Thread by @BroStreetJoy

1/ Thread: How It Works

A lot of you might think Every Single Person In Hollywood is a psychopath or compromised with something eeeeevil

I don’t think that’s the case

Maybe you think anyone who’s silent is party to evil, & that’s at least partially right

But think of this:

2/ Let’s pretend you’re a musician (it can be any artistic endeavor but let’s do music):

You’re a solo artist. Pick your genre.

Pretend through hard work & talent, you go viral on YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify

You suddenly have thousands coming in via MP3 sales, streaming, ads

3/ But still, even if you somehow make $50k or $100k (damn near impossible for a first time hit), that’s not gonna last you

& any artist now will tell you money doesn’t come from albums

It comes from touring & merch

& you, the solo artist are suddenly swarmed

4/ Everyone wants a piece of your success

& to be fair, unless you’re 1 in a million,

You’re not both an artist AND a successful business mind

“Tick-tock” these flashy folks say. “You’ll be forgotten in a month.”

& they’re not sleazeballs for saying that: they’re right

5/ So you have two choices: let this Lightning Strike opportunity pass & try to own everything yourself

or: LEVEL UP BABY

Now, I read some musician - can’t remember which but one I respect - say it’s better to own 100% & sell 10k albums than sign to a label & sell a million

6/ But most people don’t know that

Especially artsy kids who’ve been starving their way working shit jobs & dreaming while working coffee houses

So of course, you get an agent, & holy shit, they sign you to a household name Label

You’re on the radio!

You sit at the Grammys!

7/ Up to this point, you’ve done nothing wrong

& here’s where shit gets weird

The label OWNS you; you’re essentially an indentured servant

But you’re famous now, right?

Well, sure... but still flavor of the month for now

You need a sophomore hit

8/ You’re thinking “AHA, here comes the casting couch or the blackmail”

Maybe for some, but not our story

You’re clean. You just want to make music

So you mind your own business & you make art

But then, the label wants something from you

9/ Maybe it’s a photo shoot you’re not cool with

Maybe it’s a collaboration you don’t want to do

Maybe it’s attending a “charity event” you don’t agree with

Whatever it is, let’s also pretend you have 100k followers on Twatr

Your own personal army, right?

Well...

10/ Let’s say you say NO to your agent & your label

Almost every label is going to have something in your contract akin to a Morality Clause

So? You’ve done nothing wrong.

Well if we’ve learned anything from POTUS Trump’s experience: that doesn’t mean shit

11/ We’ll cut to the chase: the label has a million ways to get rid of you

That label that owns you?

They have a posse

One of the Big 6

Which includes radio, TV, MSM, news

Suddenly a story begins to break about you - & it’s complete bullshit!!!

12/ Well it shouldn’t matter, right? The truth’s on your side!

How *adorable*

Meanwhile your “scandal” is trickling onto social media, TMZ, trash mags

Then you’re called into the label’s HQs to discuss this incident

You & your agent meet with the VP of SomeShit or Other...

13/ This VP is sympathetic

& then he subtly works into the conversation a few points:

The label’s image

The morality clause

Your bright future

& “you know, the editor at X is a good friend of mine; I’m sure we can resolve this...”

For a price, of course

14/ “You know,” he says, “it bummed us out that you didn’t partake in X”

(See earlier tweet for X)

He’s made it clear to you what your choices are

You can go along with them & this all goes away (& you don’t know about the Big 6 yet)

Or you become a 21 y.o. has been...

15/ & your 100k fans have already started to fill up your mentions with angry tweets

...What will you do?

*

Well I know what YOU, the Awakened Person will do

But think about the countless teens & 20-somethings that came before

Do you really want to judge them?

16/ & now you understand how they control so many

Without any need for 3pste!ns or entrapment

Easy enough... & that’s if someone’s squeaky clean

If they’re like most young’uns experiencing a rush of fame & money

They have plenty of other opportunities to own them

17/ Many know to keep their mouth shut from that point on

& toe the line

Most of them only are looking out for #1

I think some people can navigate that world

But they are few & far between

But it’s not all bIackmail as we understand it

Yet it’s effective for many

/END/

ADDENDUM: Some off-the-Top-of-my-head examples in case you don’t believe me

Meghan Trainor was shit-broke after her mega-hit “All About That Bass”

Carly Rae Jepson was reportedly pawning jewelry & handbags after her mega-hit “Call Me Maybe”

There are thousands of these stories