--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is hard, though, 'cos record labels…" description: "\"It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. I won't let them do that anymore.\" — Evan Dando" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/evan-dando-18133_boss_it-is-hard-though-cos-record-labels-love_1502016.png" --- # It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you… ![“It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. I won't let them do that anymore.” quote by Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/evan-dando-18133_boss_it-is-hard-though-cos-record-labels-love_1502016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/evan-dando-18133_boss_it-is-hard-though-cos-record-labels-love_1502016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/evan-dando-18133_boss_it-is-hard-though-cos-record-labels-love_1502016.png) > “It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. I won't let them do that anymore.” [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists must assert autonomy against industry control to preserve creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Artists should resist label control. Key Takeaway Maintain creative independence. Themes artistry autonomy industry Mood determined defiant Type advice motivational When to use this quote - record deals - branding - self‑production - contract negotiations Key Concepts business creative rights Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries will you set with collaborators? - How can you balance autonomy with practical support? A Different Perspective Total independence may limit resources and reach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Record labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-labels/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [It's a very generational thing: I am not interested in labels. I am who I am. I will love who I love, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-paige/it-s-a-very-generational-thing-i-am-not-interested-in-labels-i-am-who/) [Peter Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-paige/) > [It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-before-i-had-a-record-deal-because/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [We have incredible record labels in Australia, but sometimes they have a preconceived idea of how to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-have-incredible-record-labels-in-australia-but-sometimes-they-have/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [When our video of 'Smooth Criminal' came out, suddenly we started getting all kinds of offers. We were getting calls from TV shows like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-sulic/when-our-video-of-smooth-criminal-came-out-suddenly-we-started/) [Luka Sulic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-sulic/) > [I think record cover sleeves really led towards, but at the same time the album as we know it didn't come into being until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/i-think-record-cover-sleeves-really-led-towards-but-at-the-same-time/) [DJ Spooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-spooky/) > [In theory, when you're working with a record label, you're just borrowing their money. And that's basically how the record industry works, right? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-carney/in-theory-when-you-re-working-with-a-record-label-you-re-just/) [Patrick Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-carney/) > [I consider us to be one of the first Internet-based bands, especially because we basically started our entire band via the Internet. Before MySpace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-barakat/i-consider-us-to-be-one-of-the-first-internet-based-bands-especially/) [Jack Barakat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-barakat/) > [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [You can now be a master of your own destiny. I'm not sure why you would sign up with a record label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/you-can-now-be-a-master-of-your-own-destiny-i-m-not-sure-why-you/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [I entered a songwriting competition, I didn't win, and one of the judges on the panel was an A&R man at a record label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/i-entered-a-songwriting-competition-i-didn-t-win-and-one-of-the/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [I had to learn the hard way. There was a blindness, without any education or will or drive. Everything I started in the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/i-had-to-learn-the-hard-way-there-was-a-blindness-without-any/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [The big, big record labels have so much control. I think too much control that it actually made their artists scared to not do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/the-big-big-record-labels-have-so-much-control-i-think-too-much/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [When I first started out in the music industry and went to Elektra Records, I didn't go to be an artist, I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-first-started-out-in-the-music-industry-and-went-to-elektra/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We were 6 feet under. A lot of people gave up on us, including fans and critics and show promoters and record labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacoby-shaddix/we-were-6-feet-under-a-lot-of-people-gave-up-on-us-including-fans-and/) [Jacoby Shaddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacoby-shaddix/) > [Kaputt was just a record that did really well for us, and therefore our record label and our booking agent said that we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/kaputt-was-just-a-record-that-did-really-well-for-us-and-therefore/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) ## More by Evan Dando > [I lie around and play guitar, that's something I do for sure. In fact that's all I do, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-lie-around-and-play-guitar-that-s-something-i-do-for-sure-in-fact/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I don't write down my experiences, but I have a very decent memory. I have tons of books in which I write down phrases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-don-t-write-down-my-experiences-but-i-have-a-very-decent-memory-i/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [When I write a song, it's all about the riff - the riff first, then the words come later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/when-i-write-a-song-it-s-all-about-the-riff-the-riff-first-then-the/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [My high-school dream was to be in a band, pay my rent and eat - and I've been able to do that for 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/my-high-school-dream-was-to-be-in-a-band-pay-my-rent-and-eat-and-i-ve/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I know so many songs. I'm like a walking karaoke torture machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-know-so-many-songs-i-m-like-a-walking-karaoke-torture-machine/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [When I was 14 years old, I was a huge fan of the Velvets, the Stooges and the Modern Lovers. They are my three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/when-i-was-14-years-old-i-was-a-huge-fan-of-the-velvets-the-stooges/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [The best songs I write in 20 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/the-best-songs-i-write-in-20-minutes/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [You know more about me than I do about myself, that's probably true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/you-know-more-about-me-than-i-do-about-myself-that-s-probably-true/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [A lot of what you do is about how you look. You're a good-looking guy who plays music, and you can't do anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/a-lot-of-what-you-do-is-about-how-you-look-you-re-a-good-looking-guy/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [For me, it's all about The Dubliners by James Joyce. I love The Dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/for-me-it-s-all-about-the-dubliners-by-james-joyce-i-love-the-dead/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [But Sneaky Pete was great. I didn't bug him about Gram. Not too much, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/but-sneaky-pete-was-great-i-didn-t-bug-him-about-gram-not-too-much/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [Even the bands I dig don't have a history of attaining mass consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/even-the-bands-i-dig-don-t-have-a-history-of-attaining-mass/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I need the money. People don't understand how little money you make in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-need-the-money-people-don-t-understand-how-little-money-you-make-in/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [I don't like alcohol, but I still like to mess around with other stuff occasionally. I think it's important I take mushrooms and acid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-don-t-like-alcohol-but-i-still-like-to-mess-around-with-other-stuff/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) > [So many times I thought to myself, man, I never want to do drugs again. But I would never sacrifice any experience I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/so-many-times-i-thought-to-myself-man-i-never-want-to-do-drugs-again/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) [Explore all 35 Evan Dando quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) Stephen Henning > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) Roberto Aguire > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is hard, though, 'cos record labels love to boss you around. 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