"I disagree to some extent. I see your point and I regard it valid, but I also recognize that there are several levels and ways of releasing music. In the end it deals w the material presented and an individual/company that works in publication. Activity on the other hand is another issue."Of course, there are many ways you can release your music.That is up to the individual...
The word 'Label' though has had so much unintelligible grey area attached to it now that it hardly makes any
sense.To me, when someone mentions the phrase 'Label Owner' I imagine someone who runs a proper Record Label & is skilled in the realms of each stage of production and promotion of an album,who is proficient in the technicalities of recording and mixing & knows something about what the word 'Mastering' really means (another word along with 'Re-Mastering' which is thrown around out of ignorance all to often) ,and knows how to run an efficient studio (or studios) and deal with bands,customers and distributors and money effortlessly like it is second nature.Someone who knows exactly how to get what they want out of their creative endeavours and probably makes a living out of it.I have met & known a few people like this when I worked as an engineer, and they work harder than anyone could ever imagine....You never hear from them because they are always working!
However, someone (for example,me and others like me) who pay for a couple tapes to be made in between working a day job and other obligations is just your average idiot in his bedroom with too much time on his hands.Anyone can do
that.By no means a 'Label Owner', and that goes for many others in this realm.There is so much needless self importance in the so called 'Underground'.People seem to want to inhabit the 'Underground' but refuse to accept that they are ,in fact, totally obscure by they're own design and will remain so! This is because in 'The Underground', there is no money involved & unless you're some spineless arsekisser who insists on having government funding and having Big Brother pay for putting on your festivals & releasing your records, the next best thing to wave around like good old fashioned money is your opinion, which becomes the currency with which people make their moves. Have you seen the film 'This Is Spinal Tap' ? I'm always reminded of this subject when that woman says "Money Talks & Bullshit Walks".
If someone really wants to be a proper 'Label Owner',one way of doing it could be that they do a course in starting a business,study everything they need to know about the desired profession until they know everything & more, get a load of cash (which they have 100% control over) and some reliable people around them and do it properly & get the experience for real! Common sense right? I'm studying to be an electrician at the moment....I wouldn't walk onto a site without any qualifications and say 'I can wire this house',knowing full well I couldn't.It's the same thing in principle.
