Series: Hip Hop

Searching For The Pulse Of A Dying Culture #4: Marcus D Harmon

This post has been sitting in my OneNote file just waiting to get posted. And while I'm not sure what the hold up has been, I'm happy to finally get it up. If you have been following, you know that the way this works is that a questions goes out into the twitter sphere that shows potential for interesting dialogue specific to the music industry. This twitterview centers around the struggle many artists face in trying to get signed, and asks the question 'are labels running out of ink?'. Keep reading to find out why fellow micro blogger Marcus D Harmon feels it is increasingly hard for new artists to get signed.

@MsBlckSummer: Why do you think it is so hard for a new artist to catch a break?

@MARCUSDH: Well I think there are many reasons why its harder for artists to get signed, the obvious reason is lack of funds. Labels are less likely to take risk on artists, they would rather sign a copycat of what's already popular. But artists don't need big labels as much as they did in the past. Technology has closed doors but has also opened doors.

@MsBlckSummer: Artists are more equip to self promote, and labels seem to be less important, but can you reach the same magnitude of consumers without them?

@MARCUSDH: The same magnitude? I don't think so honestly. I think to reach a bigger demographic you will eventually need a big label.

@MsBlckSummer: So where do the two meet? When does the label see a new artist as viable if they aren't simply a copycat? Albums don't sell the way they used to no matter who the artist; so where do the funds to support new acts come from?

@MARCUSDH: I think the artist has to be amazing, an original or just another copycat. I don't think there is any room for mediocrity.

@MsBlckSummer: As an artist is the goal to appeal to the masses, or be true to the art? Consumers constantly change their minds, how do you keep up?

@MARCUSDH: True to art, originality, honesty, love and knowledge of music matched with perserverence is unstoppable, people can't ignore it.


Why is it so hard for the "real" artist to catch a break? To that I don't have the answer. Like I always say this is not my industry, though I love it just the same. The funny thing is, As I put this together, I am listening in on an interesting conversation with a unique point of view rarely heard. The industry needs all aspects to survive. It needs the one hit wonders to keep the club goers dancing, the hard core rappers to tell the street stories, and the real deal to give hope of another way out. They work together while opposing each other at the same time in some mystical harmonious melody.

Many thanks to MARCUSDH for his participation in this discussion. To get in on the action follow ME and lets chat.