The fallout of White Wizzard‘s recent implosion continues with the band having now announced that they have “mutually parted company with Earache Records.” The move follows the ousting of the groups frontman Joseph Michael, which resulted in various accusations of theft from fans from both the singer and the remaining members of the outfit. The band have also scrapped their European tour.
Despite the seemingly new turn of events, White Wizzard‘s Jon Leon says the decision to go independent was made prior to the bands recent troubles, offering:
“Excited to announce that we will be going independent and we have mutually parted company with Earache records. We wish them the best. This has been a decision made before the tour over the past couple of months. I appreciate the initial interest in White Wizzard and hope other bands that are with them do well. I am currently in the process of forming my own record label which shall be called White Wizzard records.
I plan to form a couple of other projects next year. The guys in the band will now have an actual vested interest in making some $ from album sales and our merchandise which is fantastic. I will be releasing a blog soon with some advice on record labels and how I think most bands should avoid that road and the pros and cons.
One silver lining is we have had some great singers come forward with interest and I think we should be announcing someone within a few days, and I wrote a song I am excited about yesterday and am about to get on a writing tear I believe.
While guys that have been fired by me that have an agenda will continue to spew nonsense and lies trying to stir the pot and hurt the band, I will continue to write songs and put out music. We will not keep the shit flying back and forth. We will just wish them well and get on with it.
I know the music is what counts and it is why I got into this, not for the dumb shit.The fans do not want to hear the crap, they want to hear good songs. In the end the truth is on our side and our intentions are nothing more than to make great music. Here is to a positive outlook in the coming months.”
Leon has also penned the below piece in which he gives his viewpoints on signing with a label:
“I want to write a quick piece with some advice for new up and coming bands about the myth that is you must sign to a record label in order to succeed.
There are 2 things that a lot of bands do not have in the early stages of development.
Those things are money and knowledge.
The key to success in the rough world that is the music industry is getting those 2 things any way you can.
Of course good songs, musicians, vocals and work ethic all factor into this equation as well. Some have it, some do not. But without money and knowledge you are at a huge disadvantage, and record labels know this.
Owners of record labels especially the successful ones are shrewd businessmen and genius at working the game. The naivete of most new young bands mixed with the illusion of being signed, along with lack of money or knowledge all play right into a record labels hands. They do not even need to try that hard. Bands that will sign their ass away making a terrible business decision are just running to them when they call. Everyone sees this as the key to success.
Here is the deal though, without having power on your end by creating your own phenomenon first or making an undeniably strong product or album first, you have no advantage. You are nothing and will become fully dependent on the label.
What happens is record labels will put a deal together for you where you as a band will get say $1.50 per unit sold. They will work like a credit card for you. They will pay for the album to be recorded, invest an initial push and see what happens. They hire out PR and do a bit of radio etc.
That said, every dime they spend will hold you liable for recoup of said expenses.
So you know that 1.50 per CD sold you are getting, well every dime must be paid back out of that 1.50 before you see a dime of profit. However, the record label will still probably be making another 7 or 8 dollars in profit off each unit sold…….but guess what kids…..that 7 or 8 dollars does not go to recoup. It goes in their pocket. So you make jack squat unless you start selling over 20 or 30,000 copies, and even then it gets tricky.
Record labels have shrewd accounting practices as well. I strongly advise to NEVER sign with a record label that is not in your own country. If you ever want to look at their books and really see where all the money is going or have an attorney or accountant look into it, it will be hell and cost you more than you may discover you are owed.
Record labels will really screw you and try and take a lot of the merch rights from you if you do not fight for them. When you are naive they could get it all and really hold you back as things progress. NEVER EVER give up your merch. Agree they can have one design per release or something but keep as much as possible. Even then it gets tricky.It is like a deal with the devil in away……the fine print may have some surprises as you progress forward.
Also, the type of deal above I described……DO NOT DO IT. So many bands sign deals like that every day because they are being dangled an advance of 10,000 dollars or some options with higher $$
Remember also, if a label offers some options for future records with higher $$ amounts on them, calm down. You owe it all back and they can adjust or refuse those numbers later. They mean nothing.
There are some deals out there now like 50/50 where there is a “shared” thing between the artist and label, but even there things can be tricky. I would say that is the only thing I would even remotely explore as an artist, and always hire an attorney before you sign and spend the 1k or so to make sure he reads the fine print and goes through it.But the reality is……..the record industry and labels now are an illusion of smoke and mirrors.
The I gotta get signed thing is a myth. Yes in 1975 it meant something. Now it means shit.
There are just too many tools available to musicians now.
But let’s get back to knowledge and power. I wish I would have read something like this or knew what I know now a few years back.
To get knowledge and power the number one thing you need is drive and work ethic. If you are lazy, smoking weed all the time or just waiting for something to fall in your lap…..then you will reap what you sew. You must raise Capital as you grow your project. If it means everyone working 2 jobs or if you own it solo then you working 3 jobs or whatever it takes and sleeping on a couch or in a van to save it all fast over a few months…then so be it. You will be in a van half the year eating shit and struggling anyway at first, so it is good preparation. The birth process to be a full time artist is a painful one. If it is not painful you will probably fail. It has to be hard and the harder you work while it is hard the better chance to succeed.
If you are a group of committed guys then all invest equally and make a mutual agreement and have a notary public sign it. This makes it iron clad. Make sure not just 1 guy or 2 guys are spending and doing all the work or it will cause many issues. It has to be an even team effort across the board of it is gonna be working as a democratic unit. If there is to be a band leader, then the agreements and communication must be good and understood early in the game. In my case I was investing thousands into my band while a couple of guys were investing nothing, this led to an eventual split up and problems. Further not having detailed agreements on paper and having verbal communications when I thought things were clear as a huge mistake. You must knock that stuff out, because just like a marriage expect fights, adversity and many disagreements. Without some locked in paperwork things can get crazy fast.
Having a great manager and investor is amazing if you can get it, but that is hard these days as music is such a crap shoot now. Do not count on that.
But You CAN do it on your own. You all need to raise as much money as you can and work your asses off. Play every show you can, and once you have enough-do your first album yourself once you feel you have strong enough material.
Get a solid producer and get it mixed, mastered and everything.
If the album is good, you now have a bit of an upper hand. If you chose to go to a label then you can negotiate because you have strong product. You could negotiate your merch, publishing and the overall picture but of course study up. Get knowledge and hire an attorney if you consider that route.
Or do what I suggest……..earn money every month and hire out your own PR, make a video etc. The magazine interviews, the advertising, the reviews can all be bought, just like the record labels do….
A lot of times being independent you can negotiate some package deals etc…..they will work with you. It is the exact same PR your label will pay for.
Start a label for yourself……it is easy. That is my next move. Do what they do, make the album, pay for the PR push, work it online, make a video and tour.
Here is the deal……if it starts to catch and is good enough, you will make ALL of your profits. That IS power. That is the ultimate power……and you reinvest, keep working and and keep busting ass.
There is NO guarantee, but the thing is by owning your stuff and having complete control you are way ahead of the game.
Making a band and getting it successful is one of the hardest business ventures……remember that.
Many fail and it is not easy.
But if it is all you want to do and you have the goods……at least take this all into consideration before you dive in….because if you are like me you can never stop making music, and you can starve for a lifetime being that guy unless you figure out to make some revenue early and make it grow.
All the best to all
Jon Leon of White Wizzard“
Leon also gave this update on the bands Indiegogo campaign which former vocalist Joseph Michael accused Leon of using as his own personal piggybank.