Released just over a fortnight ago All The Wrong People by Mark Morriss has hit 10,000 streams on Spotify and continues to be streamed and playlisted at pace. A huge congrats to Mark on the milestone and a big thanks to all of you streaming the track and getting behind the record.
The first single to be taken from album Look Up – out 20 September – All The Wrong People is a hook-filled classic pop song which perfectly introduces a record packed with influences from ’70s sci-fi soundtracks through to Americana.
Vinyl went up on pre-order a couple of weeks ago and while the deluxe bundles and splatter vinyl sold out quick there are still a few copies of the blue vinyl left. You can make sure you have yours by ordering here (orders shipping early September). CD copies of the album will be available on release and you can also download a digital version from Bandcamp, or stream and download on your preferred digital platform too.
While we’re celebrating this milestone we know how streaming benefits artists is at best confusing to most people. It’s well known streaming generates very little in terms of royalties for artists and this is further complicated by how those royalties are calculated and paid out by each platform, and sometimes also by the record deal the artist has. Here at Reckless Yes we offer artist-centred deals where the majority of profit for digital releases is returned to the artist and we actively look for ways to maximise this return (we’re not the only label working in this way, but it’s by no means the norm).
Best ways for fans to support artists
But as a fan what’s the best thing you can do to support an artist get paid for the music they make and release, as well as build their profile to reach new fans? There’s an in-depth article on Pitchfork today from Damon Krukowski of Galaxie 500 going into how streaming services are failing artists and how you can fight back but here’s a quick five if you’re thinking about what you can do today:
- Where you can buy an artists physical release or merch – it’s too simplistic to say artists make more from physical releases and merch than they do digital (because of higher costs of production and distribution, dependent on deal etc), but generally the profit in each sale of vinyl, CD, cassette, or merch is going to be bigger and more immediate for the artist. You can buy music from Reckless Yes artists here.
- Download where you want a digital copy – if you don’t want or can’t afford a physical copy or that piece of merch then consider downloading a digital copy. We recommend you do this through Bandcamp – a favourite of musicians themselves the platform offers a good payment to artists and you have the music files which means you aren’t reliant on a platform sticking around. Otherwise you have Apple Music, and Amazon (although if you’re thinking ethically there are other aspects to consider when using these services).
- Choose your streaming service for artists as much as convenience – does streaming pay much or pay fairly? No. That’s the simple answer. However, it is linked in to the wider music eco-system and is part of the way discovery happens for people these days – although no one can pay their rent or buy food with exposure so it’s really a secondary concern other than the long term aim of growing audiences. So, what can you do? Well, firstly think about which platform you use for streaming – Spotify is the giant in terms of audience here but payment is low and tipped in favour of major record labels, Apple Music pays more – as do Napster and Tidal – while YouTube and Amazon pays the lowest. It’s well worth looking up new platforms too – Resonate is a co-op which is built to favour the artist and create a direct link between them and listeners. While we believe their is value in record labels beyond being a middle-man this model is definitely a positive move for streaming services.
- Go to gigs – another area where much has been said about money being in live music now, while mainly overlooking the complexity of the reality. For some artists it is still a struggle to get paid fairly for what they do, but even for established artists continuing to command a good fee is dependent on audiences turning out. If there is a gig in your area – especially at small independent venues – go and support it whenever you can. Worried about going alone? We hear you on that – find venues and promoters who actively promote a friendly environment (Fan Club in Nottingham and Dubrek in Derby are our local go-tos). And if it’s a Reckless Yes artist – give them a shout on social media before the gig and they’re happy to share and try and find a buddy so there’s a friendly face. Find Mark’s next gigs here.
- No money, no problem – it’s still a massive, massive help to artists to do things which are free and quick. Share their post on your own social media, sign up to their mailing list, request their records on relevant radio shows, wear your merch with pride, and introduce their music to people you know who may love it. Word of mouth is invaluable to artists and growing an audience keeps their wheels turning. Think of the artist as a small independent business and support what they do in any way you can.
Buy Look Up by Mark Morriss
You can get your hands on Look Up by Mark Morriss in our online store here.
In-store performance at Vanishing Point Records, Chesterfield
One of the hardest gigging artists in pop music today Mark Morriss is almost constantly on the road as a solo artist and with The Bluetones but we’ve managed to squeeze a few special in-store performances into his schedule.
The first of these will be at Vanishing Point Records in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at 1pm on Saturday 24 August 2019 where Mark will perform a few songs acoustically and be in-conversation with music journalist and Reckless Yes co-founder Sarah Lay. We’ll have a few copies of the album on blue vinyl available which Mark will be signing – this is your first chance to get your hands on the album!
This is a free event but space is limited so please let the shop know if you’re planning on coming along – details here.
Not near you? Don’t worry, we’ll be announcing some more in-store dates soon and you can find all Mark’s live dates on his website here.
Get your hands on a Look Up test pressing
The Bluetones Funclub have an exclusive signed Look Up test pressing which they’ll be auctioning to raise money for the National Autistic Society. There are only five test pressings in existence, and only one signed so this is a very special item to add to your collection.
Bids will open soon so make sure you’re following them on Twitter and Facebook for the latest info.
Find details of all the Reckless Yes artists here, and for a full press pack on Mark Morriss check here. If you’re thinking of submitting music to us please read our demo policy first.
