What did I say before…TOO MANY RAPPERS NOT ENOUGH FANS…

Jay-Z recently criticized a re-recording of “We Are the World,” a refresh designed to assist Haitian recovery efforts.  In fairness, Jay-Z was criticizing the choice of musical work, not the charitable effort, though the free advice is now being doled out to record labels. 

So what does one of the most successful artists in history have to say about the major label situation?  In comments to the BBC, Jay noted that labels need to “be smarter about how they A&R,” and simply sign less acts.  “Record companies need to catch up to that, someone needs to send them the memo,” the rapper noted.  “I remember the first year I was at Def Jam we put out 56 artists.  There’s not 56 great artists in the world, and this is one company.”

This is not the first time that majors have been urged to get smaller.  In October of last year at Digital Music Forum West in Los Angeles, a major debate surrounded the issue of whether labels need to dial down their footprints, and assume more modest ambitions.  Ironically, the latest advise is coming from one of the biggest beneficiaries of the major label machine, but instead of re-upping, Jay-Z is now taking his operation to Live Nation Entertainment.

DMN