During his visit to Chat With Hex, Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows discussed various Web3-related topics, including those that could affect the music business. When reminded of how this new approach to the web can help musicians, the music industry, and pretty much anyone else creating their stuff, M. Shadows said (transcribed by Killer Guitar Rigs):
“There’s good people in the music industry. And there’s bad. At the end of the day, they have a bottom line, they need to make money. And sometimes that doesn’t help artists. You know, sometimes. Sometimes it does.”
“In this day and age, I think if you can be an artist that can kind of go at your own, it’s a good thing. Obviously, labels are getting involved in Web3. And we’ll see what it all means.”
He then looked back on musicians taking things into their own hands and compared it to the opportunities today. Shadows explained:
“There was artist back in the day that started their own record labels. And it’s sort of the same thing. Bands like us — we don’t want to turn in a record and be told how it’s gonna be marketed. We don’t want to turn in a record and be told, ‘These are the things you need to do. And if you don’t do it, then we’re going to lose interest.'”
“We want to kind of be in control. But the same way people don’t want to hold their money, there’s other artists that go, ‘No, we want you to tell us how to promote, tell us how to do this, tell us how to do that.'”
“So again, it’s this gray area of like, some people want the help. Some people want to go to their family and say ‘I’m on a major label. We made it!’ Yeah. And other people say ‘I don’t want to be on a major label. I want to do my own thing.’ And so this is all mindset.”
Over the past few years or so, Avenged Sevenfold members have gotten really into the whole NFT thing. Although it serves some purpose for their Deathbats Club, many rock and metal fans online didn’t receive the thing so kindly. But while some will complain about them propagating NFTs and call it all a scam, the band members seem to be all chill with it, even cracking jokes on the matter. Whatever may be the case, in the meantime, we’ll be patiently awaiting their much-anticipated new album.
Photo: Alfred Nitsch (20140615-143-Nova Rock 2014-Avenged Sevenfold-M Shadows)
