Left Stage

My unfiltered take on the music industry, the grit, the lessons, and the practices that help artists cut through the chaos. Here you'll find thought tools and strategies to guide your career while keeping your creativity at the center

your backstage friend in the music industry,

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Subways, Skylines, and Shark Deals: The Artist's Guide to Record Deals

In a city full of dreamers, every artist eventually meets the sharks. The key is knowing how to swim before you dive. I couldn't help but wonder, in the ever-changing cityscape of the music industry, are record labels the sharks circling the waters... or the skyscrapers that help us see the skyline from a new height? For years, the conversation around signing to a label has been polarized. On one block, the "stay independent" crowd preaches freedom, control, and DIY hustle. O

Oct 165 min read