Starting a career as a musician can unfortunately mean beginning with debt, especially if you sign a record deal. Particularly with major labels, artists receive an advance, but this isn’t “free money.” It’s a loan that must be repaid through revenue from streaming. The label often covers expenses such as marketing, production, and distribution, but these costs are deducted from the artist’s future income before they see any earnings—a process known as recoupment.
Recoupment means that the record label holds back all of the artist’s income from streaming platforms until their original investment is repaid. Only after the costs are “recouped” can the artist start making money from their music. This can take a long time, especially when the label takes around 50% of the earnings, and the artist also has to cover production costs and marketing.
Although a record label loan may seem appealing—especially since the artist doesn’t owe money if the music doesn’t generate revenue—it also comes with significant drawbacks. If you fail to “recoup,” you can be labeled as “damaged goods,” making it harder to get a new deal. Instead of owning your career and music, you risk losing both financial and creative control.
This is where BeMajor comes in. Through BeMajor, artists can raise funds from their fans and network without incurring debt to a record label. This allows you to avoid owing large sums of money while making your fans an active part of your journey, offering both freedom and security.
About Jules Wolfson
CEO at BeMajor and Nexus Music
Jules Wolfson is a Danish record producer, songwriter, and music executive active since 2001. He's earned over 150 gold and platinum certifications, multiple Danish Music Awards, and collaborated with international stars like Usher and Timbaland. Wolfson is known for developing top Danish acts like Nik & Jay and Cisilia, consistently ranking as one of Denmark's most-played musicians on radio.