Chapter 147 - 146: Unwritten Law
Given her wealth, Emma could have just bought her way out.
But the music industry wasn’t a vending machine where you tossed in money and picked your freedom off a shelf.
No.
It was a twisted, multi-layered machine built on contracts, control, and centuries of unchallenged power. A place where talent was currency, yet power was monopoly, and if you weren’t careful, you’d sign your soul away before your first album even dropped.
Rex leaned back in his chair, arms folded, eyes focused on the glowing screen. He remembered reading lots of similar news in his previous world. Different world, different lives—but the systems, the patterns, the traps? They were always the same.
At its core, the industry revolved around two major entities: record labels and publishing companies—and no, they’re not the same thing. To the untrained eye, they may seem interchangeable. But to insiders, they were two entirely different beasts. Each having its own domain, its own set of rules, and its own grip on an artist’s work.
Take record labels, for instance. They are the frontline soldiers—the ones who discovered talent, packaged it, and pushed it out into the world. They signed artists, financed recordings, arranged promotions, and booked tours. But all of that came with a price. A steep one.
In return, they lock artists into long-term contracts.
Legally, most countries have limits—anywhere from three to seven years depending on the region—but these companies aren’t stupid. They’ve long since learned how to sidestep those laws. Most contracts come with multi-album commitments, meaning the artist can’t leave until they deliver a set number of albums—even if the contract term expires.