Cults say major labels are better for bands than independents

New York indie-pop duo, Cults recently released their second album on major label Columbia, speaking in a recent interview about why the deal works for them.

The band’s guitarist, Brian Oblivion recently told SPIN that despite many groups holding an indie label ethos, their experiences are that smaller imprints actually disadvantage musicians.

“Everyone who works is really cool and professional, and not druggy party people like so many people in the industry,” he is quoted as saying. “I feel like a lot of smaller indie labels are giving bands really bad deals and robbing them.”

A lack of funding and studio time are two of the reasons Oblivion cites in his argument. Check out the full extract below:

“I like to think that what we get from being on a record label is, number one, smart people. Everyone who works there is really cool and professional, and not druggy party people like so many people in the industry. And we get more money up front, so we get to go into nice studios and futz around for months at a time. I know indie bands that are really successful who can barely afford more than three weeks in a studio. They can’t make music videos, which is a huge thing our label helps us out with. I have a chip on my shoulder. I feel like a lot of smaller indie labels are giving bands really bad deals and robbing them. You see a lot of labels still give a band a $40,000 advance, which seems like a lot of money, but these days, you split all your money with the label. An indie band ends up in a Hyundai commercial and makes 100 grand, and the label is like ‘Welp, fuck you.’ All these bands are trading their cool points for cash, and making out like bandits.”