Why sign with a major label anymore?

I know what you're thinking. I'm going to go on some long rant about how signing to a major label is like signing your soul to devil. I'll go on to say that you give up all your integrity and become a corporate whore by signing to one of the majors. I'll bitch and moan about how major label music is nothing but watered-down, over-commercialized, sterile bullshit. I'll point out how the underground "scene" is much more relevant than anything released on a major label. At any given chance, I'll make it a point to make fun of MTV and all other commercial media outlets.

Sorry to dissapoint, but that's not the reason for this post.

Let's get one thing clear before I start. I have no problem with major labels. I have no problem with bands that sign with major labels. 10 years ago it was a great idea. If you're in a band, you want your music to get out to the most people. You want to sell millions of records. You want your songs to be hits. Even the most arrogant indie bands secretly wish that their songs were readily available to the masses. After all, that's why we start playing guitar. Once we write a song we think is great, we want everyone possible to hear it. We want to be able to share our art with as many people as possible.

However, it's 2007, not 1997 and times have obviously changed. Here's an example. I recently learned the Alkaline Trio signed with Epic Records. This band has been putting out records on indie labels (well, kind-of-indie, Vagrant is partially owned by Interscope, which is a division of Universal Music), built up a following, and can pack clubs. So they're on Epic now. Great! The only problem is, what is Epic going to do for them that hasn't already been done for them.

Indie labels aren't really independent. Sure, they're not owned by a larger corporation, but it's not like you're an independent band if you're signed to some of these. You still have a bulk of the people doing the work, making sure your albums are in CD stores, on Itunes, making sure you're on tour. Hell, you even have roadies setting up your gear if you're a big "indie" band. If you're The Shins, who are on Sub Pop, you're playing large venues, you have merch people, you have roadies, you have a tour manager, you have a publicist, etc. This begs the question: what's the difference between an "indie" artist and a major label artist anymore?

Bands usually decide to sign with majors because they feel the majors can push their music to the masses. The think majors will get their songs airplay, get people in Middle America more interested. The problem is, majors don't really have much power these days. With MySpace, YouTube, and numerous other web-based music-inspired sites, the audience is so fragmented that it doesn't really matter if you're on Warner Brothers Records anymore. People are listening to FM radio less and less. You can't rely on that good 'ol rock radio hit anymore. This is because NOBODY'S LISTENING.

Getting back to the Alkaline Trio, they already have a big fanbase. I'm sure they have people at Vagrant who are radio promo people, calling up modern rock stations pushing their singles. They have a tour manager who's taking care of booking shows. They have a publicist, getting them minor spots in major magazines. So what can Epic do for them that Vagrant can't do? Epic may have given them a shitload of cash when they signed, but they have to make that back and how? Alkaline Trio is not going to have a platinum record. Don't get me wrong, I think they're a great band, but their time to "make it" has come and passed. From the scene they come from, you only get one chance. It usually comes off of a well-received minor indie release. There's a ton of buzz about it, you ride the buzz of this release while recording the big-deal follow-up and then when the follow-up hits, boom your stars. Or, the follow-up hits and people just aren't interested anymore. Most people who would be Alkaline Trio fans already know about them. They're not cute enough to make it into TRL. They're not poppy enough for Top 40 radio, so where else can they go? There are less and less Alternative stations in the country, so is it really in Epic's best interest to put a bunch of money behind a record that will most likely sell 100-150k? It's going to be the same old routine. After it's all over the band will blame the label for not "giving them enough attention and enough promotion." The label will then blame the band for "not making a record that's marketable" and they'll be history. In fact they'll probably alienate a part of their fanbase who (wrongly so) think the band is "selling out" by signing to Epic.

Look, like I said before, I have no problems with major labels. Hell, I'd probably sign to one. But these days, it's not a question of selling out, it's a question of a smart business decision. Here's what'll happen if you sign to a major:

YOU'LL OWE LOTS OF MONEY TO THEM. Think that $1 million advance is a gift? Not a chance. You gotta make that back. You also have to make the label back to the cost of recording, making a video, promotion the record, etc. If you're a baby act, maybe this will be a chance for you to get your music to the masses. If you're an act on a big indie with an already established fanbase, why do it these days? There's the off chance you'll cross over to the mainstream but if you're 6 records deep, the chances are growing slimmer by the day. Just keep building on the audience you already have and get your music to the most people possible. That is, of course, why you started a band, right?