BIG BOY BULLY LABELS

Chatting to a photographer the other day, and he drew my attention to yet more unjustices thrown upon us freelance types. Turns out he photographed a big-shot rapper a while ago, but had to sign an agreement that stated he wouldn't republish the pix anywhere other than specified, without permission. Some time later a European mag approachs him wanting to use his pix for a forthcoming spread of said world-famous rapper. Cool, he says, lemme just check out with the label. Turns out things ain't so simple, and this big boy rhymer really is set to get rich - or rip everyone else off trying. In order for the photographer to resell the pix on, he has to stump up an amazing 70% of his fee. 35% goes to the multi-multi-multi million making record label - very shady -while another 35% goes to the photographic agency that said rapper has exclusive deal with. My guy, who has taken the pix, gotten the work and negotiated a price, now finds himself with a paltry 30% of the fee. How f**cked up is that. Especially when you consider this rapper dude earned some 50mill last year alone.
In general freelance music photographers and journos are in this shit for the love, not the money. In the UK in particular, we get paid barely enough for the proverbial pot in which to piss, but that's cool - we're doing something we love. And, hey, if you do something you believe in then the money, at some point, will follows. It may not be enough for a Maybach, but we might just make enough to cover our travel, pay the rent, sort out bills and maybe enjoy a lil holiday now and then.
It makes me so mad that these labels are such bully's and are happy to so effortlessly screw over freelancers - who don't get medical, dental, holiday or sick breaks/benefits. I've signed similar agreements for the same label, which promise I won't sell my interview to anyone else without permission. It sucks hard, but when you're set to make a couple of hundred off the interview - what do you do? Swallow your guilt, put pen to paper and turn your arse cheeks over to the men who have steady-f**ked artists up there for years.
I know, it's why I should be a member of the NUJ - but I've struggled to keep the taxman quiet recently, christmas has just gone and, damn, that holiday I just mentioned is sounding real good. But I really hope that the label, rapper and its employees sleep well at night on their egyptian down bedding. Cos if they keep screwing the people whose support and help, in however small a way, is a part of their promotional machinery - maybe one day we'll stop reviewing their albums, taking their pictures and waiting four hours for the privilage of a ten minute interview. ( Yeah, right. )
Makes me yearn for the days when my mum took me on those marches for CND, Amnesty, the Miners strike etc - 'the workers united will never be defeated.' Writers rise up, photographers stand tall and together the sysem can be...sorry gotta go, phoner with MC Big Balls in 5...