Jack Rooney Says:
As an independent recording artist, you have as much right as any of the major studios like Warner, Universal, Vivendi, BMI, EMI, etc to create, promote, and sell your music through almost any public sales outlets.
The fact that you are an independent (unsigned) artist has absolutely nothing to do with your right to exhibit your work to the world and sell it to the public by conventional or other means right alongside the signed boys and girls owned by the major studios.
Recent developments in recording and manufacturing technology have made it possible for any artists, band, or musician to record, manufacture, and sell their music directly through the Internet to the public and to music store retailers. This paradigm shift has caused considerable threat to old established business models and major entertainment industry powers. Needless to say, the major record labels are writhing in agony under the pressure now being brought to bear against them by a sea of independent recording artists enjoying their new found liberty and freedom.
Anyone who gets in your way or interferes with your right to show and sell your wares in the open commercial marketplace is probably breaking the law of anti-trust, and any reseller who refuses to deal with you because you are an independent artist (not signed under contract with any major record label), may violate a number of civil and federal laws regarding restraint of trade, your civil free speech rights, your rights to be secure in your personal property (your copyrights and your right to keep them and not sign them away), your right of association (which includes the right not to associate with the giant corporate powers who routinely exploit artists and rob them of their art), your commercial rights (which includes the right to make copies, manufacture and sell your work in the open marketplace), and Federal and International Anti-trust Law.
The face of the music industry has changed dramatically in the last few years. The Internet has opened doors and avenues for independent artists that were formerly closed off by the cartel of major record labels and studios, who for decades stood as the gatekeepers for what music and films are seen and heard by the public. The major labels no longer control production and distribution of music and media. Although they are trying desperately to maintain their own market share, those days are gone.
Independent artists now have opportunities to perform, record, produce, release, distribute, and sell their work in the marketplace right alongside the major players, and the vast amount of new songs appearing by independent (unsigned) artists testify to the fact that the music industry of the past was a contrived, artificially controlled scam run by the major industry powers.
For more insight into the way the major industry players of the past rigged the marketplace for music by engaging in a wide range of anti-competitive and illegal business practices, read The Downfall of the Media Cartel
If someone who routinely engaged in the business of selling music CDs and music media tells you they will not display your music for sale in their store or in a public marketplace they control (like an internet sales outlet or music portals accessible by the public or even a local music store or a major record outlet) because you are an independent artist, see a lawyer immediately and contact the United States Attorney General. “Refusal to deal” is a per se violation of Federal Anti-trust law.
Arise independent artists! Fill the world with your music and song. You have nothing to lose but your opportunity.
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Online Music Sources Where to Exhibit, Promote, and Sell Your Music Online… Create - Promote - Sell
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