Robert Fripp has been pushing this concept ever since he broke ties with his thieving slimeball managers, some 20 years ago. Excellent advice from Dick Dale, a man who can distinguish bewteen free enterprise and indentured servitude.
Also, the concept of having to constantly be on the road playing gigs, is just preposterous. There's so many artists out there who never play, ever, and they have a fine time selling CD's and making money.
Case in point: Brian Eno
A lot of people only make music for listening, not for live performance. They are, and should always be, regarded as two seperate artforms, neither of which is "the key" to "making it".
This advice is so on the money. If a band/musician was only going to take one bit of advice, I would choose this video clip.
Unfortunately (from my experience) everyone wants to "get signed" and they will NOT listen if you try to explain why it's not a great idea ....Dick Dale is my hero!
Geniuses always think that if you just follow their logic, you too will be a rock star.
It just doesn't happen like that. You can own all your own publishing, try to get booked, spend all of your money, for naught. It happens over and over again, and if there were any real secret to "making it", then we'd all be rich.
That's true, but they have a better chance of a steady life than a one hit wonder who spends the rest of their life wondering "why". The assumption is that your band has some talent, and fills a much-needed niche. This is coming from a man who's been making music for roughly sixty years.
He assumes you're already talented. It takes 500,000 copies sold for a band to break even with a company. 500,000 copies of an LP sold with retail discount and cost of production, marketing, and housekeeping added in is $3,950,000 profits. Once you sell the next 500,000 the company still takes most of it. In the best case in the US the artists split $1 per album 4 ways at mean. That's $125,000 for 1,000,000 LP sold of a bestselling record which made $7,900,000 for each member in a 4-piece.
I broke even only selling 2,000 copies of my last album for one of the biggest labels in Germany, published by Universal Music. That's because I didn't take a huge advance, and didn't spend ungodly amounts of money on recording, producing, engineering etc.
These "500,000 copies" numbers only work in the Michael Jackson / huge-mega-band world, which the vast majority of us do not operate in. Most of us operate under the DIY ethic, which you can still have signing with a major label.
Universal Artist or Music? I know one's Aimee Mann's label which alows quite a bit of lee-way.
Regardless, I was talking about the guys who end up dreaming of the whole "Rolling Stone" thing. A friend of mine, he plays blue grass, I can't stand it but he's making money just based off of Demos on Apple's iTune shop.
More people should take this advice no matter what line of work you're in. Don't be a slave to the Man! I don't know how many bands I've heard of that are in debt to record labels (yes, even many "indie" record labels follow this debt model now - I've met bands that were tens of thousands in debt to their indie).
That's it. Use this knowledge not only for music. Quit your job and work for yourself. Freelance. Start a company with friends. Whatever. Forget about a job and a personal life. Combine the two and just LIVE!
A few things... Modern artist if they realize this won't talk about it for fear of the labels revenge upon them and their next album. 2nd.The record labels grew out of the nightclub owners & those were largely owned and controlled by the mob... they use the SAME TACTICS / RIAA. 3rd talk about getting screwed over take a look at Little Richard.
The video doesn't show this part, but when he was getting in his car, Dick Dale followed the guy home so he could offer two more hours of advice from his lawn.
Major Record Label != Record Label... There are plenty of smaller record labels that treat their artists very well. A record label I worked for (that sold millions of records, so it wasn't a vanity label), split all profits with artists 50/50. Not all record labels are the big corporate guys.
Robert Fripp has been pushing this concept ever since he broke ties with his thieving slimeball managers, some 20 years ago. Excellent advice from Dick Dale, a man who can distinguish bewteen free enterprise and indentured servitude.
bloggulator 4 years ago
This is the most important video I've seen in a really long time. Thank you for posting!
sbscace 4 years ago
Damn right!
Marillion does it.
Fripp does it.
idiotbastard 4 years ago
I'm glad i found this clip today. Solid career advice from one of the greatest guitarists who has ever lived.
dxxn 4 years ago
The Supersuckers must have taken his advise.
beauisrad 4 years ago
FUCK the COVER of ROLLING STONE! When all is said & done is it anymore than toilet paper?
Willyblues 4 years ago
Great advice from a living legend. Getting signed is such a joke. Look at NOFX. They built up their following and own almost all of their music.
huffmysack 4 years ago
Some very wise words from Mr. Dale.
fatback2 4 years ago
or....sell drugs...easier
dreadinny 4 years ago
Dick Dale is a genius - the big question remains will musicians listen to him?
Lunarsight 4 years ago
Also, the concept of having to constantly be on the road playing gigs, is just preposterous. There's so many artists out there who never play, ever, and they have a fine time selling CD's and making money.
Case in point: Brian Eno
A lot of people only make music for listening, not for live performance. They are, and should always be, regarded as two seperate artforms, neither of which is "the key" to "making it".
volumptuous 4 years ago
I've never heard of this man before this video, but now I hope to hear more of him.
KitsuneDarkStalker 4 years ago
If you've heard the music or soundtrack for Pulp Fiction (or hell, seen the movie) you've heard of Dick Dale.
NegroMente 4 years ago
Nope, I've only seen Resevoir Dogs.
KitsuneDarkStalker 4 years ago
Wait, yeah, I've heard "Misirlou"...
KitsuneDarkStalker 4 years ago
This advice is so on the money. If a band/musician was only going to take one bit of advice, I would choose this video clip.
Unfortunately (from my experience) everyone wants to "get signed" and they will NOT listen if you try to explain why it's not a great idea ....Dick Dale is my hero!
shadyrosy 4 years ago
excellent, especially since you can broadcast your music on the internet so easily and create a buzz without spending much at first
vdbdg 4 years ago
fantastic advice! FANTASTIC!!!
mrjezza 4 years ago
Great stuff. Thanks for posting this.
673flaw 4 years ago
Geniuses always think that if you just follow their logic, you too will be a rock star.
It just doesn't happen like that. You can own all your own publishing, try to get booked, spend all of your money, for naught. It happens over and over again, and if there were any real secret to "making it", then we'd all be rich.
volumptuous 4 years ago
That's true, but they have a better chance of a steady life than a one hit wonder who spends the rest of their life wondering "why". The assumption is that your band has some talent, and fills a much-needed niche. This is coming from a man who's been making music for roughly sixty years.
-SH.
nerdythor 4 years ago
He assumes you're already talented. It takes 500,000 copies sold for a band to break even with a company. 500,000 copies of an LP sold with retail discount and cost of production, marketing, and housekeeping added in is $3,950,000 profits. Once you sell the next 500,000 the company still takes most of it. In the best case in the US the artists split $1 per album 4 ways at mean. That's $125,000 for 1,000,000 LP sold of a bestselling record which made $7,900,000 for each member in a 4-piece.
nerdythor 4 years ago
I broke even only selling 2,000 copies of my last album for one of the biggest labels in Germany, published by Universal Music. That's because I didn't take a huge advance, and didn't spend ungodly amounts of money on recording, producing, engineering etc.
These "500,000 copies" numbers only work in the Michael Jackson / huge-mega-band world, which the vast majority of us do not operate in. Most of us operate under the DIY ethic, which you can still have signing with a major label.
volumptuous 4 years ago
Universal Artist or Music? I know one's Aimee Mann's label which alows quite a bit of lee-way.
Regardless, I was talking about the guys who end up dreaming of the whole "Rolling Stone" thing. A friend of mine, he plays blue grass, I can't stand it but he's making money just based off of Demos on Apple's iTune shop.
-SH.
nerdythor 4 years ago
DD speaks from raw experience and he's 100% on the money.
TeddyLeper 4 years ago
More people should take this advice no matter what line of work you're in. Don't be a slave to the Man! I don't know how many bands I've heard of that are in debt to record labels (yes, even many "indie" record labels follow this debt model now - I've met bands that were tens of thousands in debt to their indie).
myroncope 4 years ago
That's it. Use this knowledge not only for music. Quit your job and work for yourself. Freelance. Start a company with friends. Whatever. Forget about a job and a personal life. Combine the two and just LIVE!
polkapi 4 years ago
awesome. we need more dick dales.
zeketailunit 4 years ago
Awesome. Dick Dale rocks.
rubberbandiv 4 years ago
Dick Dale is freakin' awesome!
stereoldies 4 years ago
...follow his advice, and you'll never feel forced to play on a rock n roll reunion cruise ship gig, just to pay the bills. Thanks, Dick Dale!
beetleboy8 4 years ago
I like Dick Dale! The Guy Rips. I dont mind paying for his music.
tikidrew 4 years ago
storybeliever - dick dale is a instrumental surf rock guitar legend. (and obviously a wise man)
Iwouldntlivethatway 4 years ago
Excellent advice. Thanks for posting this.
BallpointAddiction 4 years ago
superb. wise words indeed.
Harry66 4 years ago
great advice
musicismydrugdotcom 4 years ago
who's dick dale?
storybeliever 4 years ago
Great interview, thanks!
billolen 4 years ago
Now THAT is how it should be done. THAT is punk rock.
dementia2k 4 years ago
A few things... Modern artist if they realize this won't talk about it for fear of the labels revenge upon them and their next album. 2nd.The record labels grew out of the nightclub owners & those were largely owned and controlled by the mob... they use the SAME TACTICS / RIAA. 3rd talk about getting screwed over take a look at Little Richard.
o0flip0o 4 years ago
Don't forget to get the Pollstar! Love ya Dick Dale! If anyone wants Pollstar, call me att 559.271.7900 EXT 4927 Thanks
tonaciousglee 4 years ago
The video doesn't show this part, but when he was getting in his car, Dick Dale followed the guy home so he could offer two more hours of advice from his lawn.
slhamlet 4 years ago
awesome
digitalfilmmaker 4 years ago
Major Record Label != Record Label... There are plenty of smaller record labels that treat their artists very well. A record label I worked for (that sold millions of records, so it wasn't a vanity label), split all profits with artists 50/50. Not all record labels are the big corporate guys.
rexrhino 4 years ago
I had the honor of eating lunch with Mr. Dick Dale. He is an awesome, intelligent, kind and very well mannered man!
danielltaylor 4 years ago
NISSAN!!!!
xbxspartan 4 years ago
That is the rawest words ever spoken coming from the mouth of a Legend.
legitimatepictures 4 years ago
Thanks for the post--sending to all my fellow musicians...
rlwiggs 4 years ago
Cool, real advice too not just the usual cliche bullshit answer you'd get from some 'rock star'. Thanks for uploading this.
TombyStone 5 years ago
this is probably the greatest interview ive ever heard. ie been telling all my friends this
Zososg 5 years ago
"And that's why the system hates Dick Dale." - AWESOME!
surfocaster 5 years ago
Fuckin legend mate! LONG LIVE DICK DALE!!
DangerousBastard 5 years ago
fuck the system, dick dales rocks!!!!
kakaman321 5 years ago
Take that SONY! BMI! RIAA! COLUMBIA!
MJCPeters 5 years ago
He's got a point there. Thank you for posting this.
wheeelman 5 years ago
This is a smart rocker.
Apoktite 5 years ago
yeah, that's some damn good information
slinkyballs06 5 years ago
that is very interesting. i'll definatly take his word for it considering he has been in the business for so long. thanks for posting this.
the4footpartysub 5 years ago
This is awesome!!!!
jukedaddy 5 years ago