Today i saw that Hilary Duff is coming out with a new single. I know her only from Lizzy Maguire, and Agent Cody Banks. The very first thought i had was why does this woman have a recording contract NOW even though she used to sing for Hollywood Records. You can hear the pitch correction and melodyne emanating from her vocals in her earlier stuff? Why are people still here for it?

Then i realized the truth. Hilary is marketable thanks to her brand. The Hilary Duff Brand. The art of getting a recording contract is no art anymore. No more do people have to be able to have a talent, sing, write songs, be a true innovative artist. As long as you have a brand a record label will use you, and give you the chance that someone else with more artistic talent truly deserves.

While this is nothing against Hillary, People in our society are working as waiters trying to make it who have more vocal prowess and artistry than Miss Duff.
What are your thoughts on artists getting record deals? Do you think they should be able to sing/write their own music in order to get a deal?

(Bolded the important parts)

*****ed My Way Up To The Top plays in the background*

Lol, Lana writes all of her own music, and can sing decently. This rant is not about her. It is about the millions of unsigned talent artists, who write, record, and produce their own music, while Vine Stars like Shawn Mendes and Disney Actresses get record deals.

It's sort of been this way ever since MTV and the music video debuted. It used to be that you could be talented and not so pretty and still be successful but now it's getting harder and harder to do that.

I realize talent is subjective, I just find it sad though that there are people out there who are making quality music who remain unsigned while people who really have no place making music, are being paid millions to do so.

I really don't think that talent is subjective. If you have an open mind to different styles of music, you should be able to emphatically say if someone has talent or not. Maybe I'm being too idealistic but if you can't hit a note it's an objective fact. If your instrument playing is sloppy, that's a fact too.

The subjective part is do you like it? Is it a style you favour? You can say, "I hate the sound of it, but he/she is certainly talented in making it."

I think that talent isn't 100% necessary though. For example Nina Simone or Johnny Cash didn't have the best vocals ever, but their style was so good that it wasn't necessary. Also they were great songwriters.

I think it's not just about who has the better vocals or who has better music quality. It's about the appeal and the impression you make. If they see you as a typical person who just sings and that's it then odds are your basic and you won't get jack

Well, Hilary Duff began as an actress, did she not? It's not like she was signed out of an untalented line up. Her acting gave her the opportunity to branch out. She WORKED for that spot. Her voice is cute and listenable, yet extremely flat. That works in music, because not every song or album or label needs or wants a screamer/belter/multi octave singer. Music is still a business and the point of it is to sell, regardless if it's considered "art" or simply a "brand" who's purpose is ONLY to make money from. I think you're doing too much on Hil, and no, I am not a stan. Casual fan.

Just so you know, a woman with a big voice still needs to be marketable. You said: The art of getting a recording contract is no art anymore. No more do people have to be able to have a talent, sing, write songs, be a true innovative artist. As long as you have a brand a record label will use you, and give you the chance that someone else with more artistic talent truly deserves. This is the real world lol. Just because the waitress working 9 to 5 has a HUGE voice & writes her own songs doesn't mean she deserves it more than Hil. She needs to be as useful to a label as much as Hil is, ya know? Having artistic talent doesn't mean you will make a label money. Money is the language here. Just sayin.

She was like 13/4 when Lizzie McGuire started

THANK.YOU.

I've been asking since the announcement, why the hell does she have a record deal? She can't sing and she wasn't even all that great when she had some songs..

Somebody did NOT listen to Dignity…

well duh... welcome to the 21st century

Everyone knows that a record deal doesn't happen and WILL fall through if a person's PR isn't strong. It's not about talent, people don't always want that. It's ALWAYS about the full package which is why some girls have to go above and beyond everytime they step on the street.

But that's part of the problem with big record labels, and mainstream music in general. You basically have to be "marketable" and you have to have a big personality, a pretty face, and be a "people person" in order to make it.

That's exactly why I'm glad the internet has been able to bring undergound artists to the forefront as of late. Sure, Hilary may have worked hard to get her deal (or maybe she only got it because she was a popular actress with a big fanbase. no shade to her but I think it's more of the latter), but the honest truth is that there really ARE tons of "waiters and waitresses" who are more talented than her, and who are working at least as hard as her but will never be given a chance by a major label.

Thankfully, the more the internet and social media space champions artists like Mackelmore (as much as I have qualms about him as well), the more of a chance these talented artists will have a chance to shine. Tbh, I think the days where you HAVE to have a major record deal are gone, or at least on its way out. We now have artists like Sia or Banks who don't want to have to be in front of the spotlight all the time, and who don't like to be on camera, but their talent is still being recognized.

The less artists rely on major record labels, the better for the industry, and for music as a whole if you ask me.

Not necessarily, they can market unattractive people EASILY its already been done

I think you're confusing deserving something and being useful.

To a label, Hilary may be more useful than a multi-talented singer, but it doesn't mean that because she can make them an easier dollar that she deserves to have her music career set up for her. The person who deserves this is the person who is worthy of the music career itself. Someone who will potentially change music for the better, not someone who will make easy money making easy hits doing very little. Maybe I'm too idealistic here, but to me there is a difference.

I wouldn't say easily though. Marketing can do wonders but its far more easy to market classically attractive people.

a lot of singers started out as actors first to get their name out there and get a fanbase

regarding Hilary,

its because she has a lot of fans who have been anticipating new music from her. That's why!