We could have gone with much bigger labels and more money, but we wanted to go with a company that is LA based, all in the same building, and really understands what the artists want.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The truth of the matter is the real industry is in LA and the cream of the talent is there.
I've become convinced that Los Angeles is going to become the next contemporary art capital - no other city has more contemporary gallery space than Los Angeles. We've come into our own, finally.
I now believe that major labels can only work with people who care more about fame and money than the quality of the art they produce.
I had been looking for a New York apartment, but I said, Why not give LA a go?
All music industry places are the same, really. They have the same dynamics and the same concerns and the same needs.
The labels are in a jam. For a company to do well in music now, it's got to be in all aspects of the business. And Live Nation is the risk-taker. It's leading the charge.
Seeing how those companies operate, it didn't amount to a massive vote of confidence in their artists. There was talk of me going to Columbia after that, but nothing happened. I got disillusioned, and I pulled back.
We're in conversations with brands worldwide for a variety of artists every day.
Los Angeles is an industry town, and it has great facilities and personnel. The disadvantage is that everyone there seems to talk about the same subject matter.
Don't try to start a career in LA, unless money is all you're interested in.