They Are the 10 Famous Artists Who Got Rejected By Record Labels
Being an artist isn’t always a great job. It demands strength and determination. And if you don’t have those qualities, you can stay home in your bed.
To succeed as an artist, you mustn’t take no for an answer. Like never. If one door closes, another one will open, or you will just have to climb the window. Either way, you must persevere in order to become famous.
Just like these ten famous artists did after they got rejected by several record labels. They didn’t settle for one no, and pursued to find a yes.
If they didn’t, you wouldn’t know them today and enjoy their talents. The artists from this list are a true inspiration for all of us, who are looking to succeed in our everyday life.
So, read their story, learn their mistakes, and follow their advices. You will be good.
Let’s see the ten famous artists who got rejected by record labels.
N10. Madonna
One of the richest single moms in Hollywood is also one of the most respected and appreciated artists that ever walked the Earth.
Madonna was once A Big Deal. How so? Well, in the 80s, she had the same joy, charisma that determined her to find the strength to become an artist.
Before she signed her first recording deal with Sire Records, back in ‘82, Madonna’s management company sent one of her demo to Jimmy Lenner. The demo CD contained songs that were later featured on her debut album. Meaning that the songs were great.
However, Jimmy Lenner was unimpressed, saying that “the only thing missing from this project is the material”.
But Madonna didn’t give up, and not only did the material surface on a record that sold 10 million copies, but she auction the rejection letter at Sotheby’s in 2001.
N9. Dave Grohl
One of the greatest living rock stars in Dave Grohl. We have to disregard Kanye West’s opinion about Grohl and say that he is one of the best drummers around.
The only thing ‘bad’ about Dave is that any project he is associated with usually tends to be utterly terrific.
One project we can never assess properly is Grohl’s first band, Mission Impossible. At age 14, Grohl started the Mission Impossible band. He sent the group’s demo tape to Ian MacKaye, the founder of Dischord Records, asking him if he was interested in putting out young Dave’s new single.
MacKaye was impressed by the whippersnappers initiative, though not the tune; he may have turned Grohl down, but he held on to the enquiry letter. Clearly, the Fugazi frontman must have seen the potential of one of today’s most famous rockers.
N8. Oasis
They were an English rock band which formed in Manchester back in ’91.
It started as Rain, the band consisted of Liam Gallagher, who played vocals and tambourine, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, who played guitar, Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan at bass guitar, and at drums, perfusion, they had Tony McCarroll.
They were later joined by Liam’s older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar and vocals) as a fifth member, becoming the band’s settled line-up until April 1995.
Before signing to independent record label Creation Records in 1993, the band sent drums to several record labels, including Factory, who rejected them because they were “too baggy”.
N7. Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey, also known as Morrissey, is a British singer and lyricist. Back in the 1980s he rose to fame, as the lyricist and vocalist of the rock band The Smiths.
The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career, making the top ten of the UK Singles Chart on ten occasions.
The cause of Morrissey’s perpetual outsider status is the same reason that employment offers him no solace: sooner after he does sign with a record label, he finds himself dropped.
He was dropped by Island Records after 1997’s stodgy Maladjusted, only to resurface for a brace of comeback records under Sanctuary.
After again finding himself without a deal, he released the excellent World Peace Is None Of Your Business. From there, things went pear-shaped, with Moz again claiming that his label had rejected him following poor sales.
N6. U2
Can you imagine that this band was once dropped by a record label? It is true, it happened long ago, before Bono became the most insufferable musician on the planet, the band released planet-sized stadium rock records.
They were big hitters for their Island label throughout the late eighties and early nineties, releasing a succession of classic records which sold millions of copies. It was even possible to forgive the wee man for popularizing the ‘mullet and cowboy hat’ look.
While the CEO of RSO may have spent much of the intervening years staring out of rain-lashed windows, mumbling to himself about how ‘U2′ was a silly name for a band anyway.
He can console himself with the fact that his decision didn’t bankrupt the company; a multi-million dollar lawsuit on behalf of the Bee Gees did that, months after the rejection of Dublin’s finest.
N5. Ed Sheeran
In a world where we have more singers that we would want, and where male teenagers seem to possess great style and beautiful features, we find Ed Sheeran.
He is genuinely a major star, with two albums to date, selling out stadiums, flow barrow-loads of records he became an important piece in the music industry.
Whether we like his music or not, Ed is here to stay. After he has been dropped by ever single label because he was “chubby and ginger”, Ed someone managed to rise on top.
Coming into an industry where you are judged more on how you look rather than how you sound, Ed’s situation is an example for every teenager who dreams about being famous one day.
N4. Lady Gaga
Ever since Gaga came up on the music market, looked like she was the queen, and came to stay. Back then, it seemed like she was born to be a modern pop star.
Her success came instantly, with records that were instantly huge sellers. The she went to utilize her social media accounts to create a fan base so devoted like we’ve never seen before.
As strange as it might sound, Gaga’s success came after a time of struggle. You would think that any record label would want to sign Gaga, but it wasn’t like that.
Luckily, Def Jam Supremo L.A. Reid saw the potential of the singer and promptly signed her up to the label, years before she cut any records.
But, Reid dropped her before she recorded her first single, due to tight finances meaning that the money earmarked for Gaga was thought better spent elsewhere.
N3. Beyonce
No many of you know that Beyonce is one of the famous artists who were rejected by record labels.
Today, she is one of the best and most appreciated artists in the world. Before, she has been part of one of the most successful girl groups of all time which made her successful and critically acclaimed.
She now has a solo career, is married to the most powerful man in the music industry and has a gorgeous daughter.
But before all this, she was a member of the group Girl’s Tyme, alongside cousin and future fellow Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland. With the Girl’s Tyme group she has entered a talent contest set up by label bosses and local entertainment bigwigs to find the next big win.
Unbelievably, she failed miserably and was roundly ignored by the talent-spotters.
N2. Kanye West
Yes, Kanye West was once dropped by record labels. Now he can do the same thing with other aspiring talents.
Before he signed to Def Jam, Kanye admits that he was rejected by “tonnes” of labels.
They allegedly saw him as being a brilliant producer but unlikely to have a solo career. Yeezus played them demos of tracks he’d written, produced and MC’d at his home studio, including the version of the sublime Jesus Walks that ended up on his solo debut, The College Dropout, to little effect.
While Kanye can drop some clunky rhymes, he is undoubtedly a brilliant MC and his live shows justify Def Jam’s decision to take a chance on him.
N1. The Beatles
Can you believe that the biggest and best band of all time began their career with their wrong foot?
After laying waste to Liverpool’s Cavern Club and honing their live talents on the gruelling Hamburg club scene, the Fabs returned to Britain determined to land a recording contract.
Their first destination was the small label, Decca records, home to producer George Martin, who would later help the Scousers craft some of the most beautiful music known to man. However, he could see little to get excited about during their audition; he later described their performance on the day as being “crap”.
It was Dick Rowe, however, who held the casting vote on the band that would conquer America within 18 months. He promptly turned them down in favor of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, allegedly on the basis that the latter lived closer to the label’s London recording studio.
While Rowe spent the rest of his life cast as “The Man Who Turned down the Beatles”, Paul McCartney didn’t hold any grudges.
