Social Media Week Lagos 2019

Today s world is giving independent artists more avenues than ever before to get their music created, distributed and consumed. As a result, many are questioning the need for artists to bind themselves to the conventional label deal, while for others, the allure of being a signed artist remains a coveted goal.

In the same vein, the balance of power between artist managers and labels is shifting and becoming ever more complex in the digital age, particularly when it comes to marketing.
Battlegrounds include who owns what data, who has what access to data and who owns the marketing relationship (and spend) these days.

How can all sides learn to work better together to the benefit of artists? Where are the gaps in communication? How are these roles likely to shift further in the future?
Ultimately how can an artist determine what is the best option for their career?

This panel will explore the relevance of the artist-label relationship in the digital era through the lens of the recording agreement. By comparing and contrasting conventional recording deals with emerging alternative arrangements, we will explore ways in which artists and labels can achieve a more symbiotic, balanced relationship that truly reflects the realities of the 21st Century digital environment.