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The best way to describe the subject matter of this month’s article is in the re-telling of a joke. The comedian tells the audience, “Recent statistics show that 1 in 3 Americans is mentally off. Look at the person to your left, and then to your right…if they look okay…then it’s you!” It’s a funny joke that points out the truth about human nature: we never think the problem is us – it’s always “them”. It’s called “denial”. One of the definitions of “denial” is; “A refusal to admit the truth or reality of a situation.”

Something that is NOT a joke is the statistic showing that of the 1 in 5 deaths caused by heart attacks each year in the USA, 250,000 of those deaths may have been prevented if only the victims would have admitted they were having a heart attack. Let me state it more clearly; 250,000 people would still be alive every year if they had not been in denial about the fact that they were having a heart attack. Half of all heart attack victims who are experiencing the classic symptoms of a heart attack choose to stay in a state of denial about their condition, and they wait more than 2 hours before getting help, and by then the damage has been done. Denial always brings dire consequences. Which brings me to my main point:

It is denial (refusal to admit the truth or reality of a situation) by our ARTISTS that is at the core of our sad state of affairs in Southern Gospel Music.

Let’s call it “SOUTHERNGOSPELMUSICINDUSTRYITIS”. It’s a nice long name with a nice rhythm if you say it kind of fast. Why not? Our artists are the personification of the disease! They can look “The Truth” right in the eyes and completely deny its existence.

If our artists were not in a state of denial maybe they would see how they are being ripped off.

Let me give you some examples of companies pulling fast ones on our artists. These are not companies located in Bismarck, North Dakota, or Anchorage, Alaska – these are the companies you see and hear about every day.

A young man called to tell me he had been offered a 3 year deal with a recording company with an option for a 4th year. The deal was he would pay the recording company full price for a custom recording and then repeat the process for the next 2 years with the option of paying them full price for a recording for the 4th year. Wow, what a deal!

“Let’s see here, Mr. Bruno, you pay us full sticker price for this here new car and guess what…next year we’ll letcha do it again…and the year after that…and the year after that, and if you still like the way we’re treatin’ ya…by golly, we’ll letcha buy another one. Now you go out and tell all yer friends what a great company we are”.

BUT – whose fault is this? The company offering such a ridiculous deal?…OR…the artists who are in denial and refuse to see they are being offered nothing?

Another group told me that the company they did a custom recording with is trying to convince them that the group is under contract, even though they have already paid for and received all the product they agreed to.

“Okay Mr. Bruno, says here you bought and paid for 3 suits back in February, you realize Mr. Bruno that when you get ready to buy another suit, you are under contract to us and have to buy your next new suit from us. And, by the way, we still own those three suits you bought and paid for with your own money.”

If the company can get away with this, then the artist must share the blame.

The latest call came about 3 weeks ago from a group who had been offered to record for free. Yes the company agreed to pay all the expenses for their recording if the group would agree to purchase 4000 CDs at $4.00 each. Of course the company would own the master since they paid for the recording. Huh????? What?????

Hey Mabel, wait’ll you hear this! Mr. Soandso here is gonna let us record FREE. Only thing we gotta do is give him a check fer $16,000.00 fer the CDs. Course he’ll get to keep all the music we paid him fer, jest in case he wants to use it fer sump’in else.

If you write a big fat check to the record company or even lots of little checks, the company is not paying for your recording…YOU ARE…and because so many of you are in denial about this, these companies are getting away with it.

A real record deal where the company actually pays the bill comes with serious requirements on the part of the company…such as distribution to the marketplace. A real record company makes most of its money from retail sales. The situation described above is a scam to try and make you think you have a record deal. All you are doing is paying for your recording.

I’ve bought lots of things in my life, sometimes I’ve gotten good deals, and a few times I’ve been ripped off. I’ve bought some things by paying cash, and I’ve bought some things on credit. But I have never…never…NEVER…bought and paid for something and let someone else own it.

When you make a custom recording, which is what you are doing if you write a check to the company…you own it…all of it…arrangements, charts, photos, masters, hard drive, art work, graphics and anything else you paid for.

Now I know there are artists reading this right now saying, “Hmmm, wonder who Brother Nick is talking about”? Look to your left and look to your right, then look in the mirror. I’m talking about you and your company!!!!! Odds are about 90% of you are recording with one of the companies above. It’s you…yes you. I tried to warn you. I did, I really did.

It’s easy for us to sit back and place the responsibility for changing our industry on the shoulders of industry leaders and publications, but the changes that will save our industry must start with you – the SGM artist.

The truth is that real change, the kind that brings revival, must come from within the industry, and that is you…the artists.

My friends, I love this industry. I love the music, the people, and everything about it. And it’s not always easy to say the things that are in my heart.

I don’t have to do it, I could just retire out on the Bruno ranch and mow grass, but… I have answered the call and so I am committed to this mission to shine the light of truth on the industry I love

At a recent meeting, the point was raised that many artists don’t want to be helped; they want to live in denial. I thought, “Surely this can’t be true. SG artists certainly don’t intentionally want to be ripped off. There must be some mistake” But now I see that it is true, and it breaks my heart. There are some groups that insist in doing business with the companies listed above, and doing the deals as I described them above, simply because they are in denial…they refuse to believe the truth, and that denial keeps them from working with a company, producer, radio promoter who IS honest and who WILL help them.

I simply refuse to give up hope – however hopeless the situation may appear – because I still believe that some of you DO want to know the truth, so here, once again, are 2 tests you can apply to whatever company you record with.

1. LINE ITEM BUDGET.

You must insist on a line item budget that clearly shows where every penny is spent. I don’t care if the company has been in business for the last 40 years. I don’t care if the owner or leader of the company was an original cast member of The Lord’s Supper. I don’t care if the company has recorded 5000 artists without a line item budget. I don’t care if you’ve recorded 15 albums with this company. I don’t care if they make you feel like you’re offending them for asking…

YOU GET A LINE ITEM BUDGET OR YOU WALK…PERIOD!!!!!!

2. SONGWRITER ROYALTIES

It is your responsibility to reach an agreement with the company as to who will pay Songwriter Royalties. If you agree to pay the royalties, then the price of the product you order should be adjusted accordingly. If the company agrees to pay the royalties then it is reasonable for them to include this in the price of the product. You cannot assume that the company will pay the royalties just because they say they will. You must get it in writing and it is your responsibility to check on the company from time to time to make sure the royalties are being paid.

YOU GET AN AGREEMENT REGARDING SONGWRITER ROYALTIES OR YOU WALK…PERIOD!!!!!!

Here’s the bottom line. Our industry is in real trouble. You, the artists, have the power to turn things around...but only if you will get out of denial about what is going on. It is you, the artists, who must refuse to give in to the garbage that is being slopped about. Look around you. Look at all the groups who are not succeeding, look at all the groups who desperately need help, look at all the groups who are in financial trouble because they have bought into the record company/ radio promotion quagmire. Be different…be bold…trust The Lord to give you direction. If you don’t have peace about someone or some company…you are probably right.

Finally…

To any artists reading this who might want to compare the truth against the lies you might be told, I’d like you to know that a group of us involved in SGM have joined together to form the Alliance for Building Careers, “TEAM ABC”. No hype…no sales gimmicks…just reality. If you want more info go to http://www.myteamabc.com. Or contact me at .

If you would like a copy of a line item budget to take with you to your meeting with any record company just drop me an email.

As always, I welcome your comments,

God Bless You

Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com
http://www.myteamabc.com

Reader Comments

Preachin' truth Mr. Bruno! Preachin' truth!

Bravo, Nick!

Cliff Cerce
The Cerces, PO Box 8525, Springfield, MO 65801
417-863-8440
http://www.thecerces.com

Great article! I am glad you are putting the responsibility for change where it belongs. When the artists stand up and take responsibility for what they do in their careers, then things will change. A friend recently visited and heard our group and jokingly said, "Don't forget me when you are famous". I told her that you don't get famous in SG.
Our group has never figured out why it is essential to be signed by one of these companies. We have been approached several times and turned it down because we learned that if they really wanted us, they would offer a fair deal. Otherwise, we will stick with what we are doing because it is as good as what we have heard out of these studios that Nick talks about.

Ransomed

Go therefore, and teach all nations,…

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