In a recent post on X, Billy Idol’s guitarist Steve Stevens criticized big record labels following the news of them implementing some new regulations.
According to a news on Billboard, record labels plan to prevent artists from re-recording their albums 10-30 years after their initial release after the success of Taylor Swift’s recent ‘Taylor’s Version’ project. Then, singer Kitten Kuroi reacted to this news, writing:
“So much hateration and holleration. Heaven forbid we make our own money. So gross. Tired of this grandpa.”
Stevens’ Critique of Labels
Seeing this post, Steve wrote in his comment, slamming record labels:
“There’s zero reason to sign to a major label anymore. As if owning a part of a new artist’s touring and merch wasn’t enough.”
Kuroi agreed with the musician and responded by saying:
“Absolutely zero reason, you’re so right! Advancements in technology have made it easier for us to our own thing. These labels have a reckoning coming once their wells run dry.”
Modifications In Contracts
Several music attorneys informed Billboard that major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group have modified contracts for recently signed artists, like requiring artists to wait an unusually long time, such as 10, 15, or even 30 years before they can re-record their music after leaving the record labels. A veteran attorney, Josh Karp, reacted to the issue, noting:
“The first time I saw it, I tried to get rid of it entirely. I was just like, ‘What is this? This is strange. Why would we agree to further restrictions than we’ve agreed to in the past with the same label?'”
Another attorney, Gandhar Savur, mentioned that he had come across contracts with re-recording restrictions lasting as long as three years. Regarding re-recording music, typical contracts have conventionally mandated that artists must wait for either five to seven years from the original release date or two years after their contract ends before re-creating their albums.
You can see the tweets below.
There’s zero reason to sign to a major label anymore. As if owning a part of a new artists touring and merch wasn’t enough.
— Steve Stevens (@Stevestevens) October 31, 2023
Absolutely ZERO reason, you're so right! Advancements in technology has made it easier for us to our own thing. These labels have a reckoning coming once their wells run dry. 🤷🏿♀️
— Kitten Kuroi (@KittenKuroi) October 31, 2023
