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AVENGED SEVENFOLD’s M. SHADOWS: ‘We Don’t See A Point Of Ever Being On A’ Record ‘Label Again’
Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows has said the band does not intend to sign with another record label after completing its Warner deal, becoming fully independent following 2023’s Life Is But A Dream…. He argued that major labels no longer offer enough practical value to justify their costs, particularly as artists can distribute music and promote themselves online.
Shadows said labels once funded recordings, arranged industry support and helped secure retail, radio and MTV exposure, but believes those routes no longer have the same influence. He criticised advances as expensive recoupable debts, citing a hypothetical $25,000 advance requiring $100,000 in earnings to repay, and said independence gives artists greater creative freedom despite acknowledging that earlier label-era exposure helped establish his band.
In short
- Avenged Sevenfold says it is now permanently independent.
- M. Shadows believes labels offer little modern value.
- He says independence provides greater artistic freedom.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Modern technology has eliminated the traditional bottlenecks that made labels essential. Artists can distribute globally through digital platforms, build audiences via social media, and retain full creative control and revenue without the constraints of label obligations. Labels' recoupable advances function as expensive debt rather than genuine investment, whilst their traditional services—radio promotion, retail placement, MTV exposure—have become less influential in building careers. For established acts, independence offers genuine financial and artistic freedom.
The case against
Record labels continue to provide irreplaceable value through marketing expertise, industry connections, and financial resources that independent artists cannot easily replicate. Labels invest substantial budgets in music videos, promotion campaigns and tour support that help artists compete in saturated markets and reach audiences at scale, whilst handling administrative and legal burdens that allow artists to focus on creation. Though digital distribution is democratised, this makes sophisticated marketing and curation more valuable, not less, as artists must break through unprecedented noise. Labels remain especially crucial for emerging artists seeking resources and credibility.
Explained simply
Avenged Sevenfold are an American heavy metal band formed in California in the late 1990s. M. Shadows is the band’s lead singer, and the group became widely known during the period when record labels played a major role in funding albums and promoting music.
A record label can pay for recording and help artists reach listeners through promotion, radio and shops, but it usually takes a share of the income. An advance is money paid to an artist in advance of sales; it is generally recouped from the artist’s earnings under the deal.
Artists can now release music and reach fans directly online, changing how much support they may need from a label. The debate matters to musicians weighing the reach and resources a label might provide against the costs and limits of a contract.
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