Our Record Industry Nightmare: Unlocking The Truth's Journey From Viral Craze To Label Hostages

Unlocking The Truth's Journey From Viral Craze To Label Hostages
INDIO, CA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Musicians Alec Atkins, Jarad Dawkins and Malcolm Brickhouse of Unlocking the Truth pose onstage during day 2 of the 2014 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2014 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
INDIO, CA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Musicians Alec Atkins, Jarad Dawkins and Malcolm Brickhouse of Unlocking the Truth pose onstage during day 2 of the 2014 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2014 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

People tend to romanticize the music industry. Behind every successful band is, it seems, a story of a renegade A&R representative who discovered them cracking away at a dive one night and the rest was history.

The reality is far less quixotic. These days, record labels are more concerned with branding than talent. It’s not a matter of what you can do, it’s a matter of how. Lizzy Grant was a failed singer-songwriter before Interscope rebranded her into a sultry, self-described “gangsta Nancy Sinatra,” while Katy Hudson was a gospel recording artist before Capitol Records and songwriting wizard Dr. Luke helped transform her into the girl-kissing Katy Perry.

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