Yea, itīs a tricky business.
I myself have been pooped by the record company.
While on tour in Chicago, I went to a record store and asked for the records of Alux, my former band. They asked me which one of the three I wanted? We only had licensed two albums to the Record Company. Thatīs where I found out the re-issued one of my records with inner notes in English. Of course they never payed any international royalties to us.
We sued them and of course the big fish ate the small fish.
This is a common occurrence here in Mexico.
The following two albums (La Piel and Muros de Agua I) were co-produced by us and two companies that gave us a percentage of the albums pressed. We have no control over reissues, which in theory should give us the same percentage of records.
I produced a third Alux Album and had it remastered. My "partner" the percussion player proceeded to issue it without even telling me.
Finally the second Muros de Agua (free-prog available for listening here in the Moon). The same company that co-produced the first album, said they would produce it. We recorded it in our private studios and they never came through, they just kept saying they would do it the next month. This situation lasted for 2 years. We, Muros de Agua, finally decided to produce the records ourselves. Divided the cost of pressing and mastering between us three and finally payed for the production of the records. This is better cause we have the control, but unfortunately the distribution is only through us, supposedly.
We are now currently composing the music for the third Muros de Agua record. One guy offered to lend us his studio for the recording of the music, we only have to pay the engineering hourly fee. And of course the rest of the costs involving printing, design and so forth.
My point is that if you are waiting for miracles, youīll never produce any artwork. Use the tools you have at hand no matter how deficient they are.
Remember that all those shiztrecks of the record companies, did not change while the business was changing the conditions, they kept their A&R crap going.
Also, Iīll tell you. I donīt work with people with the Rock Star attitude. I prefer the teamwork outlook.
Keep on progging even if it is swiming against the current.
]Raul Cesar