Issa Rae made some choice comments about the music industry in a recent interview. Here’s what she said.
The former YouTuber-turned-actress has her own record label called Raedio. She’s producing a new show about aspiring rappers, and she’s talking about her journey in the press. In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Rae tells us what she really thinks of the music industry as a whole.
Interviewer Michael Wood asks Rae if she believes the music industry is a place where ideas flourish. “Absolutely not,” Rae answers. “It’s probably the worst industry I’ve ever come across. I thought Hollywood was crazy. The music industry, it has to start all over again.”
“There are lots of conflicts of interest. Archaic mentalities. Villains and criminals! It’s an addiction industry, and I really feel for artists who need to get into it. It was something shocking to discover,” Rae relays in the interview. She doesn’t share more than her general opinion on the industry as a whole.
“I do not want to be too specific, but even with making our own appointments [for soundtracks] with labels or artists, it would be so intricate. And to find out how artists were treated on other labels, when I myself am a creator and know what I want in relation to a relationship with a production company or a producer. I would like to think that we are more artist-friendly than many other brands and companies out there.”
Issa Rae also shared her thoughts on the Grammys while discussing the music industry as a whole.
She says the way music is rewarded is ‘dumb’ because it can’t acknowledge creativity equally. “A song like [Wizkid’s] ‘Essence’ – just absolutely a powerhouse, and yet could not be properly acknowledged by the institution that is supposed to celebrate the best in music – that trips me out. To see Black people and our contributions to music not celebrated in the way they should be – I mean, these aren’t institutions for us.”
Issa Rae formed her record label Raedio in a joint venture with Atlantic Records in October 2019. Initial artists on the roster include TeaMarrr and Yung Baby Tate (who has since moved on). The label’s most recent release is a soundtrack for Rae’s ‘Insecure’ HBO original series.
she’s not wrong
it is a pretty shitty industry, full of douchebags with unsubstantiated ego
She’s a racist pig.
That’s what people say about your mom.
Whether or not she’s racist, I haven’t researched, the FACT is that the music industry is full of loser bloodsuckers who can’t make the music themselves who like to claim their ‘talent’ is in business or marketing, when A. most bands are natural marketers and doing their own marketing playing out, and B. There’s generally at least ONE person in a band who can take the business reins, since it doesn’t have to be THAT hard.
The closer we get to zero middlemen between the REAL ARTISTS and the AUDIENCE, the better. Then the Scooter Brauns can get real jobs which is all they’re qualified for.
Is A Gangsters Paradise
Ms. Rae should stick to her acting insecurity. Really doesn’t bring to light anything (like grammys) that those in the know don’t know. Every mass commercial creative industry has an abundance of ineptness and treachery.
the block chain is that escape
we have to stop allowing attorneys to run the business.
Crooked coked out aggressive TALENTLESS attorneys who only know how to suck and control
If you want to see how powerful a society is you only need to look at its music…
Katy Perry has a giant toilet with a rapping turd climbing out of it in her new show in Vegas just sayin
and go to strip clubs who use their trip to a topless bar to scout for talent
attorneys have always run the business. reality check.
your judgement of what is/isn’t art is midguided and irrelevant.
Travis “Pierre” Scott running around screaming “I’m an artist” dude your not an artist your a murderer sit down.
Scott is an artist, whether you think so or not.