Boards
The meaning of "unsigned"
The phrase "unsigned" used to mean an artist who had yet to release any music on record or CD.
Over the last ten years or so the meaning has been altered deliberately. Now, apparently, it means an artist who is not signed to one of the small number of so-called major labels. That is, 99% of artists who release recorded material. Therefore, the current meaning of the phrase "unsigned" is total illogical bollocks. It doesn't mean what it says.
This misuse of the phrase "unsigned" has been introduced by the music business in order to devalue the worth of the CDs and records that are released on labels other than their tiny little group (Mercury, Warner's, Sony, etc.). Those bastards know that due to the low cost of manufacture of CDs, due to the accessiblity of music via the internet and other factors, a big deal with a so-called major is not a necessity anymore for chart success. So, they have promoted the misuse of the said phrase in order to draw an imaginary line between themselves and the rest. The dutiful music press, radio and TV have happily accepted the misuse as a true description of an artist's stature.
Anyone who uses the phrase "unsigned" in the context created by the big record labels is helping them to artificially marginalise the majority of artists.
"Unsigned" means absolutely nothing. It is an Alice In Wonderland phrase, a con trick...it is BOLLOCKS.
Over the last ten years or so the meaning has been altered deliberately. Now, apparently, it means an artist who is not signed to one of the small number of so-called major labels. That is, 99% of artists who release recorded material. Therefore, the current meaning of the phrase "unsigned" is total illogical bollocks. It doesn't mean what it says.
This misuse of the phrase "unsigned" has been introduced by the music business in order to devalue the worth of the CDs and records that are released on labels other than their tiny little group (Mercury, Warner's, Sony, etc.). Those bastards know that due to the low cost of manufacture of CDs, due to the accessiblity of music via the internet and other factors, a big deal with a so-called major is not a necessity anymore for chart success. So, they have promoted the misuse of the said phrase in order to draw an imaginary line between themselves and the rest. The dutiful music press, radio and TV have happily accepted the misuse as a true description of an artist's stature.
Anyone who uses the phrase "unsigned" in the context created by the big record labels is helping them to artificially marginalise the majority of artists.
"Unsigned" means absolutely nothing. It is an Alice In Wonderland phrase, a con trick...it is BOLLOCKS.