The History of Artists vs. Record Labels: A Battle for Creative Freedom

The Music Industry’s Oldest Battle

For decades, the relationship between artists and record labels has been a tug-of-war between art and ownership, creativity and control, freedom and fine print.

From the earliest vinyl presses to today’s streaming platforms, one truth remains: the music industry wasn’t built for the artist — it was built on the artist.

At Invictus Records, we believe that story is ready for a rewrite. But before we talk about the future, let’s look at how we got here.

The Golden Era... for Labels, Not Artists

In the 1950s and 60s, record labels ruled the world. Artists like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles helped build the foundation of popular music — but most of them never saw the true profits from their work.

Contracts were designed to benefit labels first, artists second (and often last). Musicians were offered advances, but every dollar spent on recording, promotion, or touring had to be recouped — usually before the artist saw a single cent.

Ownership? Almost unheard of. Labels owned the masters, controlled the publishing, and dictated the creative direction.

Behind the glamour of hit records was a harsh reality: the artist rarely owned their own voice.

The Rebellion Begins: Prince, The Beatles & Artist Rights

By the 1980s and 90s, some artists began pushing back — loudly.

Few battles were more symbolic than Prince vs. Warner Bros. When the label refused to release his music on his terms, Prince famously changed his name to a symbol and wrote “Slave” on his face during performances. His message was clear: ownership equals freedom.

Long before that, The Beatles lost control of their catalog when the rights were sold to corporate buyers — a decision that haunted them for decades and eventually inspired future generations to fight harder for their masters.

These artists weren’t just making hits — they were making history.

The 2000s: A Digital Revolution

When the internet changed everything, the power structure began to shift. Napster, iTunes, and later, streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube, opened the floodgates for independent artists.

Suddenly, musicians didn’t need massive label budgets to reach listeners. They could record from home, upload their music directly, and build audiences without gatekeepers.

Still, many artists learned that the new digital world came with its own traps — unfair streaming payouts, confusing publishing splits, and new versions of the same old exploitation.

The players changed, but the game stayed the same — unless you owned your masters.

Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and the Modern Ownership Movement

In the 2010s, the fight for artist rights went mainstream.

When Taylor Swift began re-recording her albums to regain ownership of her masters, she turned a legal struggle into a global lesson on music ownership. Her bold move inspired countless artists to rethink their contracts and take control of their catalogs.

Even Kanye West posted his entire label contract online, exposing how record deals can trap artists for years while stripping them of control.

The message was louder than ever: the next era of music belongs to artists who own their work.

Invictus Records: The Future of Independence

That’s where Invictus Records steps in.

Born from the idea that artists should be unconquered, we’re not just a label — we’re a movement. A new kind of partnership that rejects exploitation and champions transparency, fairness, and ownership.

We don’t buy artists.
We back them.

We don’t take their masters.
We protect them.

At Invictus, artists are part of the label itself — sharing in the success, shaping their future, and rewriting the story that’s been told for too long.

The Revolution Continues

The war between artists and labels isn’t over — but it’s changing. The rise of independent record labels and artist-owned platforms is proof that musicians are taking their power back.

From Prince’s protest to today’s independent creators, every generation has fought to turn the industry’s tide. And the next chapter? It’s being written by artists who refuse to be conquered.

At Invictus Records, that’s exactly who we stand with — the unconquered.

If the music industry wasn’t built for you, we are.
Join the movement. Own your masters. Own your future.

Learn more about Invictus Records and how we help artists take back control.