Behind the scenes - VK style

[pixielore]

So I just read this really cool interview with a Visual Kei ex-record excecutive. He gives lots of info on the behind-the-scenes of the VK mobster industry.

The interview is really long, but reveals a LOT! Lots of little tricks, lots of screwing over the bands...lots of screwing over OTHER record labels.

Here are some of my favorite parts:
"SATOH

Comments

[killingsound]

I read that last night and found it really interesting, but at the same time nothing really surprised me since I've heard a lot about that type of stuff from jrock anon, tanuki, and other such jrock gossip websites. It makes a lot of sense when you look at some of the vk bands popping up--they honestly seem pretty talentless, just dudes who like rock and wanna be stars who get suckered into this really weird, corrupt business. It's kinda disillusioning when you think about it. Fortunately, I either a) just like the music and don't care about the bands or, b) in the case of a band like L'Arc, know that a lot of that stuff isn't applicable to the way they function.

Anyway, it's a cool interview! I saw some Gackt fans kinda trashing it, saying it's all rumors/exaggerated, but I think that while it's obviously all not true for every band, it's definitely a lot more realistic than the happy fantasy some young fans have of how virtuous and honorable their favorite musicians/record companies are.

[pixielore]

Yeah, not really surprising except the part about companies not letting group X work with a rival company.

That just doesn't seem like a smart business move to me. I mean, if you try to block Company B..then if they ever get bigger they'll do the same thing a screw you over.

Gackt fans trashing it makes no sense o.O Gackt is a major artist so this probably does not apply to him. I'm thinking this more for the smaller bands who have no influence thus get taken advantage of.

I'm sure artists/bands that pull in millions of dollars get treated like Kings/Queens.

[a_deux_vitesses]

I just read this and while it's really interesting, it's horrible to learn all this stuff about the labels...