Steve Albini Quotes

I got out of the music industry many years ago. I had a charlatan for a producer who I wanted nothing to do with. He's dead now, so I guess I can't beat that horse any more. It left a very bad taste in my mouth, so I just went on about my business doing what I do and not involving myself with record companies, except for distribution.

It's unfortunate that music has become such big business.

I'm not saying I wasn't flawed or amateurish. But you can never say I did anything to appease the music business.

In my career, people in the record business have been rockin' in the same ol' boat. They all crooks - I'll say it clear and loud - especially the big ones.

A lot of very popular mainstream artists are products of record companies and marketing companies, and any time anyone can stand outside of that, that's interesting.

The business has changed so much that they're able - we're able these days in the music industry to be able to control our own destiny.

You know how it is with drawers and labels in the music business. They don't want anything to be complicated. They just want it simple, as simple as possible.

It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. I won't let them do that anymore.

It wasn't so much that I had to leave to make it in the music business as I was curious to be out on my own and sort of explore. I never felt that where I was ever influenced my songwriting.

Probably the biggest bring-down in my life was being in a pop group and finding out just how much it was like everything it was supposed to be against.

I can show bands how to produce themselves. In the same way, many bands think you can't make it without some fat cat in London or New York to manage you. That's just crap. All you need is someone a bit older than you with a bit of business nous whom you trust.

The music business looks like, you know, innocent schoolboys compared to the TV business. They care about nothing but profit.

Popularity has everything to do with business and nothing to do with music.

I don't care at all about the mainstream; I don't care about popularity contests; I don't care about who's got the biggest-selling album; and I don't care about glossy production.

I think there is a big difference between the music business and music. And my relationship is to music, not music business. I think the business will keep changing, but music won't. Music will be there.

I've always treated the music business as a business.

You can do any number of things in the music business aside from trying to look like you're 25. To me it's embarrassing.

I enjoy selling my music. I don't enjoy selling myself.

Some people are the greatest people on Earth with good hearts and will get in the studio and make the most negative music in the world for the sake of success. That's what the music business does to you. That's what capitalism does to you.

You shouldn't be in the music business if you're posing.

Music and the music business are two different things.

This music business can suck all the love out of you, all the compassion for people - you can start to think you're better than them. But I want to continue to let people know that I'm no better and no worse, I'm just like you.

Find people who think like you and stick with them. Make only music you are passionate about. Work only with people you like and trust. Don't sign anything.

I don't want to get myself in trouble - and I don't think I'm super important or anything - but I think it's so funny that when you look at the business and the way that people make decisions in their lives, whether they're in art or music or they're in industry, they forget that being unique is the answer.

You have to work in this business on your own terms. Don't sell out for money, fame, or notoriety.