From Billboard · Tina Davis · · 1m 30s
Culture Can't Be Consolidated
Music industry must protect culture from corporate consolidation.
In brief
Music industry must protect culture from corporate consolidation. Music industry must prioritize cultural connection over financial consolidation to preserve artist creativity and community. Originally reported by Billboard.
Tina Davis
Tina Davis is president of EMPIRE, an independent record label founded in San Francisco in 2010.
Music as Culture
Music tells our stories, reflects communities, preserves history, defines identities and connects generations.
Culture vs. Expense
The music industry treats culture as an expense rather than recognizing it as the foundation of business.
Artists Need Belief
Influential artists were not overnight successes; someone believed in them before the industry recognized their worth.
Culture Is Born in Communities
Culture emerges in neighborhoods, places of worship, schools, homes and communities where young people create.
Bay Area Spirit
Growing up in the Bay Area, independence was a way of life, not a marketing strategy.
Ownership Must Be Shared
Artists deserve genuine partnerships, not just ownership after commercial success.
Cultural Connection Matters
Streaming data cannot replace human instinct or genuine cultural understanding.
Leadership Needs Mentorship
Executives need mentorship, encouragement, access and freedom to develop their abilities.
Women and People of Color Face Barriers
Women and people of color face fewer opportunities as restructuring closes doors.
Independent Music Must Lead
The independent music community has an opportunity and responsibility to lead the industry’s next chapter.
Culture Cannot Be Consolidated
Culture is a living expression of people, communities, history and imagination, not a corporate asset.
At a glance
Music industry must prioritize cultural connection over financial consolidation to preserve artist creativity and community.
