ROACH REPORT:Beans Ain’t Eatin’

I have been told over and over again that music artists themselves do not make much money. Even if they’re on TV and the radio, they are still just pawns in the music industry. If an artist is signed to a major label they can expect to pay back whatever advance they received, give everyone else involved their share from whatever CD sales they sold, and then finally get the left over scraps for themselves. Especially in this day and age where music flows like water over the internet and CD sales are at an all time low, it makes it even harder for the artist to survive solely on being an artist. I was reminded of how true this really is when I read a small article about Beanie Segal on XXLmag.com

Beans was arrested for violating the terms of his release from jail and now he has to serve three months. This type of stuff happens all the time, what is interesting is that it happens so much to rappers and people one would expect to be past these legal woes. An outsider or regular person on the street would look at a man like Beanie Segal and think, “Man this dude is eating, he super rich. Why is he still on some thug s#!%?” They probably heard his songs on the radio, seen his videos, and maybe even his State Property movies. So of course he got money right? Wrong. Beans said the biggest reason for his constant legal problems is his financial situation. According to him he only “gets 14 cents on the dollar for every CD that is sold, and that is only after the record companies get their money off the top.” We’re talking about an established artist here, who has been around for years. Imagine how hard it is for new artists who really only have one song that people know?

The ‘Pop, Lock, And Drop It”, “This is Why I’m Hot”, or “Got My Vans On”. They had hit songs all over the radio, and sold next to nothing when their CD’s came out. Of course they can get their show money for a while, merchandise money maybe, but then what? They better find a day job or start working in the streets because rap is not going to pay the bills in the long-run. That’s why so many rappers venture out in to other business opportunities. Clothes, liquor, energy drinks, real estate, acting, reality TV, all have to be part of a successful rappers resume, but this market is getting over saturated as well. Even P.Diddy straight up told his artists on the show Making The Band that he makes no money off music, it is all Sean Jean, his clothing line. The reality of what rap stardom really is might stray some people away from pursuing this dream, and unfortunately many new artists don’t understand what how it really boils down. Me though, I look at music as a passion and a door to creatively explore other opportunities that will keep my pockets lumpy and my children’s tummies full in the future.

–written by the roach report, posted by noahjn