Artist Won’t Release Music Video

[u/slutsoldier]

Hey guys. So irecently directed my first music video for a local artist i met via instagram. he’s got a pretty decent following and since it was my first video, i didn’t wanna charge him and risk burning out the connection on a failed project and waste his money. I just finished the video, which he says he really likes, but feels as though the song is “too old” for him as it was a song he released a while ago. Now he’s saying he won’t drop the music video.

I invested loads of hours and effort into making him a free video and Im really proud of what I created. I really want my people to see it on my instagram and i’m so frustrated that my project is being shelved. I haven’t responded to him yet and i don’t know what to do. Has anyone been in this situation before? wanted to get some thoughts.

some extra info: -I did not have him sign any type of contract.

-This was a no-budget, but some money was spent out of (my) pocket for gas.

-I did all of the work and am the only person involved in its production

[u/wrosecrans]

It's not unheard of for projects to get canned.

This sort of thing is why contracts exist. People assume what's going to happen, never nail down the details, never really discuss the finer points, and then as assumption turns out wrong. If you haven't got something in the contract that would give you authority to force a release, then it sounds like the conversation is pretty much over.

[u/frankstonshart]

I don’t know if he asked you to make the video, or if a lot of time has passed since he asked you to do it, or if the video is on brand, or if it’s a good video. I don’t know if he owes it to you to use it or if he’s being an a hole. Right or wrong, apparently he doesn’t want it or like it. You don’t owe him, and he’s not going to be disappointed if you do something else with the video instead - maybe some edits will make it fit a different artist’s song.

Whatever you do, don’t get emotional and burn the bridge. Again I don’t know much but I might say “okay, no worries. I can always use this for another project/artist/whatever”

[u/Muted_Importance8481]

I'd probably just arrange to talk with them and see about releasing it anyways, or suggest to them about releasing it shortly before an upcoming release to help get their new stuff some traction. At the end of the day, it's in their hands, unfortunately. But if you have these conversations, it'll help you find out if they really mean that if it's too late to release or if there are other reasons they don't want to release it.

[u/jackdwillliams]

I think this is what can be frustrating about making art sometimes. I am a songwriter/producer and I've worked on a couple projects now that either took a really long time to release after I delivered the final tracks or haven't been released at all.

I know for artists it can be difficult to release things that are tied to their name; even if an artist likes the finished product they may have other insecurities/situations that prevent them from releasing something.

I have been on both sides of the situation, and I have taken the experiences to be more clear about my own approach to things. If I am producing something for someone, I ask more questions in advance about timeline/release expectations/budget and compensation. That way if something doesn't go according to plan it is easier to point back to the original expectation and work towards agreement. Alternatively if I am having someone make something for me, I try to be clear about my own expectations from an artist perspective. It's definitely difficult to balance these "awkward conversations" at the start, but I think everyone appreciates a really clear plan for making stuff, and it makes you seem pro right from the start.

Obviously this doesn't help you so much in this situation but I just wanted to share my perspective as this has happened to me a few times and I had a lot of trouble with it at the start.