Black artists have shaped the music industry for generations, but their contributions have not always come with fair pay or recognition. Nas addressed that issue in an open letter shared on October 15, calling out the industry’s treatment of the Black artists who laid its foundation.
“Our greats have been stolen from and ripped off of,” he wrote, urging artists and executives to remember the people whose creativity helped build the industry.
In his letter, Nas reflected on Black music’s roots, tracing its history from the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans and New York. He highlighted blues musician Robert Johnson as one of the figures whose influence deserves to be remembered.
Nas also urged artists to stop chasing trends, calling on the industry to recognize its shared history and show more love for one another. His message draws attention to how Black artists can help build an industry and still be overlooked when it comes to getting paid and receiving credit for their work.
Labels are signing artists and putting money behind their careers, but that does not mean artists are taking home most of what their music earns.
Spotify pays rights holders, including record labels, who then pay artists according to their contracts. Under some deals, artists receive only a small share of that revenue, and advances and other expenses must be recovered from their royalties before additional payments reach them. That means an artist’s music can generate millions of streams without those numbers translating into immediate money in their pocket.
In August 2021, Anita Baker asked fans to stop buying and streaming her music while she fought to own her master recordings. Even with decades of success, she still had to fight for control of the music she was known for. By September, Baker announced that the dispute had been resolved and told fans they could stream her music again.
Her situation speaks to the concern Nas raised: Black artists can spend years contributing to the industry and still have to fight to benefit fully from their work.
For Black artists, understanding the business needs to happen before they sign with a label. They need to know what owning their masters means, how royalties are divided and which expenses the label will take out of their earnings. After years of trying to get noticed, an artist may see a record deal as the break they have been waiting for, and there can be pressure to accept the offer without questioning terms that could affect their income and ownership for years.
Having the right people around them, including an attorney who understands the music business, can help artists know what they are signing and make sure someone is looking out for their future. But the responsibility also falls on the labels and executives who already understand the business.
Nas’ message is a reminder that Black artists deserve to benefit from the industry they have helped build. Giving them credit for their influence means little if their contracts leave them without a fair share of the earnings or control over their work.
For the next generation of Black artists, understanding the business and having the right people around them can help protect what they create.
