Chloe Bailey is strutting the promotional trail in support of her scorching new single ‘Treat Me’ – and her latest stop was the popular YouTube series The Terrell Show.
During the fun-filled sit-down sing-a-long, the performer opened up about some of the behind-the-scenes realities of the music industry that folk may not be as in the know about.
Her words may (or maybe not) surprise you.
See what we mean below…
When asked about a fact about the music industry that people don’t know, the 23-year-old was refreshingly very candid (in comparison to some of her peers when quizzed about the topic).
For, she replied:
“You can create music all day long, [but] – especially if you’re signed to a label – you can’t control your release date.
Also, musicians don’t make a lot of money in the music industry. That’s why you see a lot of people – they have brand deals and brand sponsorships because that’s where the coin comes from. And touring. But [with] music itself, you’re actually losing money”
Expanding on the latter, Bailey said:
“Oh, you wanna know something else? I learned this because I would produce sis and I’s records [Chloe x Halle]. Producers outside will get paid a huge lump sum. But, because I would produce sis and I’s records, I couldn’t get paid because I was a producer within the group.
And also, I don’t know whether it changed within the GRAMMYs, but you know how they have Producer of the Year? I learned from Imogen Heap.. because she produces a lot of her stuff. So does Grimes, so does Bjork. They couldn’t be contenders for Producer of the Year because they were the ones producing their own bodies of work and not [producing] for others. And notice how those are just the women I named.”
Looking at the upsdies, the stage blazer concluded by saying:
“The good is that, even though you lose money in the music business, you get a coin from everything that comes from the music you’re making. So, the music is almost like the ad. It’s a business. And it’s sad to think of it that way, but that’s why tours go big…that’s where you make your money. And the big brand deals.
That’s a fact few people don’t know. They think it’s this huge, high-life thing. Yes, you may get a huge lump sum in the beginning or you might have a huge recording budget and you think the label is paying for it. But, at the end of the day, you’re paying for it. It’s coming out of you [your budget]. Whatever you get from that album, you get that after whatever has been paid off. So, it’s like a loan.
I’m learning – especially now as a solo artist – I have to have multiple hats. Me, as my creative, which is where I want to spend most of my time. But I also have to put on my business mind hat. Because, if you don’t, you could get screwed over.”
Insightful!
We long appreciate acts that keep it 100 while on their grind. Especially when it skews educational, as is the case here.
The music industry has shapeshifted a lot in recent times and, as ever, is not for the faint-hearted.
We applaud Miss Bailey for both her talent and her hustle. She’s laying the groundwork for a long and fruitful career.
Check out her full appearance on The Terrell Show here:
Told y’all Cardi was BROKE from those streams and not even selling out TWO SHOWS! lmaoooooooooo 🤣
Nice try. Cardis endorsements probably have her bank account lined nicer than Nicki’s.
Yet cardi gave offset 2 million cash for his birthday so she must have money from somewhere your obsessed with cardi sad
That was proven to be a lie that check never cashed
Meg def not getting money she still owe Carl
Crawford 3 albums 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Cardi B Gives Offset a $2 Million Check For His 30th Birthday
Gil Kaufman
12/22/2021 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Check declined ❌💳
She didn’t reveal anything I didn’t already know, other than the Grammys Producer of the Year thing, but I’m not interested in the Grammys.
Yeah TLC let the cat out this bag a LONG TIME AGO. Chloe’s Networth is probably around $200-300K And that’s being generous.
Precisely. And by TLC, it was really just Lefteye we’re talking about. I miss her and her realness so much!
This was well articulated but not insightful because it is already common knowledge that Newer Artist are just SLAVES at the end of the day. I would actually be extremely shocked if Chloe said she was a Millionaire already.
Artists were able to make money before streaming services came along and the whole digital download era changed everything. Majority still make money from touring, which also helps them pay back the record company so yeah nothing new! S***** deals all around these days and that’s why established artists are open to the independent route.
We been knew this. That’s why so many artists have are selling ass on social media.
Touring is definitely where the money is at for most Artist. The label obviously will take a chunk of the money because they’re marketing and investing a lot in the Artist’s career. The Songwriters and Producers that work for other Artists will always make more.
From the days of Billie Holiday to Jackie Wilson then came 80s artist, Prince, Toni, TLC, R. KELLY, Damn near all Bad Boy Artist thanks to Diddy – history should tell every aspiring artist before signing contracts, seek legal advice for negotiation purposes for the long run. Upfront money (loan) isn’t nothing compared to actual wealth.
Show me the highest certification she got solo or with Chloe x Halle. That’s why you’re broke bishhh
No sis you don’t make any money The Queen has a network of $150 million dollars because she writes her raps
Flop Minaj can’t stay on billboard 2 weeks 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
She doesn’t need to chart ever again in her lifetime she’s already the highest selling and paid that $150 million network will make you SHUT UP 🤐
Cardi will pass that Nicki been in game 10 plus years cardi will pass her already sold more than Nicki at this point in her career and Nicki needed drake and Wayne to sell cardi it alone
Left eye and the girls already shed a massive light on this topic.
I’m shocked that she didn’t know this already. Artists have been talking about this forever. As long as I can remember, top artists in the 90’s always said don’t take that cash advance from the record labels. Yes they’ll give them million dollar advances but the artists pay that back with interest before they earn one dime. This is why she see artists from the 60’s and 70’s still touring, that money goes in their pockets. Many music fans come have given her that information. Plus producers only get categorized for producing outside acts, not themselves. This also has always been the case.
She’s still young and just coming into her own as an adult. She was a minor when she began music so she may not have known all of the details regarding finances because her parents and adults oversaw that. Now that’s she’s becoming more independent, personally and artistically, she has more knowledge of what really goes on, or at least understands it better and is able to articulate to those listening. Im sure she knew majority of what she’s saying in general.