Bermudian reggae artist Collie Buddz says he will never sign another record deal after being made a raw deal by Sony Music in the early parts of his career. The 39 year old independent artist who signed with Columbia Records and Sony BMG, a division of Sony Music in 2005 issued a stark warnings to fellow musicians about signing with major record labels.
He made the statments in an exclusive interview with WMV where he also revealed that “major labels dont care about what artist want to do, its more on their terms” and that it took him an astounding 13 years to recoup the expenses Columbia incurred in producing and mareting his self titled debut album.
“Major label deals, there is no good deal. They always find a way to get the best. Own your masters, whatever they spend on marketing they make this much on top of that. Back in the day they did 360 to get money off your merchandise and your money. Money comes right back around to them, that’s the 360.” he explained.
The Cali Roots artist says the labels will always get the better end of the deal and it’s on that basis he would rather remain an independent.
“It’s a shame, you have seen it, lotta artists sign to record labels thinking it’s a good fat pay check up front and you never hear from them again,” he lamented.
Collie released “Come Around” and a second single “Blind To You” on the label which propelled him on the American and European Reggae scene where he tours extensively every year, but says he made no money from music sales of streams until he recouped.
“It took me till 2020 to recoup, 13 years my first album. That’s a lotta time to start seeing money. I was lucky enough to tour but you can’t take 13 years to start making a couple dollars and they own your masters forever. I would never do that.”
The Vybe 103 FM radio station owner explained the mechanics of album recoupment in a record label deal.
“Here is another thing, the best thing you get is $1 off a CD that costs $10. Your $1 that you make goes back to money they spend to pay off your debt, They get the $9 and your $1 goes back into recoupment.” As for whether he will ever be able to regain ownership of his music he said.
“We have been trying to buy it back (my masters). Finally the Herbs come around is owned by Sony and there is nothing we could do to get it back. We have offered crazy amounts to get it back and they won’t take it.”
Although he admits to getting the bad end of the stick, he is still grateful not to have been swindled in a 360 deal which became popular soon after.
“The deal was just over a quarter million, it wasn’t crazy but the deal was better than a 360. a 360 they take everything out of you, merchandize and all of that stuff and they know.” He added, “The publishing deal is even worse. I signed a bad publishing deal too. That I will never recoup with BMG.”
The leading reggae artist whose album “Take It Easy” shot to No. 1 on the Reggae iTunes Chart, his seventh consecutive No. 1, advises artists to be more discerning when taking deals from major labels and consider going the independent route as a viable alternative.
“I will say to artists out there, they will show you a number and give you the promise but it’s a thing. Just watch and if you are confident enough you can do it on your own.”
“Independent today is a little sticky too, cause the labels own the streaming platforms,” Collie Buddz concluded.
The contentious issue of who owns the music masters has existed in reggae for a long time with top artist like Shaggy, Bob Marley and Sean Paul having to relinquish ownership of the music made during their early years in exchange for advances and marketing budgets.
Sean told WMV that all early Billboard hits are owned by the label but like Collie Buddz, when he signed to VP/Atlantic Records in 2003 he had to forgo ownership.
“I always wanted to own my songs. It has taken years because VP records and Atlantic Records own all my hits. They were a big distribution link so those are owned by them, but I have the right to re-record them after 15 years and I own those. I haven’t done it yet but this new relationship with Island Records allows me to record and release in Jamaica so I decided to put out singles. With them, I own my masters but I lease it to them for a few years and when they are done I get it back for ownership. It took me twenty years,” the Dutty Cup artist told World Music Views.
Watch Collie Buddz interview below on WMV YouTube :
