I spend all my time right now trying to combat music retail and copyright.
Would I have signed to Def Jam if I knew they was deaf? Nah.
There's this thing called compulsory licensing law that allows artists through the record companies to take your music at will without your permission.
I think music sharing of any kind is great.
Because I'm not in a record deal, I don't have to operate in an album format.
The songs certainly have not made my fortune, but I am still grateful for the royalties when they come in.
'Cause I can make more money going in and doing my recordings and selling them through my entities that I have, rather than going to a record co. and them release a record and pay me 5 percent of what they make off it.
I think it's very important for hip-hop, when an artist reaches a certain level, to ascend to executive work.
With Ghost Tunes, you just try to do what's right. And what's right is whatever the copyright owner wants to do with their music, they do it.
After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure it out because they don't even use the technology, and they're oblivious to how people consume music these days.
Technology is going to play a huge part in tomorrow's music business. And the companies that will win are going to be the most equipped to understand how to use data to further an artist's career.
I was worried Microsoft would take my music. But ultimately I talked to the lawyers and I still own it.
Profile has half the publishing and they control and administer the publishing and distribute and own the records, so our group is a 10-point crew. But we got a lot of money off of the shows.
As an artist, you make music. And if you see people who don't know how to market your music, you get involved in it. Otherwise, what you want to accomplish 'gets lost in translation' - no pun intended.
Too often, the music business allowed third-party companies to innovate for us - and that simply does not work anymore.
A lot of big labels will just sign bands like a write off.
I have a very difficult time getting the Napster world.
Starbucks has changed the rules of engagement for the music industry.
WME and IMG both truly understand and value my music and Mosaert's creative visions; they are forward-thinking, all-encompassing, and thoughtful in how they envision me continuing to grow.
But at the age of 44, I sure hope to be a better businesswoman. I want to get the music straight to my fans.
Putting out compilation records, buying the right to music is incredibly complicated. You have to find the writer of the song and the publisher of the song - not the singer - and make two separate deals.
I can do anything onstage. Here's the misconception: You could record an album called 'The Best of Styx.' And all you would have to do is pay the individual songwriters a mechanical royalty.
Virgin Records will probably release their own package sometime next year.
I have one piece of music, since 1997, and I don't see it having lyrics. Where does it go in this world? So I haven't recorded it.
I love TV. I love being behind the scenes on a TV show but there's something about, I don't know there's something very special when you've signed an artist and that first record comes in and it's a good record. It is an indescribable feeling.
