time, one for each new one I turned in. I walked away as a result of I knew as soon as I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would promote the label, thereby promoting me and my future.”
In response, Scott Borchetta made a publish titled “So, It’s Time For Some Reality” on the Large Machine web site. He wrote that Taylor’s father, Scott Swift, was a shareholder within the label and was due to this fact “made conscious of the pending cope with Ithaca Holdings and had 3 days to go over the entire particulars of the proposed transaction.” He claimed the “transaction handed with a majority vote and three of the 5 shareholders voting ‘sure’ with 92% of the shareholder’s vote.”
In November 2020, Taylor grew to become eligible to rerecord her first 5 albums. In fact, she famously determined to rerecord and launch her “Taylor’s Variations,” resulting in her extremely profitable The Eras Tour.
9.
Per Pitchfork, in a since-deleted tweet from 2020, SZA reportedly advised followers who have been ready for her to launch new music, “At this level y’all gotta ask punch [Top Dawg Entertainment president Terrence ‘Punch’ Henderson].” She additionally alleged that their working relationship had “BEEN hostile.”
10.
In 2021, Raye tweeted, “I’ve been on a 4 ALBUM RECORD DEAL since 2014 !!! And have not been allowed to place out one album. ALL I CARE ABOUT is the music. Im sick of being slept on and I am sick of being in ache about it this isn’t enterprise to me this so private.” She added, “Think about this ache I’ve been signed to a serious label since 2014…and I’ve had albums on albums of music sat in folders gathering mud, songs I’m now making a gift of to A listing artists as a result of I’m nonetheless awaiting affirmation that I’m ok to launch an album.”
11.
In a since-deleted TikTok from 2022, Halsey alleged, “Mainly, I’ve a tune I like that I wanna launch ASAP, however my file label will not let me…My file firm is saying that I am unable to launch it except they will pretend a viral second on TikTok.”
12.
Equally, in a 2022 TikTok video, Gavin DeGraw sang this to the tune of his 2004 hit “I Do not Wish to Be”: “I do not wish to be on TikTok, however my label advised me that I’ve to.”
13.
Additionally in 2022, in a since-deleted TikTok, FKA Twigs reportedly alleged, “It is true all file labels ask for are TikToks, and I acquired advised off right this moment for not making sufficient effort.”
14.
In 2023, Fifth Concord member Ally Brooke advised the Zach Sang Present, “We actually have billions of streams, however sadly, we do not get something off of streams. However, thank God for [the non-profit collective rights management organization] SoundExchange. SoundExchange is wonderful, and that, we get about, like, $5,000 a month. However that [has] gone away now, and we’re unsure why.”
15.
Additionally in 2023, Ally’s former Fifth Concord bandmate Lauren Jauregui alleged to the Zach Sang Present that she did not obtain substantial royalties from the band’s music. She stated, “It is not gonna pay my lease.”
16.
And at last, in 2023, Kesha settled her lawsuit with Dr. Luke and fulfilled her contractual obligations to her earlier label. Then, in 2024, she launched her personal label, Kesha Information. She advised Elle, “The music trade ought to be fucking scared of me. As a result of I am about to make some main strikes and shift this shit. I actually wish to dismantle it piece by piece and shine gentle into each nook. I hope my legacy is ensuring it by no means occurs to anyone ever once more.”
