THE COLLAPSE THEORY

THE COLLAPSE IS INEVITABLE.
It will come without warning.

The music industry as we know it will not only crumble, it will revert to the very beginning of its movements. Musical piracy is at an all-time high and is rising. The RIAA and other such organizations think that they can eventually control and put an end to it, but they are fooling themselves. The Internet is almost a sentient force now, growing to more incredible, unstoppable proportions every single day.

Giant corporations like Wal-Mart are trying to double back by forcing the industry to lower its prices nearly by half to compensate the money lost by this piracy machine.

The invention and mainstream release of cd burners not only simplified personal use, but also allowed pirates the ability to make their own copies to sell, basically pimping the very industry trying to crack down on it all.

Forced to sell their music cheaper and cheaper, major record labels have to cut back artist profits and more just to survive. Their greed with raking the money in from other people's talents is finally starting to swing back around full-circle.

Smaller, independent music labels are popping up like spreading viruses, most of them believing that the message is more important than the money they make, and the Underground is responding, more and more listeners tuning the once mighty industry out and tuning in to the artists that they share more in common with than the average mainstream superstar.

The uses of technology have been taught to many young generations now, computers in almost every school, with pupils learning the basics at earlier and earlier ages. Independent artists that download thousand-dollar audio mixing programs can set up home studios and put out the same product they used to buy with the same quality. Anyone with a little bit of cash can produce an album these days, all it takes is talent and dedication to reach the once unreachable fame of an artist.

The industry is dying, its pockets steadily becoming emptier, and it is running out of options. The Collapse of this machine is coming, no one can deny it any more, it will strike at any time. Do not fret if you are affiliated with the industry, you still have time to either change things for the better or help us in our fight.

The choice is yours.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SURVIVOR?
How to avoid the damage:

It is possible for musicians to thrive and survive in the world after The Collapse.

It is a difficult transition to make, but it will be far easier for them if they start changing their ways and habits now.

Scrub Club Records, an independent music label out of Wichita, Kansas is ahead of the game. They have built their label on a foundation so strong that they are invincible to the effects of The Collapse. The very core beliefs they have always shared are just the ideals other artists need to survive. MadHatter, the head of Scrub Club, offers his tough love and advice to other emcees:

“Don't dream about a Heaven on Earth when it comes to getting signed. The game is cut-throat, it's insane. If you pick the wrong label to run with, you will sign your life away to a company that can control your every move. Don't settle for the first offer you come across. Take your time and examine the options. What you need to focus on is doing this for yourself. Be marketable and ready to roll with anything before you go out looking for labels. Don't step one foot in that direction until your skills are heavily polished. By that time, you'll know exactly how the game works and who or who not to trust with your product.”

“Don't try to sell your product for a single penny over $5. The industry will soon have to conform to that price or lower, and when that happens, people will expect you to be less expensive because you are not from a huge, popular label. Most people nowadays are in the game themselves, and they will have no drive to spend the higher buck for your albums and merchandise. Shoot for under that price, and you will see your sales rocket and find yourself running out of product in stores and especially at shows.”

“If someone deals you bad business (i.e. sound guys you hire screw up your live show, pressing companies rip you off), roll with it. Don't waste time crying about things not being fair. The music business is the most unfair deal you can be involved in. Regroup your sanity, make back that money, and find new partners. If you can't handle a little heartbreak now and then, this isn't the life for you.”

“When you start out in this business, be prepared to not make any money. Be prepared to have haters breathing down your neck and threatening you and your family. Be prepared to pass out a million flyers and only get 6 people to come to your show. You gotta be 10 foot tall with skin made of steel to do this, and you have to never give up. You will trudge through sewers before you walk on those golden bricks. Your true talent, if you have it, and your stamina, if you can can endure it, will both guide you through The Collapse.”

FINAL NOTE

This "Collapse" theory, as envisioned by Hatter, is the straight up truth. The music industry will die. And in the craters they leave when they destroy themselves, we will live strong and bring music back to what it used to be... People sharing their ideals and spirits with other people.

We do it for the love, not for the money. This is Scrub Club Records.

Much love and respect
MadHatter and the rest of Scrub Club Records, family, and friends