Video Interview of CEO of WEA (Warner, Elektra, Atlantic)

I see musicians everyday. We have recording artistes, well known singers and bands who are regulars in our studios. And we see also, wannabes. These "want-to-be" artistes are quite good, in fact some of them have been picked as finalists in some contest that's presently telecast on national television.

The one common thing that most musicians look forward to is the chance to be recognized. They want a record deal, they look forward to having their albums sold and they're constantly looking for a major company to sponsor them. We are not a biggie in the industry but we do hold certain products that are internationally known and we have rights to endorse musicians in certain categories. As a company, we're always looking for a good partnership with potential musicians. There are many questions that will come to mind when we take on a musician, or an artiste whom we think has the "X" factor to pull through in this tough industry.

I found this video on an interview with John Esposito, the CEO of WEA (Warner, Elektra, Atlantic). He discusses how big labels are now handling record deals with the artistes that they sign on, what a 360 Deal is, and how the game is made more fair for the record label which is bearing the total costs of the branding of the artistes. The artistes get all the benefits of the sponsorship and the record companies only get the rights to the albums sold. Now, with the 360 Deal in place, the company is able to work with the artistes and be able to grow them more fully through concerts, merchandise sales and other avenues. This is a win-win situation for both the company and the artistes.
If you're a musician reading this, check out the video. It is informative for your career if you're looking to advancing your branding further.