If I had a record label, would you be signed to it?

I never liked the idea of having a record label, because you’re too deeply invested into something you don’t control.

So if I were to have a label, my decision of who to sign wouldn’t be decided just by the quality of the music. There are plenty of people with great music but destructive work-habits or an unsustainable approach to their career.

To confidently invest in an artist (as a label), I’d want to see:

• every song has been absolutely improved repeatedly — every note/syllable crafted to be the best it can be
• vocal performance is not just perfect but striking
• arrangement is everything it can be to bring out the song
• arrangement offers a new idea to the world, and not just the usual paint-by-numbers
• photos/image are striking and amazing, and capture the essense of the music
• live show is so entertaining that even a deaf person would enjoy it
• band has been around, recording and gigging, for at least two years
• artist has done this for a few years and still believes that this is their real calling in life, regardless of external rewards (or total lack of)
• band members don’t need unreasonable amounts of money to perform (can perform profitably)
• band can entertain a crowd without props or big sound system (in-store appearances)
• off-stage persona is sustainable (stamina, dealing with fans well, etc)
• no addicts — to anything
• a persistently healthy attitude to the immense amount of work it really takes to be successful at anything

And so you see why I’ll never have a label. Who could possibly fit this list?