Business Quote by Ornette Coleman
“I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they would get fired, and I'd be left with the record company. And then - because they got fired - the record company wouldn't do anything for me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Jazz musician Ornette Coleman, 1975
He describes a cyclical power dynamic where record executives are replaced, leaving him without support from the label itself.
In simple terms: He lacked stable backing because executives kept being fired.
Key Takeaway
Seek consistent allies, not just temporary contacts.
Themes
music industry
power dynamics
career instability
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
advice
analytical
When to use this quote
- record deals
- career planning
- artist advocacy
- label negotiations
Key Concepts
artist‑label relations
employment turnover
networking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can an artist build lasting support beyond individual executives?
- What structures can protect artists from such volatility?
A Different Perspective
Even without executives, the company may still act indifferently.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)