the way the electronic music industry and labels have evolved is so fucking dumb.

labels have basically become copy-paste factories, releasing only a very specific type of sound because they're scared to death of anything new. and it's gotten to the point that if you don't fit that exact mold, you are then relegated to limbo as far as opportunities and recognition goes.

people will not book you, they won't look at you for additional signings, you're not "respected" in a greater sense even if the results you get on a self-release are better than their signed artists. labels have built this fabric in the industry where they act like the only arbiters of good taste and professionalism—like you need their permission to exist in the scene.

for someone like me who's developed a particular sound, it's maddening. i want to collaborate with these outfits but the experience is always: send demo, wait months for a response to the point of being totally disrespected, then get rejected because the tracks "aren't similar enough to the label's sound."

and i know people will say, "well, labels provide marketing and quality control, that's why they're picky." bullshit. most of these labels aren't filtering for quality; they're filtering for safety. they aren't looking for the best music; they're looking for the music that fits the playlist algorithm most conveniently. and as for marketing? unless you're their priority act, their "marketing" is usually just one instagram post and a pat on the back. giving up your master rights for that is a joke.

all this to say, well what do labels expect artists to do? whether they'd outright say it or not, the world they're creating is one where you have to sell out immediately and make what they tell you just to open doors for the work you actually want to create.

i find that to be reprehensible just to protect a bottom line.

what we are seeing is the total corporatization of culture. it’s treating music not as art, but as a utility—like running water that needs to be consistent, flavorless, and predictable. they are stripping the humanity and risk out of the music just to keep the business model tidy, and i think it should be called out more.