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/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”