This is a special album to Cope as it’s the first release by his own label RainWater Recordings. Cope wrote the following explaining his decision to release the album this way:
It’s a great pleasure to announce that after being signed to a major label recording contract for the better part of 10 years, my obligations have been fulfilled and my new recording, The RainWater LP, will be released on my own label RainWater Recordings.
The practice of selling your intellectual property and likeness throughout the Universe and in perpetuity (this means forever) in exchange for a recoupable recording advance always seemed like an unfair business practice. Regardless, artists have historically been forced to sign these contracts because it was the dominant way to make, promote, and distribute music.
There are good people at record companies that love music and do a great deal of good. Unfortunately, contracts only follow people who sign them. Staff sizes have been reduced, promotional dollars tightened, and the labels are no longer properly equipped to develop acts, monetize catalog, or even protect copyrights. There isn’t anybody home.
I’ve been very fortunate to write, produce, and release music from my point-of-view and have these projects funded by various record labels. And while their collective demise is unfortunate, the responsibility lies with executives without ownership in their respective companies. A business that should be artist driven is executive driven. People with vision and who dream will fill the void left by Majors. People who love music and
understand its artistic and social value. Ones with long term goals not quarterly profit concerns.
Some risk accompanies this decision. First, there are the financial costs associated with making an album: studio time, hiring players, mixing, mastering, pressing CDs, hiring a publicist, radio promotion, etc. Second, I don’t have “the machine” assisting the album¹s promotion and marketing. Regardless, it’s liberating to control both the way I’m represented and how you receive the music. I hope you in turn share the music with your friends, make mention of its release on your blog, twitter, or simply sing-along at my shows.
It was a joy to make the record. I hope you enjoy it. It’s my favorite alongside CGR.
One love.
Clarence
